Rathmore capable of stealing it but Crokes should nick it

EAST KERRY SFC FINAL DR CROKES V RATHMORE When: Sunday, January 22 Time: 2.30pm

Where: Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney Referee: (TBC)

AT the outset (with the exception of them being drawn together in the meantime) this is the final pairing most in East Kerry would have predicted before a ball was kicked in this year’s O’donoghue Cup.

The county and club champions do battle in Fitzgerald Stadium with the encounter shaped by the last two Championship meetings between both sides which were eventful affairs in their own right.

Most neutrals would agree Rathmore deserved a second day out last year but whatever the rights and wrongs about the conclusion of last year’s keenly contested final; Dr Crokes just did what they always do in ensuring they came away with the famous little cup for the fifth straight year thanks to Chris Brady’s youthful enthusiasm.

But if Rathmore had any inferiority complex about not beating the Killarney side in a Championship encounter for over a decade, it was vanished in early October with their dramatic overhauling of a nine point deficit in the Senior Club semi- final. Granted it must be acknowledged the Crokes were not at full strength that day, but considering victories over the famed club are like Hen’s teeth for their neighbours in East Kerry, Rathmore were entitled to celebrate getting one over their Division One counterparts.

Dr Crokes won’t be taking any chances this time and you can expect the full artillery to be rolled out as they look to go one away from equalling the seven-in-a-row winning team of 1956-62 on Sunday with their sixth consecutive title. Some doubted whether the O’donoghue Cup would be high on their priority list this year with the desire to get back to Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Anyone who believed that foolish flight of fancy got their answer against the Legion in late November and while Seamus Moynihan and Glenflesk went down all guns blazing in the semi-final, the Crokes had too much for their opponents’ brave effort come the secondhalf.

Rathmore had another humdinger with Gneeveguilla in the quarter-final before Currow asked serious questions of their character the week before Christmas as they needed a second day out before eventually getting the better of Currow.

At the time of writing Aidan O’mahony’s fate shall be known. If the Kerry defender is available then Rathmore’s chances are greatly boosted but he and his team-mates will have to be disciplined against what is likely to be a marauding Crokes challenge. Even if Colm Cooper is kept quiet, strategies will have to be found to keep Kieran O’leary, Daithi Casey and Jamie Doolan at bay also.

Logic points to a Crokes victory but this is a Rathmore side approaching its own apex and they are primed to pick the Killarney side’s pockets, failure to take chances presented to them could be their undoing however.

VERDICT: Dr Crokes