Munster club SFC: 14-man Crokes come good in second half

October 29, 2017

Clonmel's Jason Lonergan and Eoin Fitzgerald with John Payne of Dr Crokes.
©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

Dr Crokes (Kerry) 0-14

Clonmel Commercials (Tipperary) 0-8

Trailing by two points at half-time, All-Ireland club champions Dr Crokes turned on the style in the second half to power past Clonmel Commercials in a game that pitted the last two Munster club winners against each other.

A major upset looked to be on the cards when hosts Clonmel led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the short whistle, but despite having to start without Kerry legend Colm Cooper and having Alan O'Sullivan red-carded in the second half, the Killarney men finished with a flourish to ease into the last four.   

With 2016 All Star forward Michael Quinlivan among their scorers, the Tipperary champions led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter. Crokes hit back with a trio of points form Daithi Casey, Johnny Buckley and Tonmy Brosnan to level by the 21st minute before Kevin Fahey and Ross Peters restored Clonmel's advantage at the break.

Brosnan reduced the deficit to the minimum just after the restart before Crokes had a big let-off when John Payne saved from Quinlivan. Clonmel's Jamie Peters (black card) and Crokes' O'Sullivan (red card) were sent off in quick succession, but despite their numerical disadvantage, the visitors kicked on with points from Kieran O'Leary and sub Jordan Kiely.

Richie Gunne replied with what proved to be Clonmel's only score of the second half before Crokes underlined their class with five unanswered scores from Michael Burns (three), Johnny Buckley and Daithi Casey in the final quarter.

Dr Crokes - S Murphy; J Payne, M Moloney, L Quinn; S Doolan, F Fitzgerald (0-1), G White; J Buckley (0-2), A O'Sullivan; M Burns (0-3), G O'Shea, B Looney; T Brosnan (0-2), D Casey (0-3, 2f), K O'Leary (0-1). Subs: J Kiely (0-1) for B Looney, P Clarke (0-1) for T Brosnan, E Brosnan for M Burns, A O'Donovan for K O'Leary (BC).

Clonmel Commercials - M O'Reilly; J Peters (0-1), L Ryan, D Lynch; K Fahey (0-1), D Madigan, K Harney (0-1); S Kennedy, J Kennedy (0-1); P Looram, J Lonergan, I Fahey; R Peters (0-1), M Quinlivan (0-1), E Fitzgerald (0-1). Subs: L Moore for J Peters (BC), R Gunne (0-1) for E Fitzgerald, R Lambe for I Fahey, A Lonergan for R Peters.

Referee - K Murphy.


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