Dr Crokes 0-20 Na Gaeil 1-12
He may be just a support player in the star-studded Kerry forward line but Tony Brosnan was cast and ended up starring as the main man when Dr Crokes emerged victorious by five points over Tralee side Na Gaeil in Austin Stack Park in the Kerry Club football final on Sunday last.
Their back-to-back titles was largely down to the eight-point haul scored by Brosnan, who with his team members, took advantage of the big win to lead by 0-12 to 0-5 at the half-way spot.
Indeed such was their dominance that the defending champions had added to their advantage and led by 10 points with seven minutes left on the clock.
It was only in the last stanza of play that Na Gaeil finally roused themselves and while their efforts managed to cut the deficit by half, it still wasn’t nearly enough to wrestle the Michael O'Connor Cup, which their opponents were collecting for a record 10th time.
Na Gaeil’s Kerry ace Diarmuid O’Connor gave his team the only major uplift of the day by putting them ahead after 20 seconds but anyone expecting an upset were soon put in their place as Crokes Tom Doyle and Brosnan (2) showed why the reigning Munster club champions have such a good recent record.
Ably marshalled by Gavin White, who put them ahead by 0-10 to 0-3 ten minutes before the short whistle, perhaps Na Gaeil’s only chance of believing a fight back was possible came in the 26th minutes when O’Connor’s goal-bound effort was acrobatically kept out by ‘keeper Shane Murphy at the expense of a point.
When another county man Micheál Burns and Brosnan extended Crokes’ lead to nine immediately on the resumption, it looked ominous and when veteran Brian Looney, playing in his 19th Kerry senior club championship in a row, added a point to make it 10 points between the sides, you knew the game was done and dusted.
The Tralee side, in fairness to them, refused to throw in the towel and managed to rack up 1-3 without replay – inevitably O’Connor the man to get the goal – but it was a question of too little, much too late to reverse the outcome of this game.
At the presentation Dr Crokes skipper David Shaw dedicated Crokes’ victory to former player Jamie Doolan, who passed away in July.
Dr Crokes: S Murphy; M Potts, F Fitzgerald, N O’Shea; C Fitzgerald, G White (0-6, 2tp) E Looney; M O’Shea, B Courtney; M Burns (0-2), G O’Shea, B Looney (0-1) T Brosnan (0-8), T Doyle (0-1), C McMahon (0-1) Subs used: K O’Leary for Doyle (40), M Cooper for C Fitzgerald (45), A Hennigan (0-1) for McMahon (55), D Shaw (capt.) for Burns (60).
Na Gaeil: C Bohane; N O’Mahony (0-1), S Okunbor, E O’Connor; J Doyle, A Barry (capt.) (0-1), F Barry; J Barry, D O’Connor (1-2) J O’Connor (0-1), O Maunsell (0-1), T Ó hAiniféin; P Doyle, D Devine, J Sheehan (0-5, 1tp) Subs used: K O’Connor for Devine, D Reen for Doyle (both 40), E Doody for O’Mahony (43), S O’Connor (0-1) for T Ó hAiniféin (48), R Ó hAiniféin for J O’Connor (56).
Ref: B Griffin (Clounmacon).
Ó Beaglaoich's nine points shoots out Clifford stars
If you were told on man would be the star of this encounter shooting nine points, nine times out of ten you would be right in thinking that such a person was David Clifford in this Kerry IFC final at Austin Stacks Park, Tralee on Sunday.
But David and indeed Paudie Clifford’s dreams of adding further honors to what already has been an outstanding year or silverware was stopped in its tracks, largely due to Kerry teammate Brian Ó Beaglaoich, who on an amazing day, scored nine points from his normal wing back position in the first half to help crown an unforgettable year for him and his An Ghaeltacht colleagues, following their impressive 0-19 to 1-11 win.
On a day when win advantage counted the West Kerry side built up an impressive 0-13 to 1-3 with ex-Cork hurling and football star Aidan Walsh a commanding figure at midfield and the only blemish was a goal against from a free by Emmett O’Shea shortly before half-time.
The expected Na Fossa fightback never materialized as David Clifford rarely saw the ball and their opponents assured their return to senior ranks with intelligent use of possession right through the second half.
GAA RESULTS
Antrim SFC quarter-finals
Kickhams Creggan 1-15 O'Donovan Rossa 1-10
Roger Casements Portglenone 1-10 St Gall’s 0-11
Armagh SFC preliminary quarter-finals
Killeavy 1-22 Mullaghbawn 1-12
Madden 0-25 Armagh Harps 1-8
Carlow SFC
Palatine 1-18 Tinryland 1-5
Cavan SFC quarter-final
Ramor United v Mullahoran - Postponed
Clare SFC quarter-finals
St Josephs Doora Barefield 1-13 Kilmurry Ibrikane 1-12
Cratloe 2-14 Ennistymon 2-13 (AET)
Cork Premier SFC
Nemo Rangers 4-18 St Michaels 0-14
Newcestown 0-12 Castlehaven 0-10
Mallow 2-20 Valley Rovers 1-15
Ballincollig 1-10 Douglas 0-11
Clonakilty 1-17 Carbery Rangers 0-6
St Finbarrs 2-23 Carrigaline 0-10
Derry SFC preliminary quarter-finals
Banagher 1-18 Dungiven 0-17
Lavey 1-20 Kilrea 0-5
Donegal SFC preliminary quarter-finals
Four Masters 2-15 Glenswilly 0-18
Sean MacCumhaills 2-16 Downings 0-17
Down SFC
Glenn 1-14 Castlewellan 0-11
Down SHC
St Pats Portaferry 5-18 Ballycran 1-12
Ballygalget 1-15 Bredagh 2-10
Galway SFC preliminary quarter-finals
St James 1-17 Milltown 1-11
Killannin 3-10 Mountbellew-Moylough 1-15
Dunmore MacHales 1-19 Naomh Anna 4-8 (AET)
Galway SFC relegation semi-final
Monivea Abbey 1-14 Barna 1-14
(AET, Monivea win 4-3 on penalties)
Kerry Club SFC final
Dr Crokes 0-20 Na Gaeil 1-12
Kildare SFC preliminary quarter-final
Johnstownbridge 1-9 Eadestown 0-8
Kilkenny SHC
Bennettsbridge 2-21 Tullaroan 0-25
Laois SFC quarter-finals
Graiguecullen 3-11 Killeshin 0-16
St Joseph’s 2-16 Ballyroan Abbey 2-14
London SFC
St Kiernans 2-11 Parnells 0-12
Tir Chonaill Gaels 1-11 Wandsworth Gaels 0-10
North London Shamrocks 0-21 Dulwich Harps 2-7
Fulham Irish 1-15 Round Towers 1-12
Longford SFC quarter-finals
Killoe Young Emmetts 2-18 Mullinaghta 0-16
Colmcille 2-10 Abbeylara 0-13
Louth SFC
Newtown Blues 2-18 St Joseph’s 1-7
St Mochtas 0-16 St Patricks 0-15
Mayo SHC semi-finals
Ballyhaunis 0-19 Castlebar Mitchels 0-7
Tooreen 5-30 St Ciaran’s 0-6
Meath SFC quarter-finals
Dunshaughlin 1-14 Wolfe Tones 1-11
Ratoath 2-18 Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-17 (AET)
Monaghan SFC
Clontibret 2-20 Cremartin 0-19
Corduff 1-17 Scotstown 0-18
Latton O'Rahillys 2-9 Balbay Pearse Brothers 0-13
Magheracloone 2-16 Aughnamullen 0-16
Roscommon SHC semi-finals
Oran 1-14 St Dominics 1-12
Four Roads 3-15 Padraig Pearses 1-15
Sligo SFC relegation playoff
Tourlestrane 2-16 Curry 0-12
Tipperary SFC
Ardfinnen 0-13 Ballina 0-10
Clonmel Commercials 1-13 Grangemockler Ballyneale 0-6
Tyrone SFC
Carrickmore 2-21 Mooretown St Malachys 1-14
Omagh St Endas 1-26 Derrylaughlin 0-2
Edendork 2-19 Dromore 2-16
Galbally Pearses 1-23 Donaghmore 3-24
Waterford SFC
Rathgormack 2-10 Gaultier 0-10
Kilrossanty 0-14 An Rinn 1-4
Abbeyside Ballinacourty 1-8 The Nire 0-9
Wexford SHC preliminary quarter-finals
Naomh Eanna 6-17 Rapparrees Starlights 1-14
Ferns St Aidans 2-14 Shelmaliers 2-13
Wicklow SFC semi-final
Baltinglass 2-16 Tinahely 0-13 (AET)
