The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Stacks to meet Kenmare in Senior Club final
SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 1 ROUND 3 Kenmare Shamrocks 2-12 Dr. Crokes 1-14
HARRY Houdini is known as the greatest escape artist of all, but anyone following Kenmare’s fantastic roller-coaster through the Senior Club Championship must consider his crown under real threat. They needed a late goal to pull away from Kerins O’Rahillys in their opening match. A late punt into the box with two points down and the hourglass practically empty saw them beat Templenoe in an enthralling battle. And yet again, to complete a hat-trick of defiant triumphs, they pulled the winnertake-all clash with Dr. Crokes out of the fire with the very last kick of the game.
It looked so different early on. David Shaw teed up Micheál Burns for the opener. Dan McCarthy, absolutely outstanding all through, levelled but the unerring boot of Tony Brosnan put Crokes 0-4 to 0-1 ahead, Dan McCarthy on the mark for Kenmare. Burns, Shaw, and Gavin White were doing huge damage, while Dan McCarthy got Kenmare off the mark. Sean O’Shea pulled another one back but they were making little headway against the Crokes defence.
At the other end Crokes pace and teamwork was too much to handle, despite the best efforts of an excellent Dara Crowley in particular. Michael Potts surged forward and broke several tackles for a superb goal, 1-4 to 0-2. The irrepressible McCarthy, better known as a defender, was a beacon for Kenmare up front and scored three great points on the trot.
An unruffled Crokes simply responded with four of their own. David Shaw swung over a great kick, Kieran O’Leary added another, Brian Looney split the posts, and Tony Brosnan swung over the best point of them all. Sean O’Shea closed out the first half with a Kenmare free, but things looked enormously bleak for the home side, trailing as there were at half-time, 1-5 to 0-5.
Kenmare, with their midfielders really coming into the game, tore into the deficit from the re-start. With Michael Moloney struggling to deal with the pace of Dan McCarthy, Dr. Crokes had substituted him and re-jigged their defence – but Sean O’Shea promptly drifted in to the full forward line and Crokes’ lack of height there was to prove expensive. A high ball in spilled loose and there was Paul O’Connor as always to pounce for a clinical goal.
Sean O’Shea boomed over a massive point and Kevin O’Sullivan added another. 1-8 to 1-7. Micheal Burns and Dan McCarthy exchanged scores before Gavin White won a free for Tony Brosnan. Then disaster struck for Crokes, with a high ball into the box spilling loose and Dan McCarthy slotting it past Shane Murphy with a bit of luck – Murphy’s brilliant parry rebounded off the forward. 2-8 to 1-10. Crokes’ composure under pressure has always been their greatest asset and they simply set about re-building that big lead. Tony Brosnan pointed a free and David Naughton joined the attack for a fine score. Brian Looney picked off another and Michael Potts with his left leg made it 1-14 to 2-8.
Crokes tried to control the game and slot down the tempo at that point instead of going for the jugular. Kenmare weren’t having any of it, especially Kevin O’Sullivan in midfield and O’Shea leading the line – both were magnificent. Paul O’Connor astutely sniped a point. Dan McCarthy won a penalty. Paul O’Connor sent it with power to the bottom right corner .... incredibly, Shane Murphy got there first. It was a stunning save, but the ball was fouled coming out and Sean
O’Shea popped it over. Crokes forwards were trying to be fraction too ambitious with their passes, while a hungry Kenmare were snapping up everything. Sean O’Shea made it all square .... but Crokes had the better scoring difference.
There was just time left for Sean O’Shea to stand over one last free, and he was never going to miss. Once again, Kenmare had hung on the brink of elimination .... and hauled themselves back from the edge.
KENMARE SHAMROCKS: Kieran Fitzgibbon, Dara Crowley, James McCarthy, Tommy O’Sullivan, Shane O’Sullivan, Dara O’Shea, Matt Murnane, Kevin O’Sullivan (0-1), Fionan O’Sullivan, Mark Crowley, Sean O’Shea 0-6 (3f), Tom Murnane, Michael McCarthy, Dan McCarthy (1-4), Paul O’Connor (1-1). Subs: Tommy Cronin for Tom Murnane (47), Sean O’Leary for Fionan O’Sullivan (47), Rory O’Sullivan for Michael McCarthy (62)
DR CROKES: Shane Murphy, David Naughton (0-1), Michael Moloney, Fionn Fitzgerald, Cillian Fitzgerald, Gavin White, Michael Potts (1-1), Mark O’Shea, Johnny Buckley, Micheál Burns (0-3), Gavin O’Shea, Brian Looney (0-2), Tony Brosnan 0-6 (3f, 1 ‘45’), David Shaw (0-1), Kieran O’Leary (0-1). Subs: John Payne for Michael Moloney (25), Michael Moloney for David Naughton (53), David O’Leary for Gavin O’Shea (43), Chris Doncel for David Shaw (57), Brian Fitzgerald for Gavin White (inj, 60)
REFEREE: Padraig O’Sullivan (Firies)