Gaelic Games

Card-fest in Killarney as Dr Crokes overcome Loughmore-Castleiney challenge

Referee Michael Collins issues 17 cards – 14 yellow and three red – as Kerry champs march on

Dr Crokes’ Colm Cooper confronts Michael Webster of Loughmore-Castleiney during the Munster club football semi-final in Killarney. Photo: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Dr Crokes’ Colm Cooper confronts Michael Webster of Loughmore-Castleiney during the Munster club football semi-final in Killarney. Photo: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Mon Nov 18 2013 - 01:00

Dr Crokes 3-16 Loughmore-Castleiney 1-5

The margin of victory masks the story of this fractious and at times ill-tempered semi-final at Lewis Rd, Killarney on Saturday which produced 17 cards – 14 yellow and three red.

In the end Crokes produced an explosive final 20 minutes to put the Tipperary dual champions to the sword by 17 points.

Loughmore-Castleiney began in whirlwind fashion in front of an attendance of 1,142, kicking two early points (one a free) from John McGrath. McGrath also missed two scoreable frees, and Cian Hennessy had a goal-bound shot taken off the line by Crokes defender Luke Quinn as the outsiders began with purpose.

But points from Brian Looney, Daithí Casey (free) and Kieran O'Leary settled a nervy -looking Crokes side.

Set up
Then Crokes carved open the Tipp side's defence as Kieran O'Leary, Alan O'Sullivan and Jamie Doolan combined to set up Brian Looney who was fouled. Colm Cooper drilled the penalty low to the net.

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Points followed from O'Leary, O'Sullivan, Doolan and Looney and suddenly a rout looked on. But a John McGrath goal from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute gave the Tipp champions some hope as Crokes led 1-8 to 1-3 at the interval.

Early second-half points from John McGrath and Ciaran McGrath closed the gap further but Loughmore received a big blow when Hennessy was sent off.

Colm Cooper arrived on the 40 and the game was over as a contest in a three-minute spell when he set up Brian Looney and Kieran O'Leary for tow quick goals.

Cooper, Doolan (2) and three more points from man of the match Looney saw Crokes turned the screw.

Crokes lost Chris Brady to a straight red and Loughmore -Castleiney lost John Ryan to a second yellow as referee Michael Collins was kept busy.

Crokes joint manager Noel O’Leary said: “Today was an awkward day. We expected a tough game . . . but we got over it and 3-16 is good kicking and we’ll move onto the final.

"When the players were left to play football, it was a great game. But it was stop-start, there were yellow and red cards being flashed, which was sad. The GAA is not like that. It should be just reffed normally and players left to get on with the game. We're not the finished article yet."
DR CROKES: D Moloney, J Payne, L Quinn, K Ward, E Brosnan, F Fitzgerald, S Myers, A O'Donovan, J Buckley, A O'Sullivan (0-1), D Casey (0-1, free), B Looney (1-6) , K O'Leary (1-2), C Cooper (1-3, 1-0 pen), J Doolan (0-3). Subs: D O'Leary for K Ward (28 mins), G O Shea for A O 'Donovan (38 mins), S Doolan for S Myers (45 mins), M Moloney for J Payne (49 mins), C Brady for K O'Leary (51 mins) .
LOUGHMORE-CASTLEINEY: D Brennan, T Long, J Meagher, L Egan, T King, C McGrath (0-1), J Ryan, N McGrath, D Kennedy, J McGrath (1-4, 1-0 pen, 3f), A McGrath, C Hennessy, L McGrath, D Bourke, E Sweeney. Subs: J Nyland for A McGrath (49 mins), J Hennessy for T Long (52 ), M Webster for F Bourke (52 mins), W Eviston for N McGrath (58 mins), T McGrath for D Kennedy (59 mins).
Referee: M Collins (Cork)