THE MUNSTER CLUB Football Championship title went the way of Kerry’s Dr. Crokes this afternoon after a goal-filled clash with UCC in Killarney.
Though the early exchanges were dominated by the university side, two goals in quick succession ensured the men from The Kingdom entered the break with a tenuous, one-point advantage.
When the game resumed, the performance of inter-county star Colm Cooper proved decisive in maintaining his side’s winning momentum. His three points in three minutes opened some daylight between the sides and imposed a rhythm that would eventually see Crokes run out the comfortable winners, 3-14 to 2-10.
Elsewhere in the province, Limerick side Na Piarsaigh clinched their Munster Club Hurling Championship replay with Crusheen of Clare, dramatically overhauling a three-point deficit mid-way through the second half to win the encounter by an impressive seven points, 1-13 to 0-9.
By contrast, the two Leinster Club Football Championship semi-finals were altogther more nerve-wracking affairs.
St. Brigid’s only sealed their victoy over Portlaoise in extra-time, a last-gasp goal from Philly Ryan decisive in nudging the Dubliners beyond their opponents (final score: St. Brigid’s 2-16, Portlaoise 1-15), while Westmeath’s Garrycastle needed a late hat-trick of scores to pull decisively clear of Athy in Newbridge (Garrycastle 1-6, Westmeath 1-10).
In the last of the day’s major encounters, an All-Ireland Senior Club Championship quarter-final between Fulham Irish and St. Brigid’s of Roscommon, the midland side capitalised on their technical superiority and the dismissal of Carlow ex-pat Lorcan Mulvey to seal an eight-point victory (Fulham Irish 0-7, St. Brigid’s 1-12).
