Dr Crokes 3-15 The Nire 0-06
A rampant Dr Crokes swept to a fourth Munster senior club title in six years in facile circumstances at a misty Mallow, as they overwhelmed The Nire.
Managed by ex-Kerry boss Pat O'Shea, Crokes brought their considerable inter-county experience to bear in what proved a disappointingly one-sided encounter against a side appearing in their third provincial decider in 11 seasons.
In every facet of play, the Kerry champions proved ruthlessly dominant on their way to a 21st victory in 23 competitive outings this year. And they're not finished yet, given their intent to end a 25-year wait for a second All-Ireland crown.
The first of three first half goals for Daithí Casey arrived in the 10th minute, when he slotted home from point blank range after superb link play by Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan.
Casey was next to score via a 13th minute free, with Brian Looney and Kieran O’Leary tagging on further points over the next four minutes.
Shy of the 20th minute, things went from bad to worse for The Nire after Shane Ryan was adjudged to have impeded the waspish O’Leary. Up stepped Casey to impressively slot a penalty to Tom Wall’s right, thus ending the game as a contest.
O’Leary landed another point before Dermot Ryan, who ended the evening with four points, finally got The Nire off the mark nine minutes from the break.
But Crokes came back with the score of the game from their next attack, when Casey brilliantly completed his hat-trick, rounding off another sweeping move, sending the ball into the top left-hand corner of Wall’s net.
Johnny Buckley, Colm Cooper and Daithí Casey completed Crokes’ first half scoring, and they went in leading by 3-9 to 0-1 at the break.
Emptying the bench during the second half, young substitutes Jordan Kiely and Chris Brady showed their potential via some excellent point shooting, while Dermot Ryan and Liam Lawlor dug in and landed some fine scores for the vanquished Waterford champions.
Corofin await Dr Crokes in what should prove a compelling All-Ireland semi-final come the New Year.
Dr Crokes: S Murphy (0-01, 1f); J Payne, M Moloney, F Fitzgerald; G White, A O’Sullivan, D O’Leary; A O’Donovan (0-01), J Buckley (0-01); D Casey (3-02; 1-0 pen), G O’Shea, B Looney (0-02); C Cooper (0-2; 0-01f), K O’Leary (0-04), E Brosnan (0-01).
Subs: M Burns for A O’Donovan (44), J Kiely (0-01) for D Casey (48), T Brosnan for G O’Shea (51), L Quinn for J Payne (51), C Brady (0-01) for B Looney (54), PJ Lawlor for A O’Sullivan (56).
The Nire: T Wall; J Walsh, T O’Gorman, D Ryan (0-04); J McGrath, M Walsh, J Barron; S Walsh, Dylan Guiry; S Lawlor, B Wall, S Ryan; L Lawlor (0-02), Darren Guiry, C Gleeson.
Subs: J Mulcahy for J Walsh (HT), C Guiry for D Guiry (HT), C Mulcahy for J Barron (Black Card, 37), K Guiry for B Wall (54), K Brazil for L Lawlor (59).
Referee: K Murphy (Cork)
