Dr Crokes show their serious strength in depth to dispatch Gneeveguilla
O’DONOGHUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Dr Crokes 3-10 Gneeveguilla 2-5
DESPITE horrendous conditions of gale and rain at Rathmore on Friday night last, Dr Crokes and Gneeveguilla served up an entertaining game for the brave supporters who turned out to see this game.
Dr Crokes without many of their usual starting squad, were able to introduce the necessary substitutes in the second half to ensure victory.
Gneeveguilla started well with two points from full-forward DJ O’Connor before Mark O’Shea scored the first of Dr Crokes three goals after 10 minutes play. Instead of taking their points, Dr Crokes attempted a number of goals only to be thwarted by the Gneeveguilla defence and keeper Patrick O’Riordan in particular.
Michael Potts pointed from a free. In a sweeping up field movement started by centre back Pa Warren, the ball broke in the Dr Crokes square and quickest to react was Conlan O’Leary to put Gneeveguilla a point ahead 1-2- to 1-1.
John O’Leary and Mark O’Shea swapped points before Jordan Kiely levelled matters after 20 minutes. DJ O’Connor pointed, but a Michael Potts free brought the score to 1-4 each after 25 minutes.
A couple of minutes of typical Dr Crokes power play masterminded by centre forward Gavin O’Shea saw Jordan Kiely point and Michael Potts evade the defence for a well taken goal. Half-time Dr Crokes 2-5 Gneeveguilla 1-4.
Dr Crokes introduced Fionn Fitzgerald and Brian Looney at half-time and Billy Courtney added a pointed free. But it remained stalemate for the next 15 minutes as a stout defence from Gneeveguilla denied Dr Crokes all attempts at scores.
Dr Crokes introduced Michael Burns and David O’Leary and began to dismantle the opposition. The influential Gavin O’Shea was conducting matters from centre forward.
Burns and Looney were unstoppable and their fast co-operative supporting moves cut through the defence to register four points – Burns (3) and Looney (1) making the scoreboard 2-10 to 1-4 with 10 minutes left.
However, Gneeveguilla spirit was still strong and Pa Warren to goal from a loose ball in the Dr Crokes square – 2-10 to 2-4 for the town side. He followed up with a point to make it a five point game, but another Burns / Looney axis freed Paul Clarke for a tap in goal that saw Dr Crokes through to the semi-final.
The Man of the Match Award was presented to Gneeveguilla goalkeeper Patrick O’Riordan, by East Kerry treasurer Pat
REFEREE: Padraig O’Sullivan (Firies) O’Brien.
DR Crokes: Johnny O’Leary, Brian Fitzgerald, Eoin Brosnan, David Naughten, Kieran Ward, Lorcan MacMonagle, Michael Potts (1-2; 0-2 f), Jason Lyne, Alan O’Sullivan, Mike Milner, Paul Clarke (1-0), Gavin O’Shea, Mark O’Shea (1-1), Jordan Kiely (0-2), Billy Courtney (0-1) Subs: Fionn Fitzgerald, Brian Looney (0-1), Micheál Burns (0-3), Sean Coppinger
GNEEVEGUILLA: Patrick O’Riordan, Philip Cremin, Eoin Lawlor, Connie O’Connor, Padraig Doyle, Pa Warren(1-1), Damien O’Sullivan, DJ Murphy, Mike Murphy, John O’Leary (0-1), Shane Crowley, Michael Brosnan, Conlan O’Leary (1-0), D J O’Connor (0-3; 1f), Jamie Brosnan Subs: Darren Brosnan, Shane O’Sullivan.
REFEREE: Donal Casey (Scartaglen)