Crokes forced to deep dig

THE last County Championship meeting between these sides two years ago was referenced in Colm Cooper’s autobiography last year.

Cooper spoke of voicing his frustration with the Killarney side’s performance in Cordal that evening afterwards despite an eventual victory and the success that followed in Croke Park the following March.

It’s hard not to get away from a similar feeling from the Killarney side last Saturday afternoon. They had been expected to win well for their own strengths as much as St Kierans difficulties, difficulties heightened when St Kierans announced seven changes from the team that was named in the match programme.

And, yet, St Kierans had a major surprise within their grasp approaching the final quarter in leading by 2-11 to 1-10. Crokes just had enough reinforcements on the bench to pull through though as they won an 11th consecutive game at County Championship level.

The hosts had started as expected in leading by 0-5 to 0-2 after 12 minutes with St Kierans goalkeeper Sean Óg Ó Ciardubháin saving from Brian Looney in searching for the opening goal of the game. The first green flag would come for the visitors though as they were starting to move well from defence to attack in frustrating the hosts.

A ‘45 from Adam Barry in the 19th minute dropped short with Aidan Breen unmarked and having plenty of time to compose himself for a goal that gave the district side a lead of 1-4 to 0-6.

Johnny Buckley levelled the scores up for Crokes, but it was evident, Kierans had a purpose with Barry providing a big scoring threat. Shane Murphy had to deal with a dangerous high ball into Seamus Scanlon’s path before the break as an opportunity for a Crokes goal chance across the St Kierans goalmouth found no one to connect with the ball.

The lead at the break was 1-7 to 0-8 in St Kierans favour as David Shaw’s introduction in the 37th minute yielded a goal barely 20 seconds later to tie the game at 1-9 apiece.

It didn’t alter the nature of the game though as Crokes looked more frustrated in finding themselves in the battle they were in as both Cooper and Dáithí Casey picked up yellow cards.

Cooper did level the game once more, but Kierans responded at the other end as a peach of a pass from Thomas Lynch to Eddie Horan yielded a second goal in the 45th minute that had a genuine shock on the cards.

John Payne was black carded three minutes later as Crokes really needed to dig deep from here. His replacement Kieran O’Leary was just what Crokes needed in being a more functioning presence in the forward line as Crokes set about reeling in the four-point deficit.

A free coming off the post from Barry proved a setback for Kierans as Brian Looney levelled the scores for Crokes after 54 minutes at 2-11 to 1-14. Further points were exchanged leading up to injury time of which there were five minutes.

The visitors arguably took a free a bit too quickly, however, in Crokes managing to get a turnover that led to Paul Clarke getting them an important lead point at the other end.

Jordan Kiely and a second point from the impressive Buckley forced Crokes over the line as Breen forced over a late chance for St Kierans instead of under the posts. Plenty to ponder for both after an entertaining opening encounter.

DR Crokes: Shane Murphy; John Payne, Michael Moloney, Fionn Fitzgerald; David O’Leary, Alan O’Sullivan, Jason Lyne; Johnny Buckley (0-2), Daithi Casey (0-3, 1f); Micheal Burns (0-3), Gavin O’Shea (0-1), Brian Looney (0-1); Colm Cooper (0-5, 3f), David Naughton, Jordan Kiely (0-1) Subs: Shane Doolan for Moloney, Brian Fitzgerald for Naughton, David Shaw (1-0) for O’Sullivan, Michael Potts for David O’Leary, Kieran O’Leary (0-1) for Payne (Black Card) and Paul Clarke (0-1) or O’Shea

ST Kierans: Sean Óg Ó Ciardubháin (Cordal); John O’Connor (Currow), Luka Brosnan (Castleisland Desmonds), Micheal Reidy (Ballymacelligott); Thomas Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds), Eamon Kiely (Brosna), Cian Counihan (Ballymacelligott); Pa McCarthy (Currow, 0-1) Seamus Scanlon (do); Sean Horan (Scartaglin, 0-1), Aidan Breen (Ballymacelligott, 1-1), Seamus Brosnan (Currow); Eddie Horan (Scartaglin, 1-1), Dan O’Shea (Currow, 0-1), Adam Barry (Brosna, 0-5, 1f) Subs: Danny Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds, 0-1) for O’Connor, Mike Hanafin (Currow) for Counihan and Garret O’Connor (do) for Lynch.

REFEREE: Brendan Griffin (Clounmacon)