2001

Dr Crokes B

played 19th Aug 2001

DR CROKES are East Kerry Junior football champions for the third time in four years following a disappointing O'Sullivan Cup final played before a large crowd in Farranfore on Sunay evening.

The first half, though played in heavy rain, was very competitive, with Scartaglin gidving as good as they got against their more fancied opponents. With Pa Rahilly and Tom Boyle in excellent form in the central positions up front, Scart took the game to Dr Crokes and they led by 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes, courtesy of points from Boyle (0-2) and Rahilly(0-1).

Gradually however, the Crokes defence came to terms with the task in hand and once James Cahillane moved to full-back to curb Boyle, the Killarney side began to play with a lot more authority. Crokes missed a number of scoring opportunities at the end of the first quarter, including a shot from Shane Myers which went just wide, but a fisted effort by Mike Buckley had the sides on level terms approaching the break.

Scart were still playing with confidence at this stage, moving the ball well out of defence, and they a1so missed a number of chances before Shane Myres had a good point to give Crokes a lead of 0-4 to 0-3 at the break. The game was nicely balanced and the expectation was that a close if not thrilling second half was in prospect.

We were to be disappointed as Crokes took the game by the scruff of the neck from the throw-in. Points by James Jones and Brian Clarke to one in reply from Tom Boyle had Crokes three points clear and they extended this lead to six points by the three-quarter stage, following points by Clarke (0-2) and Sparling (0-1).

Dr Crokes also missed many scoreable chances, chief among them a penalty in the 50th minute which was driven wide by Mike Crowley after a foul on Brian Clarke. Scart continued to enjoy good possession, but they could not penetrate a Crokes defence that was superbly marshalled by James Cahillane, who got great support from Finian Moran and Brian O'Donoghue. The latter played a captain's part in the half-back line.

The game was ended as a contest in the 53rd minute, when a speculative free from 50 yards by Kieran Brosnan deceived Scart goalie, Tim O'Connor, and ended up in the net. Though Jimmy O'Donoghue, Boyle and Rahilly pointed in the closing stages, it only made the scoreboard more respectable from a Scart point of view and Crokes tacked on three points to their tally to run out deserving winners.

Apart from those already mentioned, Brosnan and Corridan played well at midfield for the town side, while Shane Myers, Mike Crowley and Brian Clarke also caught the eye. Pa Murphy, Billy O'Connor, Sean Canty, Rahilly and Boyle never gave up for Scart , who must have been disappointed with their second half collapse. Full time score Dr Crokes B 1-13, Scartaglin 0-7.

Dr Crokes: Mike Dalton; Keith McMahon, Karl McMahon, Tom McCarthy; Brian O'Donoghue, James Cahillane, Finian Moran; Kieran Brosnan (1-0), Denis Corridan; Shane Myers (0- 2), Mike Crowley; Jonathan Sparling (0-2); Mike O'Donoghue 0-1, Mike Buckley 0-2, Brian Clarke 0-5.

Subs: James Jones 0-1, Ambrose O'Donovan.

Scartaglen: Tim O'Connor; Tim Vaughan, Pa Murphy; Donal Casey; Alan Cronin, Billy O'Connor, Timmy O'Connor; Sean Canty; Con Kerins; Jerh Dunlea, Pa Rahilly (0-2), Sean Reidy; Freddie Carey (Capt), Tom Boyle (0-4), Jimmy O'Donoghue (0-1).

Subs: Alan Dineen, Brendan Rahill

Referee Donie Sheehan (Gneeveguilla) handled the game well.

FOOTNOTE: After the game, Owen O'Sullivan presented the trophy named in memory of his late father, to Dr Crokes Captain, Brian O'Donoghue. The O'Sullivan Cup competition is sponsored by Killarney Oils.



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