Crokes show extra class to advance to County Minor Football Championship Final

28-08-2014

Dr Crokes                                            2-10

East Kerry                                            1-08

In this local derby played in the Spa GAA Grounds Dr Crokes advanced to the Keanes SuperValu County Minor Football Championship Final after a hard fought victory over divisional neighbours East Kerry.

With two minutes to go the Crokes held a slender two point lead but East Kerry were very much in the ascendency.  But up then stepped county minor Jordan Kiely for Dr Crokes who swooped on a high ball over the East Kerry defence and showed great composure to plant the ball in the back of the net to finally break the East Kerry resistance.

The slippy underfoot conditions and swirling wind made life difficult for both teams but East Kerry’s tactics of double marking the Crokes dangermen Kiely and Michael Burns worked well for them in the early exchanges.  Shane Ryan was also a good target man for them at the edge of the square.

It took until the 5^th minute for East Kerry’s Lee O’Donoghue to open the scoring.  This was cancelled out by Kiely from a free and both sides exchanged further scores from play by Donal Lyne and Kiely once more to leave the sides level by the 10^th minute.

With the exchanges so tight Dr Crokes got a major lift in the 12^th minute when an attempted short kick out by East Kerry keeper Conor McCarthy was intercepted by Crokes full forward Billy Courtney and he blasted to the net.

After a fisted point by Shane Ryan East Kerry had a great goal chance of their own but after making a great run up field centre back Daniel O’Brien blazed wide.  This did not deter them however and they were level once more by the 22^nd minute with points by O’Donoghue and a free by centre forward Paudie Clifford.

Both sides exchanged further white flags before Crokes finished the half stronger with points from wing forward Paul Clarke and a free by centre forward Michael Byrnes who was well shackled up to this point.    

The early exchanges of the second half were once more evenly contested before Kiely and Burns began to stamp their class on the game for the Crokes.  Burns was unerring from placed balls and by the 42^nd minute he had converted four more frees to extend the Crokes lead to six points with East Kerry’s only response being a point from play by Shane Ryan in the 38^th minute.

Credit to the East Kerry boys however who’s heads never dropped and after a good goal chance by centre forward Clifford in the 44^th minute whose shot rebounded off the crossbar, Shane Ryan reduced the deficit with a further pointed free.

However, it looked like the game was finally going to go away from them in the 47^th minute when Dr Crokes wing back Shane Lyne was dragged down in the East Kerry square and referee Peter Lyons had no hesitation in awarding Dr Crokes a penalty.  Burns stepped up to take the kick but his shot was excellently saved by county teammate Shane Ryan who had gone in goal for the spot kick.

This was the lift the divisional side needed and within two minutes they were right back in the game when centre forward Clifford’s shot was well saved by Crokes keeper Johnny O’Leary but substitute Conor Culloty was on hand to finish the ball to the net.  There was now only two points between the sides once more and certainly the momentum was with the divisional side.

And Shane Ryan had two attempts to tie up the game but was wide on both occasions before Kiely left his mark on the game with his expertly taken finish.  East Kerry threw everything at the Crokes in the final moments and Ryan had one more goal chance but it was well saved once more by O’Leary.

When the final whistle was blown the Crokes had five points to spare and they now advance to the decider against favourites Dingle over overcame An Ghaeltacht in the other semi final.

Man of the Match: Jordan Kiely, Dr Crokes

Scorers:

Dr Crokes: Jordan Kiely (1 gl, 3 pts), Michael Burns (5 pts), Paul Clarke (1 pt), Billy Courtney (1 gl), Chris Doncel (1 pt)

East Kerry: Shane Ryan (3 pts), Lee O’Donoghue (2 pts), Paudie Clifford (2 pts), Donal Lyne (1 pt), Conor Culloty (1 gl)

Referee: Peter Lyons, Cromane

Crowley's injury time penalty floors gallant St Kierans in County Under 21 Football Final

13-08-2014

Kenmare District                              3-11

St Kierans                                            2-12

For the second year in a row, and the third time in four years, St Kierans were dealt the cruel hand of sporting fate when an injury time penalty for Kenmare grabbed them victory from the jaws of defeat in this very evenly contested and entertaining Acorn Life County Under 21 Football Final In Fitzgerald Stadium.

Having been reduced the 14 men in the 57^th minute after the dismissal of substitute Eoin Murphy, St Kierans were clinging to the slenderest of margins when referee Tadhg Ahern of Listry awarded Kenmare a lifeline, amazingly the third penalty awarded in this game to them, to the consternation of the St Kierans players and supporters.

Kenmare’s star man, Brian Crowley, expertly dispatched the spot kick and within seconds the final whistle was blown and the cup was returning to Kenmare for the first time since 1985 to the delight of Pat Spillane, his management team and players.

St Kierans started the game brighter and were 1-1 to no score ahead by the 4^th minute after a point by centre forward Shane O’Connor and a well taken goal by midfielder Gearoid McCarthy.  They were laying down a marker that they wanted to put the disappointment of previous final defeats behind them.

Kenmare were handed a way back in to the game in the 6^th minute when centre forward Crowley was upended and the first penalty of the game was awarded.  Crowley shook himself down to take the spot kick but it was well saved to his left by St Kierans keeper Conor Kiely.

After Cian Hallissey had reduced the deficit with a free, St Kierans Mike Finnegan, named at wing back but lining out at centre forward, cut in from the sideline with a driving run and blasted the ball to net and St Kierans had opened up a six point lead.  Kenmare now needed a response and Crowley showed that he was up to the task when he burst through the St Kierans defence and expertly finished to the net.  And when he was brought down for a second time in the St Kierans square in the 18^th minute he made no mistake this time and Kenmare were right back in the game once more.

Both sides exchanged points for the remainder of the half and sides were level at 2-5 to 2-5 when the half time whistle was blown.

St Kierans once more were out of the blocks quicker at the start of the second half and with the ever dangerous full forward Thomas Hickey now finding some space they raced in to a three point lead by the 36^th minute.  Hickey kicked two scores when set up well by Finnegan and centre forward Shane O’Connor and corner forward Timmy Finnegan also chipped in with a point a piece.

Kenmare looked to be struggling at this stage but midfielder Cian Hallissey kept them hanging in there with some well taken frees.  Brian Crowley and his namesake Gavin at centre back were now showing the leadership required and with them driving at the St Kierans defence, Gavin Crowley kicked an inspirational score in the 52^nd minute to reduce the deficit to two points.  The momentum now seemed to be shifting once more and St Kierans situation wasn’t helped when centre forward Shane O’Connor was black carded in the 54^th minute.

And when Murphy was dismissed in the 57^th minute the deficit had been reduced to the minimum and Pat Spillane’s charges were attacking the St Kierans defence in waves.  Hickey had the opportunity in the 59^th minute from a free to ease the pressure and extend the lead to two points once more but his attempt dropped short.  And in Kenmare’s last attempt to rescue the game referee Ahern decided that they had been upended and Crowley held his nerve to steal the title at the death.    

Man of the Match: Brian Crowley, Kenmare District

Scorers:

Kenmare District: Brian Crowley (3 gls), Cian Hallissey (7 pts), Gavin Crowley (1 pt), Josh Holland (1 pt), Pat Spillane (1 pt), Denis O’Neill (1 pt)

St Kierans: Michael Finnegan (1 gl, 1 pt), Gearoid McCarthy (1 gl, 3 pts), Shane O’Connor (3 pts), Timmy Finnegan (1 pt), Thomas Hickey (4 pts)

Referee: Tadgh Ahern, Listry