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Daithi Casey (Crokes) and Danny O'Callaghan INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
AS IT HAPPENED

As It Happened: Dr Crokes v Crossmaglen Rangers

We followed all the action in Portlaoise as Dr. Crokes took on Crossmaglen in the All-Ireland Club Championship semi-final.

Send us your thoughts and comments on this afternoon’s action. E-mail  niamh@thescore.ie, tweet us@thescore_iefind us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Dr Crokes 2-08 Crossmaglen Rangers 3-08

Both teams are on the field and going through their final preparations ahead of this mouth-watering clash

Dr Crokes: Kelly; Payne, Quinn, McMahon, Fitzgerald, Brosnan, D O’Leary; O’Donovan, Buckley; Kenneally, Casey, Looney, Cooper, K O’Leary, Doolin.

Crossmaglen: Hearty; Morgan, P Kernan, McKeown, A Kernan, O’Callaghan, Finnegan; Hanratty, Brennan; T Kernan, S Kernan, Cunningham, Clarke, McNamee, McConville.

The referee today is David Coldrick, as he gets the action underway.

Colm Cooper puts Dr Crokes ahead when he fists the ball over the bar after being fed by Jamie Doolin. Decent start from the Kerry side.

Aaron Kernan levels matter with a free kick.

Two quick points from Jamie Doolin, after he escaped his marker, and Brian Looney have put some daylight between the teams. It’s all Crokes right now as Andrew Kenneally sends a goal opportunity just wide after tearing in on goal.

Cooper (Crokes) and Tony Kernan (Crossmaglen) miss free kicks in quick succession for either teams. There is a strong breeze in Portlaoise today, which may have been a factor, though the sun is also shining at the moment.

An early blow for the Glen as Danny O’Callaghan is forced off from the back line after picking up an injury.

Fionn Fitzgerald (Crokes) is the first man in Coldrick’s notebook after bringing down his man. Crossmaglen give the ball away straight from the free kick though. Nothing is going right for them at the moment.

Eoin Brosnan is the man doing all the damage for Crokes at the moment. They are now 0-5 to 0-1 ahead courtesy of a point from Kenneally and another free from Cooper.

GOAL CROKES! Oisin McConville is booked for a foul on Cooper and things get even worse for Rangers moments later when they put the ball into their own net from a pass forward by Ambrose O’Donovan, giving Paul Hearty no chance.

GOAL CROSSMAGLEN: McConville gets his first point of the day before being at the heart of the next attack – feeding Michael McNamee outside him and he twists away from his marker to fire the ball to the back of the net. Game on!

Another point for Crokes though the Rangers crowd are not happy as the midfielder appeared to take the ball directly off the field. Michael Ahern is on for Michael McNamee at the other end of the field.

Aaron Kernan scores another free for Crossmaglen and when Johnny Hanratty draws another foul, McConville puts just two points between the sides.

HALF TIME: Crokes will be disappointed to be only two points ahead when they dominated most of the first half. Crossmaglen have been hanging on to their coat tails and their goal, which really did come against the run of play, means we have a great second half contest on the way.

This afternoon’s other semi-final is also underway. At half time the score is: St. Brigid’s 1-6 Garrycastle 0-7.

We’re back underway. David McKenna puts a fine point between the posts and there’s now just one score between the sides.

GOAL CROSSMAGLEN! Just when the chance seemed lost – with too many Crokes protecting their goal – Stephen Kernan steps inside his man and rifles a shot to the back of the net, beyond the reach of Alan Kelly. Kelly is injured in his attempt and has to be replaced by Andrew O’Connell.

Aaron Kernan puts Rangers further ahead after Kenneally is adjudged to have fouled Hanratty on a charge through on goal. It’s been some turnaround in the last few minutes. Very little working for Crokes at the moment, a complete reversal of the first half.

Jamie Clarke extends Crossmaglen‘s advantage to four points. Crokes have yet to score in the second half as Alan Kelly returns to the field. Replays show that his head hit the post as he tried to save Kernan’s goal effort. David McKenna, meanwhile, is helped from the field because of injury and is replaced.

DISASTER for Crossmaglen as Stephen Kernan is showing a red card for his reaction in an off-the-ball incident. In fairness to David Coldrick he did consult with his linesman before showing one of our goalscorers red.

GOAL! Eoin Brosnan is the man to get Crokes’ first score of the second half and it’s quickly followed up by a goal from Chris Brady. The teams are level for the first time since kick-off.

GOAL! Crossmaglen show their mettle by replying with a goal of their own almost immediately. It’s McConville who gets the move underway and it’s Aaron Kernan who’s in the right place to finish and put his team back in front.

Aaron Cunningham wins possession and scores for Crossmaglen, inching them that little further away from their rivals as sleet falls on Portlaoise!

We’re into added time now.

Colm Cooper adds another free to his tally as he asks the referee what’s remaining. Crokes need a goal, and quickly. Unfortunately, though the ball gets to the Gooch, he can’t control it in slippery conditions.

Johnny Hanratty’s attempt to seal the win goes wide.

FULL TIME: Crossmaglen are into another All-Ireland Senior Club Championship final. Down by seven points at one stage in the first half, they came back to win by three.

Dr Crokes will wonder how they didn’t win this one given how well they started and played before the break. Credit has to go to the Ulster side, however, who were much improved in the second half and they had the likes of Jamie Clarke, Oisin McConville and Stephen and Aaron Kernan to thank for the result.

In this afternoon’s other game, Garrycastle have won 1-11 to St. Brigid’s 1-9.

That’s all from Portlaoise today. Thanks for keeping with us. Crossmaglen are into another All-Ireland final and you’d have to think that it will have to be a very good Garrycastle performance to overcome their challenge in Croke Park.


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