Dingle out to end 70-year wait and stop Crokes’ bid for three-in-a-row

THE Dingle senior footballers will hope to end a 70year wait for the county SFC title to return to the West Kerry town when they return to Austin Stack Park on Sunday for the finale of what has been a fascinating, competitive and, at times, controversial county championship.

In their way is a Dr Crokes team looking for a third county title in as many years, with the Killarney club bidding for a seventh championship crown this decade.

As the fallout from Dingle’s semi-final replay win over East Kerry last Sunday continues this week, Dingle will have forward Paul Devane available to them after he served a one-match suspension, but long-term injured players Cathal Bambury and Conor Geaney aren’t expected to be fit to play any part.

Dr Crokes don’t appear to have any major injury concerns, although it remains to be seen if David O’Leary will be fit enough to regain his place in the starting team.

Victory for Dr Crokes will see them go to the top of the Roll of Honour of county titles with 13, one ahead of Austin Stacks. If Dingle are to bridge that 70-year gap between county championship titles it will be the third longest wait for any club or divisional team between titles.

Opposing managers on Sunday, Pat O’Shea and Seán Geaney, were part of the Kerry management team in 2007 and 2008, winning the All-Ireland title in their first year.