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You are > Home > GAA: Dr Crokes attacking machine seals league final
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Thursday, May 27, 2004
GAA: Dr Crokes attacking machine seals league final
By: Kerry O'Shea
County Minor Football League Division One final
DR CROKES 1-11, KERINS O’RAHILLYS 0-7
DR Crokes pulled off a major surprise when they defeated a hotly fancied Kerins O’Rahillys side to claim the PK County Minor Football League Division One title at Austin Stack Park on Saturday night.
O’Rahillys were many people’s favourite to lift the crown, as they had in their line-up Brian Moran, Tommy Walsh and Eoghan Liston although Liston did not line out on the night.
Crokes won by playing some stunning football and giving a complete team performance in which the statistics make for some interesting reading.
Crokes had scored 12 times over the 60 plus minutes and could afford the luxury of 13 wides by the hour’s end. They were able to go the final 14 minutes without scoring, as their defence was able to soak up anything O’Rahillys threw at them and all the blues could manage was a solitary point.
Led superbly from centre back by captain Luke Quinn, Crokes simply outclassed their opponents after surviving an early scare. O’Rahillys started as if they would be more than a match for their rivals, but their finishing did not match their early approach work and any hopes of a close, cracking tussle quickly evaporated. Crokes exploded into the game and scoring at will built up a 1-7 to 0-3 interval lead.
The goal came in the 16th minute after O’Rahilly’s keeper, Greg Kissane pulled off a magnificent save from Brian Looney’s goalbound drive but from the rebound, the ball broke to Kieran O’Leary who had the simple task of putting the leather into the net.
Kieran O’Leary, Podge O’Donoghue and Michael O’Grady formed a very impressive Crokes attacking machine, and scored 1-9 of their team’s total. Dr Crokes continued to score regularly in the second half and by the three-quarter stage had jumped into a 1-11 to 0-6 lead, and held on comfortably in the final minutes for the win.
All in all, it was a night to forget for O’Rahillys but the Tralee side did manage to keep the score down thanks to some sterling defensive work from Gavin Duffy, Brendan Quill and Chris O’Sullivan. Other players to impress for the vanquished was Brian Fitzgerald in midfield and full-forward Colm Herlihy.
Dr Crokes’ captain, Luke Quinn, received the trophy from County Board Chairman, Sean Walsh.
Dr Crokes: J Hurley, B Lyne, P Sheehan, J Payne; J Wrenn, L Quinn, S Doolan, J O’Sullivan, M Moloney, P Buckley, A Kennealy (0-2), B Looney, K O’Leary (1- 3), P O’Donoghue (0-1), M O’Grady (0-6, 2f). Subs: T Ryan for P Buckley, J Curtin for A Kenneally.
Kerins O’Rahillys: G Kissane, D Power, G Duffy, B Quill, G O’Callaghan, C O’Sullivan (0-1), I Flaherty, B Moran, B Fitzgerald (0-2), D Lyons, G Tobin, S O’Connor, D Moran, T Walsh (0-1), C Herlihy (0-3, 2f). Subs: E Liston for S O’Connor (inj), K Morris for David Moran, C Coughlan for G Tobin.
Referee: I Foley (Keel).
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