Dr Crokes 2-14
Mid Kerry 0-9
Jason O’Connor reports from Fitzgerald Stadium
ALL-IRELAND SENIOR Club champions got off to a strong start in the Kerry SFC as they had 11 points to spare over a Mid Kerry side minus the availability of both Peter Crowley and Darran O’Sullivan.
Kieran O’Leary gave a splendid pass to Colm Cooper for the Killarney side’s first goal in the sixth minute as Cooper hit the opening 1-3 for the victors.
Mid Kerry offered little threat despite the aid of the breeze in the first-half as they were restricted to bursts from Liam Carey as Donnchadh Walsh worked hard to try and inspire the district. They found themselves trailing by 1-8 to 0-5 at the break and having to keep Crokes from running riot with the breeze in the second-half.
Crokes’ second goal came three minutes after the restart as Gooch was the provider to O’Leary on this occasion, his finish putting them 2-8 to 0-6 in front as the second-half had a real processional feel to it.
No less than 10 different players scored for Crokes as they used their full complement of six substitutes with Gavin White blocking down the best chance of a Mid Kerry goal from Gavan O’Grady in the second period.
Carey finished with four points for the district side as they lost their captain Nathan Breen to injury following Crokes’ first goal. Crokes will face St Brendans in the Winners Round of the competition next week.
Mid Kerry meanwhile will face East Kerry in the Losers Round of the competition which will also take place next weekend.
Scorers for Dr Crokes - Colm Cooper (1-4, 1f), K O’Leary (1-0), Daithi Casey (1f) and Jordan Kiely (0-2 each), Shane Murphy (‘45’), David O’Leary, Gavin White, Alan O’Sullivan, Chris Brady and Paul Clarke (0-1 each)
Scorers for Mid Kerry - Liam Carey (0-4), Gavan O’Grady (0-3, 2f), Donnachadh Walsh and Mike Breen (0-1 each)
Dr Crokes
1. Shane Murphy
2. John Payne
3. Michael Moloney
4. Gavin White
5. David O’Leary
6. Alan O’Sullivan
7. Fionn Fitzgerald
8. Ambrose O’Donovan
9. Daithi Casey (Capt)
10. Shane Doolan
11. Gavin O’Shea
12. Brian Looney
13. Colm Cooper
14. Jordan Kiely
15. Kieran O’Leary
Subs:
25. David Naughton for Fitzgerald (44)
20. Chris Brady for O’Shea (44)
19. PJ Lawlor for Doolan (48)
23. Paul Clarke for Looney (48)
18. Mike Milner for White (54)
22. Jason Lyne for Payne (58)
Mid Kerry
1. Mike Moriarty (Beaufort)
2. David Roche (Milltown/Castlemaine)
3. Nathan Breen (Beaufort, Capt)
4. Mike Breen (Beaufort)
5. Ger Hartnett (Beaufort)
17. Gavin Evans (Keel)
7. Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar)
21. Conor Clarke (Laune Rangers)
9. Ronan Murphy (Beaufort)
10. Gary Sayers (Keel)
11. Liam Carey (Beaufort)
18. Cathal Moriarty (Milltown/Castlemaine)
13. Gavan O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar)
14. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
15. John Tyther (Laune Rangers)
Subs:
22. Caoilm Teahan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for Breen (4)
19. Padraig Doona (Beaufort) for Sayers (H/T)
20. Thomas Ladden (Keel) for Clarke (H/T)
8. Colin McGuillicuddy (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for Murphy (46)
29. Jack Brosnan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for Kilkenny (50)
Referee: Jonathon Griffin (Clounmacon)
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!