Crokes secure final berth as relegation battle hots up

DIVISION ONE

WHILE matters at the top look fairly clear, it’s anyone’s guess as to what could happen at the bottom as anyone of six teams could face relegation come the conclusion.

Dr Crokes marched on to a League Final spot by staying with a 100% record, the Killarney side winning away from home at Templenoe, who were a bit closer on the scoreboard to the Killarney side than they were in the corresponding fixture in Lewis Road last year!

Crokes used the breeze to their advantage in the first period leading by 0-6 to 0-1 after the first quarter with Kieran O’Leary, Colm Cooper and Daithi Casey prominent on the score-sheet. Teddy Doyle did convert two ‘45’s’ before the break but it was still a five point advantage to the Killarney side at 0-8 to 0-3.

The hosts came within a goal towards the end but Crokes held possession well in Shane Doolan, Daithi Casey and David O’Leary firing them onto a 0-12 to 0-7 win. A draw at home to Dingle this weekend will put Crokes in the final, they might get home advantage as well depending on other results, but it’s a big game for Dingle after their one point loss to Rathmore means they are playing catch-up in their own hopes of making the final.

The West Kerry hosts did score the opening four points of the game, but a John Moynihan goal had Rathmore ahead after the first quarter. Dingle lead by 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time however and looked to be in a strong position when Michéal Slattery scored their goal after great work in the build-up from Patrick O’Connor. George O’Keeffe denied Slattery from scoring a second as Rathmore would get their second at the other end to go back in front.

Sean O’Flaherty had stopped the visitors initially, but the resulting ‘45 saw Tadhg O’Mahony get through as the East Kerry now trailed by 1-11 to 2-6. Two Mark Reen points and an effort from Donal O’Sullivan saw the visitors return home with a 2-9 to 1-11 win after their late comeback.

An Ghaeltacht won a similar match involving sides with League Final aspirations, Glenbeigh / Glencar, as the game was played to a very high standard. PJ Mac Laimh scored the first goal of the game for the visitors, but Kieran Courtney responded with a goal for the hosts.

Although the Mid Kerry side led by 1-10 to 2-5 at half-time the concession of a second goal (scored by Tomas Ó Sé) proved crucial come the end. A run of six unanswered points in the second period involving Eanna Ó Conchúir (two) Ciaran Ó Ceilleachair, Dara, Óigí and Tomas Ó Sé put the visitors on course for an eventual 2-16 to 1-14 win.

At the bottom Kerins O Rahilly’s and St Marys got important wins, one by scoring three goals, the other winning despite conceding three goals! Strand Road all but consigned Castleisland Desmonds to Division Two with a 3-14 to 0-13 win at home.

Daniel Nix scored their first goal as they led by 1-7 to 0-8, the visitors competitive but they could do nothing in the second period when Karl Mullins and Donagh O’Brien scored the other O’Rahillys goals in a game where Danny O’Sullivan excelled for the hosts.

The South Kerry side conceded three goals to John Mitchels on home turf but a combination of Jack Daly and Paul O’Donoghue got them over the line in an 0-18 to 3-8 victory.

Austin Stacks just about kept their hopes of staying up in their own hands meanwhile coming away from Milltown / Castlemaine with a 1-9 to 0-12 draw as a Shane Murphy goal put Milltown / Castlemaine in front by 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time.

Stacks would go ahead in the second period, but a stop-start second period which nearly boiled over towards the end saw Jack McCarthy put over two late points for the hosts.

The Tralee side host Glenbeigh / Glencar next as they might need to win their last three games to be sure of safety.