Dr Crokes 0-20 Na Gaeil 1-12
Kerry forward Tony Brosnan starred with an eight-point haul as Dr Crokes defeated Na Gaeil by 0-20 to 1-12 at a windswept Austin Stack Park in Tralee on Sunday afternoon to win back-to-back Kerry Club Football Championships.
In a historic first senior club final meeting between Na Gaeil and Crokes, it was the Killarney side, albeit aided by a strong breeze, who led by 0-12 to 0-05 at half-time.
Crokes, who looked like they were cruising to victory with a 10-point lead with seven minutes to go, survived a late Na Gaeil comeback to take home the Michael O'Connor Cup for a record 10th time.
Na Gaeil got off to a flying start as Kerry star Diarmuid O’Connor slotted over after just 20 seconds.
However, Dr Crokes were 0-04 to 0-10 to the good inside the opening seven minutes as Tom Doyle and Brosnan (2) gave the Munster club champions an early platform to build upon.
Na Gaeil kept within touching distance early on and a well-taken effort by captain Andrew Barry resulted in the Tralee side’s first point in almost nine minutes.
Crokes then showed why they are champions as All-Ireland-winning Kerry captain Gavin White kicked three without reply – a point and a superb two-pointer – to give his side a five-point lead.
A superb save by Na Gaeil goalkeeper Conor Bohane from a close-range Cian McMahon effort on goal in the 13th minute kept the Tralee side in the game.
With 20 minutes on the clock, White put further daylight between the two sides, kicking his second two-pointer of the game to make it 0-10 to 0-03.
Na Gaeil looked like they had scored the game’s opening goal four minute before the break but Shane Murphy acrobatically pushed Diarmuid O’Connor’s effort over the bar.
Michael Burns and Brosnan extended Crokes’ lead to nine after the restart – a lead Crokes stalwart Brian Looney, playing in his 19th Kerry senior club championship in a row, increased to 10 with seven minutes on the clock.
It looked like Crokes were cruising to victory at this stage, but Na Gaeil had other ideas.
The Tralee side scored 1-03 without response late on, thanks to a Diarmuid O’Connor goal, a point from play and a two-pointer from Jack Sheehan, but it was too little, too late as Crokes ran out five-point winners.
In truth, it was a one-sided and dull affair until the final moments as both sides’ focus turn quickly to the start of the Kerry Senior Championship, which gets underway next weekend.
Following the game, Dr Crokes captain David Shaw dedicated Crokes’ win to former player Jamie Doolan, who passed away in July.
In the preceding intermediate final, An Gaeltacht overcame Fossa and will now play senior football next year for the first time since 2018.
Dr Crokes: Shane Murphy; Michael Potts, Fionn Fitzgerald, Neil O’Shea; Cillian Fitzgerald, Gavin White (0-06, 2tp) Evan Looney; Mark O’Shea, Billy Courtney; Michael Burns (0-02), Gavin O’Shea, Brian Looney (0-01) Tony Brosnan (0-08), Tom Doyle (0-01), Cian McMahon (0-01)
Subs used: Kieran O’Leary for Doyle (40), Mark Cooper for Cillian Fitzgerald (45), Alex Hennigan (0-01) for McMahon (55), David Shaw (capt.) for Burns (60)
Na Gaeil: Conor Bohane; Niall O’Mahony (0-01), Stefan Okunbor, Enda O’Connor; Jack Doyle, Andrew Barry (capt.) (0-01), Fergal Barry; Jack Barry, Diarmuid O’Connor (1-02) James O’Connor (0-01), Oisín Maunsell (0-01), Tomás Ó hAiniféin; Peter Doyle, Dara Devine, Jack Sheehan (0-05, 1tp)
Subs used: Kieran O’Connor for Devine, Darragh Reen for Doyle (both 40), Eoin Doody for O’Mahony (43), Sean O’Connor (0-01) for Tomás Ó hAiniféin (48), Ruairi Ó hAiniféin for James O’Connor (56)
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Clounmacon)
