Dr Crokes saunter to fourth Munster title in six year with win over The Nire
Dr Crokes, courtesy of this 18-point annihilation of The Nire, sauntered to a fourth Munster title in six years this afternoon.
The game as a contest was well over by the call for the interval break with the Kerry champions ahead by 3-9 to 0-1. Daithí Casey, who supplied all three of Crokes’ goals, raised the first of his green flags nine minutes in. Colm Cooper, with his first touch of the game, started the move. It put the favourites 1-2 ahead and already The Nire looked in trouble.
Points followed from Casey (free), Brian Looney and O’Leary tagged on points and they celebrated a second goal when Casey banged home a 20th minute penalty. The referee initially awarded a 20-metre free but then gave the penalty following consultation with his umpires.
At 2-5 to 0-0, it was ominous for the underdogs. Dermot Ryan kicked their sole score of the half on 21 minutes.
Crokes answered with a superb Casey goal. Looney, Cooper and Johnny Buckley had the difference at 17 come the break.
It was 18 come the final whistle. A seventh title in total for the Killarney club. Next up is Corofin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Scorers for Dr Crokes: D Casey (3-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free); K O’Leary (0-4); C Cooper (0-1 free), B Looney (0-2 each); A O’Donovan, J Buckley, E Brosnan, J Kiely, C Brady (0-1 each).
Scorers for The Nire: D Ryan (0-4); L Lawlor (0-2).
Dr Crokes: S Murphy; F Fitzgerald, M Moloney, J Payne; G White, A O’Sullivan, D O’Leary; A O’Donovan, E Brosnan; J Buckley, G O’Shea, B Looney; K O’Leary, C Cooper, D Casey.
Subs: M Burns for O’Donovan (43 mins); J Kiely for Casey (47); T Brosnan for O’Shea (50); L Quinn for J Payne (50); C Brady for Looney (54); PJ Lawlor for O’Sullivan (56).
The Nire: T Wall; D Ryan, T Gorman, J Walsh; S Ryan, J Barron, J McGrath; S Walsh, Dylan Guiry; B Wall, S Lawlor, M Walsh; C Gleeson, L Lawlor, Darren Guiry.
Subs: J Mulcahy for Walsh (HT), C Guiry for Dylan Guiry (HT); C Mulcahy for Barron (38, bc); S Ryan for McGrath (42); K Guiry for B Wall (53); K Brazil for Lawlor (58)
Referee: K Murphy (Cork).
