AIB Munster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Quarter Final – Dr. Crokes (Kerry) 1-11 Castlehaven (Cork) 0-8

Looney just what Dr Crokes ordered

Dr Crokes 1-11 Castlehaven 0-8

Report by Cliona Foley for the Irish Independent newspaper

Munster Club SFC Quarter-Final

ALL the buzz before this classic Kerry-Cork clash was of the expected shoot-out between the rival gunslingers. With Colm Cooper and Brian Hurley – who had scored 3-47 during the retention of Castlehaven’s county title – pitting their shooting boots against each other, a thrilling early-round showdown was expected and attracted a big crowd to the Munster champions’ home ground in Killarney. But the Gooch didn’t even get on the scoreboard and Hurley only scored once in a game in which the filthy weather proved a great leveller and Crokes’ decisive goal was engineered by a man who has some previous history of breaking ‘Haven’s hearts.

The last time Daithi Casey did it a few years ago he was wearing the skull n’ crossbones of UCC; nowadays he is based in Dublin doing a post-grad in primary-school teaching in Marino. But yesterday he was his hometown hero after kicking the speculative lob into the square with 11 minutes left that sealed this victory. Teenager Gavin O’Shea (son of former county star Pat) put his body on the line to deflect it into the net at the back post, but Casey was given most of the credit even if he insisted he didn’t deserve it. “I was going for a point, luckily Gavin got a touch because had it fallen short I was going to be getting a bit of abuse from my team-mates!” he chuckled. “I think we were getting to grips with the game but it definitely came at the right time and gave us a big lift. Up to that point it was nip-and-tuck,” he said, admitting it was Crokes’ toughest game since bowing out to Ballymun in last season’s All-Ireland series.

Starting out on their bid for a provincial three in a row, Crokes never looked like losing this but they also never really showed the west Cork men a clean pair of heels either. The visitors, led by Hurley, Mark Collins and Damien Cahalane, had lost to them by seven points in last year’s provincial final. Castlehaven played with just three forwards; they gave Collins a roving role, and while he had a good tussle with Fionn Fitzgerald, playing him so far from goal was robbing Peter to pay Paul as their few forwards found themselves isolated too often and Hurley was largely neutered by the double-marking of Luke Quinn and Eoin Brosnan.

FRUSTRATED

But at the other end their packed defence frustrated Crokes for long periods and it was often only the smart diagonal passes and quick-thinking of Brian Looney and Alan O’Sullivan who were able to penetrate it. Local brows furrowed when Castlehaven led by a point after the first quarter, particularly as two of their opening three points were crackers from Hurley’s older brother Stephen, one of four siblings in their squad. Crokes responded as expected and, despite kicking seven wides, went in three points up at half-time (0-7 to 0-4).

But Kieran O’Leary, who’d already scored 0-2 from play, was lost to concussion during the break and Castlehaven’s Chris Hayes had already wasted a good goal chance after 28 minutes which he blasted over the bar. When the Gooch had a free off the wood-work and Stephen Hurley rattled over his third point quickly after the re-start to cut the lead, it was squeaky bum time for the defending champions. But Looney immediately responded with a great point and a ’45’ to restore a safe margin and Castlehaven never again got closer than three points, though they plugged away and upped the tempo of their counter-attacks. O’Shea’s goal sealed the deal and a place in the semi-finals against Tipperary’s new double-champions Loughmore-Castleiney.

While the Gooch didn’t make the scoreboard and missed a couple of frees he still contributed plenty, especially when moved out to centre-forward and the satisfaction for Vince Casey and their management was that others stepped up on the scoring front while he was busy elsewhere. “Castlehaven have improved an awful lot since last year but we feel we’ve improved too,” Casey said. “They came with a game plan and it frustrated us for a good while but that bit of experience and patience ultimately got us the result. “You could call the goal fortunate but it showed great awareness and bravery by Gavin and it was the turning point. “You can’t depend on one or two individuals. Luke Quinn did a great job on Brian Hurley, four of our forwards scored from play and Colm still had a big role to play and popped some great passes – we’ve always said this competition is all about the team effort.”

Scorers – Dr Crokes: B Looney 0-4 (2 ’45s’), G O’Shea 1-0, D Casey 0-3 (1f), A O’Sullivan, K O’Leary 0-2. Castlehaven: S Hurley 0-4, B Hurley, D Hurley, C Hayes, D Cahalane (’45’) 0-1 each.

Dr Crokes – D Moloney; L Quinn, K Ward, J Payne; E Brosnan, F Fitzgerald, S Myers; A O’Donovan (capt), J Buckley; AO’Sullivan, D Casey, B Looney; K O’Leary, C Cooper, C Brady. Subs: J Doolan for O’Leary (inj, h-t), G O’Shea for Brady (49), D O’Leary for Myers (53), S Doolan for Casey (58), M Moloney for Payne (59).

Castlehaven – P Hurley; L Collins, D Limrick, T O’Leary; JO’Regan, D Cahalane, C Hayes; S Dineen, D Hurley; R Whelton, S Hurley, M Collins; S Cahalane (Capt), B Hurley, S Nolan. D Hegarty for Nolan (h-t), M Hurley for Collins (48), S Hurley for Hayes (54).

Ref – R Hickey (Clare)

When – Sunday November 3^rd at 2:15pm

Where – Dr. Crokes GAA Grounds Killarney

Referee – Rory Hickey (Clare)
Standby Referee – Maurice Condon (Waterford)
Linesman – Paul Foley (Waterford)
4th Official – Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
Umpires – Barry Keane, Pat McInerney, Mike Kelly and Sean Mahon (Clare)

Extra time – (2 periods x 10 minutes only) to be played if sides finish level at the end of 60 minutes

Replay date – Saturday November 9^th

Next Round – the winners play Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) in the Munster Semi-Final on Sunday November 17^th at 2:00pm in a Kerry or Cork venue

Admission Prices –
Adults – €15
Student/OAP – €10
Under 16s are free

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information

For the Record

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Club Senior Championship 2013

Quarter-Finals (Extra time)

Sunday November 3^rd

@ Fraher Field Dungarvan Ballinacourty (Waterford) v Drom-Broadford (Limerick) 2:00pm

@ Dr. Crokes Killarney       Dr. Crokes (Kerry) v Castlehaven (Cork) 2:15pm

Semi-Finals (Extra time)
Sunday November 17^th

@ Clare or Limerick venue            Clare representatives v Ballinacourty (Waterford)

or Drom-Broadford (Limerick) 2:00pm
@ Kerry or Cork venue                   Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) v

Dr. Crokes (Kerry) or Castlehaven (Cork) 2:00pm

Final (Extra time)

Sunday December 1^st

Odds and Ends

Dr. Crokes (Kerry) are looking to win three Munster Club Senior Football titles in a row. The only club to achieve this feat in the past was Nemo Rangers (Cork) who captured three titles in a row from 2000 to 2002, winning the All-Ireland Club title following their 2002 Munster success.

Since 2000, Cork hold the best record in the Munster Club Championship with 22 victories and 6 Munster Club titles during that period.

Kerry’s record in the Munster Club Senior Football Championship sees them with 15 titles compared to 27 titles for Cork clubs. Since 2000, Kerry have captured 4 Munster club titles. During Kerry’s Golden Years at Inter-County level, Kerry won just 3 of the 12 Munster Club Senior Football titles on offer (Austin Stacks – 1976 & Castleisland Desmonds 1984 and 1985).

Since St. Patrick’s Day 1996, only 1 of the last 17 Munster Club Senior Football champions (6%) have won the All-Ireland Club Senior Football titles – Nemo Rangers in the 2002/2003 season. Prior to 1996, Munster Clubs captured 15 All-Ireland’s at this grade, an average of 60% dating back to 1971.

From 1964 to 1997, no club outside of Kerry or Cork won the Munster Club Senior Football title (Thomond College representing Limerick won the 1977 title). Since 1998, Kilmurry/Ibrickane (2), Doonbeg and Dromcollogher-Broadford have been successful in winning the Munster Club Senior Football titles.

Munster GAA Club FOOTBALL Senior Championship Roll Of Honour

Cork (27) – 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010

Kerry (15) – 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012

Clare (3) – 1998, 2004, 2009

Limerick (2) – 1977, 2008

Munster GAA Club FOOTBALL Senior Championship – List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began 1964  – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/sfclub_teams

Munster GAA Club FOOTBALL Senior Championship Finals – 2002 to 2012

2012 – Dr. Crokes, Kerry 0-19 Castlehaven, Cork 0-12

2011 – Dr. Crokes, Kerry 3-14 UCC, Cork 2-10

2010 – Nemo Rangers, Cork 1-15 Dr. Crokes, Kerry 1-13

2009 – Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Clare 0-7 Kerins O’Rahillys, Kerry 0-6

2008 – Dromcollogher-Broadford, Limerick 0-6 Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Clare 0-5

2007 – Nemo Rangers, Cork 1-10 Ballinacourty, Waterford 1-7

2006 – Dr. Crokes, Kerry 2-5 Nire, Waterford 0-8

2005 – Nemo Rangers, Cork 2-12 St. Senan’s Kilkee, Clare 1-6

2004 – Kilmurry Ibrickane, Clare 0-9 Stradbally, Waterford 0-9 (drawn game);
Kilmurry Ibrickane, Clare 0-9 Stradbally, Waterford 0-8 (replay)

2003 – An Ghaeltacht, Kerry 1-8 St. Senan’s Kilkee 1-6

2002 – Nemo Rangers, Cork 4-15 Monaleen, Limerick 0-6

All Ireland GAA Club FOOTBALL Senior Championship

In the Club Senior Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork top the charts with 11 titles followed by Kerry with 5. Limerick have 1 All-Ireland Club Football title courtesy of Thomond College in 1977/1978.

Munster Club Senior FOOTBALL Cup

Club Championship Senior Football Cup – Michael O’Connor Cup

Presented by Munster Council in 1991 to commemorate late Chairman & Treasurer.