Dr Crokes 2-12 Scartaglen 1-9
FORGET the scoreline - this Aquila Club East Kerry championship O’Donoghue Cup semi final game was balancing on a knife edge right down to the 61st minute before Colm Cooper - who else? --finally killed off the unexpectedly strong challenge from a truly gallant Scarta-glen side with an injury time goal.
This semi final had been billed as a David versus Goliath affair with the division 4 minnows mere fodder in every-one’s opinion (this writer included!) for the all conquering All Ireland Club final-ists, however, while no giant killing act did take place, Scartaglen left Fitzgerald Stadium with their heads held high and the appreciative cheers of a fine attendance ringing in their ears.
The underdogs took the game to their fancied opponents right from the start to take a two goal lead at the interval break and while the champions did threaten to over-run them during the third quarter they hung in there to make the town side fight to the bitter end before they claimed another O’Donoghue Cup final place.
Colm Cooper pointed with his first touch in the second minute, and after Tom Boyle equalised from a free, Cooper again restored Dr Crokes lead before Andrew O’Connell, deputising for the absent Kieran Cremin, brought off a great save from Tom Boyle after a fine Scartaglen move in the seventh minute. Boyle brought the sides level with a pointed free from the ensuing play and after Daniel Murphy and Shane Doolan swapped good scores the sides were deadlocked, 0-3 each, after fifteen minutes of play.
Scartaglen were winning a lot of ball around midfield where Brendan Rahilly was inspirational, and with the likes of Gary Dineen, J.J. and Daniel Murphy working their socks off Scart were dominating play to a surprising degree. The scores began to follow with fine points from J.J. Murphy, Jimmy O’Donoghue, Mike Horan and a great score from raiding half back, Seamus O’Riordan, putting the men in maroon 7 points to 3 clear by the 24th minute. Colm Cooper responded with a nice point from a rare Dr Crokes attack and soon after Scartaglen followers were in seventh heaven when Tom Boyle goaled from the penalty spot after he himself was brought down when put through following a lovely move involving the Murphys, Daniel and J.J.
The halftime score of 1-7 to 0-4 did not flatter the Scart boys one bit, they were by far the better side in that opening half, tight at the back where Padraig Reidy was snuffing out the threat of Kieran O’Leary, winning all the breaks around the centre where Dr Crokes were non existent and coming forward at speed to very good effect. The holders were not slow to ring the changes for the second half with Keith McMahon and Jamie Doolan coming in for an ineffective Ambrose O’Donovan and Batt Moriarty and Johnny Buckley moving out to partner Eoin Brosnan at midfield.
The changes had the desired effect and the holders wasted little time in reducing the deficit with a point from Shane Doolan followed from a goal out of nothing from Kieran O’Leary to leave just two points between the sides and just four minutes gone in the new half.
Scart then spurned a great chance of a goal when Tom Boyle picked out J.J. Murphy all on his own inside the Crokes cover, but out came Andrew O’Connell to smother his shot when Murphy delayed a split second with the goal at his mercy.
While Johnny Buckley and Jamie Doolan levelled the game by the three quarter stage, and Michael Moloney and James Fleming were picking up plenty possession around midfield, Dr Crokes‚ expected take over never took place as a determined Scarta-glen side gave every ounce they had in search of victory. Despite losing Brendan Rahilly to injury, J.J. Murphy restored Scart’s lead with a pointed free in the 49th minute but Jamie Doolan soon had the sides back on level terms before Colm Cooper pointed twice in quick succession from frees, to give Crokes a two points lead for the first time in the game in the 55th minute. J.J. Murphy and Colm Cooper swapped pointed frees and Scart had a couple of chances of scores as the game ticked over into injury time, however Cooper had the last say when put through by Johnny Buckley for the insurance goal after a Scart attack broke down. Jamie Doolan added a point for a relieved black and amber side to put a glossy look on the scoreboard, however, while the spoils of victory went to the town side, the bulk of the credit for a fine game went to Scartaglen who did themselves proud on the day.
Teams and Scorers: Dr Crokes: Andrew O’Connell, John Payne, Luke Quinn, Michael Moloney, Batt Moriarty, Brian McMahon, Gavin Tucker, Ambrose O’Donovan, Eoin Brosnan, Shane Dolan (0-2), Colm Cooper (1-7, 0-5 frees), Brian Looney, Kieran O’Leary (1-0), James Fleming, Johnny Buckley (0-1).
Subs: Keith McMahon and Jamie Dolan (0-2, 0-1 free).
Scartaglen: Martin Hewitt, Alan Horan, Damien O’Connor, Padraig Reidy, Seamus O’Riordan (0-1), Jer O’Sullivan, Jeremy O’Driscoll, Brendan Rahilly, Mike Coakley, J.J. Murphy (0-3 frees), Mike Horan (0-1), Daniel Murphy (0-1), Gary Dineen, Jimmy O’Donoghue (0-1), Tom Boyle (1-2 frees). Subs: Philip O’Sullivan, Niall Casey, Pa Rahilly, and Noel Rahilly.
Referee: Connie Carroll (Legion).
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