Kerry SFC final: Crokes coast to three-in-a-row
October 29, 2012
Dr. Crokes' players and supporters celebrate with the Bishop Moynihan Cup after the game. INPHO
Dingle 0-8
A Colm Cooper-inspired Dr Crokes lived up to their favourites' billing when they outclassed Dingle at a wet and windy Austin Stack Park to capture their third Dr Bishop Moynihan Cup on the trot.
Dingle, who were appearing in their first final since 1951, had no answer to the brilliance of the Kerry captain and his team-mates who were utterly ruthless and had one hand on the cup after just 10 minutes. The challengers led by 0-2 to 0-1 after four minutes thanks to points from Paul Geaney and Joe Sheehy (free), but then the Dr Crokes machine clicked into gear.
With Johnny Buckley and Ambrose O'Donovan dominant at midfield, Brian Looney levelled before Chris Brady and Looney scored two goals - which were created by Cooper - in the space of a minute to put the Killarney men firmly in the driving seat. There was no respite for the West Kerry side as Cooper and Looney followed up with points to ease Crokes into a 2-4 to 0-2 lead with 10 minutes played.
A shell-shocked Dingle replied with two Paul Geaney points and another from his brother David, but they still trailed by seven, 0-5 to 2-6, at the break.
Dingle's hopes of staging a second half recovery were quickly dashed when points from Kieran O'Leary, Looney and Cooper (free) pushed Crokes into a nine-point lead. The game petered out after that, with Dingle only managing three further points from Mikey Geaney (two) and Paul Geaney.
Crokes put the seal on a historic three-in-a-row with scores from Jamie Doolan, Daithí Casey, Cooper and Gavin O'Shea.
Dr Crokes: D Moloney; J Payne, M Moloney, S Doolan; S Myers, E Brosnan, L Quinn (0-1); J Buckley, A O'Donovan (0-1); K O'Leary (0-2), D Casey (0-1), B Looney (1-3); C Brady (1-0), C Cooper (0-3, one free), J Doolan (0-1). Subs: G O'Shea (0-1) for C Brady (54 mins), D O'Leary for S Doolan (59 mins), A Kenneally for B Looney (58 mins)
Dingle: J Flaherty; TB Brosnan, J Murphy, G Curran; P Devane, B Kelliher, JB Brosnan; CB Moriarty, D O'Sullivan; R Begley, M Geaney (0-2), J Sheehy (0-1, free); P Geaney (0-4, two frees), B O'Connor, D Geaney (0-1). Subs: A Devane for J Murphy (16 mins), P Devane for R Begley (h-t), B O'Connell for A Devane (38 mins), J Kelliher for M Geaney (55 mins), P Fitzmaurice for C Moriarty (59m mins). Tweet
