THREE OF THE All-Ireland football club semi-finalists from last February were in action today in their respective county championships and all three are still standing.
Reigning All-Ireland club kingpins Dr Crokes booked a place in the Kerry semi-finals while Slaughtneil, who lost out on St Patrick’s Day last, completed four-in-a-row by winning the Derry final.
And Corofin, defeated All-Ireland club semi-finalists this year, are still on track for a five-in-a-row in Galway but only after surviving a tough semi-final challenge.
Dr Crokes saw off Kenmare Shamrocks by 0-17 to 0-12 today in Killarney and their reward for that quarter-final victory is a semi-final date with West Kerry.
Dr Crokes were in front 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but made a powerful burst in the third quarter to move 0-11 to 0-7 clear. Kenmare cut the deficit to two points, 0-13 to 0-11, by the 51st minute yet were outscored by 0-4 to 0-1 thereafter.
Mícheál Burns kicked 0-4 for Dr Crokes with Colm Cooper and captain Daithi Casey weighing in with 0-3 apiece, while last year’s intermediate champions Kenmare had a 0-5 return from their Kerry senior Sean O’Shea.
In the second quarter-final at Fitzgerald Stadium, 2015 county champions South Kerry saw off Rathmore by 0-15 to 0-12. The teams were level at 0-7 apiece at half-time with Shane Ryan’s free-taking key for Rathmore.
But South Kerry powered clear in the second half with Ronan Hussey, Daniel Daly and Matthew O’Sullivan amongst their scorers and despite a late brace of points from Kerry senior Paul Murphy for Rathmore, the divisional side held on and will now face Kerins O’Rahilly’s.
Kerry senior football semi-final draw – Saturday 7 October
- Dr Crokes v West Kerry
- Kerins O’Rahilly’s v South Kerry
Slaughtneil’s dominance of the Derry senior football championship continued with a comfortable 4-12 to 1-11 final win over Ballinascreen today.
It marked the fourth consecutive Derry senior football title for a club that have contested two of the last three All-Ireland deciders.
Goals from Chrissy McKaigue and Shane McGuigan helped them forge a 2-8 to 0-7 advantage at the interval before Keelan Feeney hit the third Slaughtneil goal early in the second half.
Ballinascreen did raise a green flag courtesy of Anton Kelly but McGuigan’s second goal helped ensure Slaughtneil ran out victors by 13 points.
In Galway, Corofin breathed a sigh of relief at Tuam Stadium after their 0-11 to 1-7 semi-final victory over Annaghdown. They trailed 1-4 to 0-6 at the interval with Frank Burke netting for Annaghdown.
Annaghdown were still in front entering the finale 1-7 to 0-8 but Corofin notched the last three points of the game to snatch the spoils and keep their hopes of five-in-a-row alive.
In the final they will meet Mountbellew-Moylough comprehensive 3-15 to 1-4 victors today in their semi-final against Monivea-Abbey. It will be a repeat of the 2015 decider which Corofin triumphed in by ten points.
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