AIB Munster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Quarter-Final – Dr. Crokes (Kerry) 2-8 Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) 0-13

Moloney saves the day for Dr Crokes

Dr Crokes 2-8 Kilmurry-Ib 0-13

Munster club SFC quarter-final

By Gerry Quinn for the Irish Independent newspaper

Two superb saves from Dr Crokes goalkeeper David Moloney and goals in either half gave the Kerry champions a hard-earned victory at Quilty. A gallant Kilmurry-Ibrickane side, playing in front of a home crowd of 1,924, came up just short in a pulsating contest. The visitors enjoyed a commanding eight-point lead midway through the second half and looked to be coasting into the last four. But the spirit and skill of the west Clare outfit had their opponents praying for the final whistle.

In heavy underfoot conditions, Dr Crokes got off to a dream start, opening up a 1-1 to 0-0 lead inside four minutes. Playing into a stiff breeze, Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper gave the Kerrymen the advantage when he pointed a close-in free after he had been fouled by full-back Darren Hickey. The Gooch then popped up to produce his side’s opening goal when he fisted home a long-range free-kick by Daithi Casey. It stung the Clare title holders into action and by the 23rd minute they had deservedly drawn level at 1-2 to 0-5, with the impressive Peter O’Dwyer and Enda Coughlan taking control of midfield. Noel Downes spurned a superb chance to put his side ahead late in the half when his point attempt landed in the arms of Dr Crokes goalkeeper Moloney. The Kerry side then put a quick counter-attack together, resulting in a James Doolan point that sent Crokes to the break with a 1-4 to 0-5 advantage.

Kilmurry, though playing the better football for the most of the first half with the aid of the wind, were left facing an uphill struggle after half-time. A brilliant save early on by Moloney from Coughlan to deny a goal added to their woes. Crokes began the second period in confident fashion and led by 2-7 to 0-5 by the 41st minute. Doolan and Chris Brady added points before wing-forward Brian Looney, with a goal and a point, looked to have put the result beyond all doubt. He kicked a superb point from the right wing while on the run in the 40th minute and moments later he struck low to the Kilmurry net after a good pass by Brady.

Yet, the hosts never lost faith and with the introduction of some fresh legs they mounted a comeback. Substitute Mark McCarthy signalled the revival with a point and that was followed by another from fellow replacement Seamus Murrihy, though it would have been a goal but for Moloney’s bravery and brilliance to tap it over. Scores by corner-back Shane Hickey, Coughlan and ace free-taker Ian McInerney had Kilmurray trailing 2-7 to 0-10 with five minutes remaining. Crokes added a vital point at the other end through Shanes Myles in an exciting and entertaining final flourish. Despite Kilmurry recording the last three scores of the day through McCarthy, Downes and a McInerney free-kick, Dr Crokes held out to triumph at the end of a fine game of football.

Scorers — Dr Crokes: C Cooper, B Looney 1-1 each, J Doolan 0-2, D Casey, J Buckey, C Brady, S Meyers 0-1 each. Kilmurry-Ibrikane: I McInerney 0-5 (5f), M McCarthy 0-2, P O ‘Dwyer, J Daly (1f), S Murrihy, S Hickey, E Coughlan (1f), N Downes 0-1 each.

Dr Crokes — D Moloney; J Payne, M Moloney, F Fitzgerald; S Meyers, E Brosnan, L Quinn; S Doolan, J Buckley; K O’Leary, D Casey, B Looney; C Brady, C Cooper, J Doolan. Subs: A Dennehy for Looney (51), G O’Shea for Casey (53).

Kilmurry — P O’Dwyer; McMahon, D Hickey, S Hickey; T O’Connor, P O’Connor, D Callanan; P O’Dwyer, E Coughlan; I McInerney, M O’Dwyer, E Talty; N Hickey, J Daly, N Downes. Subs: M McCarthy for N Hickey (h-t), O O’Dwyer for Talty (h-t), S Murrihy for Daly (42), C Donnellan for T O’Connor (43).

Ref — C Lane (Cork)

Banner champs push Dr Crokes to the limit

By John Fogarty for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Dr Crokes (Kerry) 2-08 Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) 0-13

A Sunday scare for reigning champions Dr Crokes yesterday as they found themselves hanging on to a Munster Club SFC victory in West Clare that had earlier looked theirs as they pleased. Despite a soaked sod which made soloing impossible in a lot of the central areas, the Kerry kingpins had put themselves in a commanding position with 20 minutes remaining. With no shortage of graft or grunt, they had overcome their shortcomings at midfield — where the absent Ambrose O’Donovan was missed — to exert themselves on a physical encounter in front of a 1,924 crowd in Quilty.

Brian Looney and Daithi Casey, both substituted, ran themselves into the ground while David Moloney showed why Eamonn Fitzmaurice has called him into Kerry’s winter training panel with an exceptional save in each half. Even if Kilmurry-Ibrickane were far from economical with their wind-assisted chances in the first half, Crokes were good value for their eight-point advantage when Looney scored his second goal in as many weeks. And yet it was a Shane Myers’ 56th-minute point completely against the run of play that proved the difference between the teams.

Crokes’ difficulties in the middle of the field were apparent in the first half when, having gone 1-1 up after just four minutes, Kilmurry-Ibrickane levelled matters in the 24th minute. Moloney’s restarts were fighting a gale wind and landing almost on the heads of his half-back line who were forced into fouling and duly punished by Ian McInerney and Johnny Daly. Crokes couldn’t blame the conditions, though, in the last quarter when a clearly tiring pairing of Eoin Brosnan and Johnny Buckley were struggling, especially against an excellent Peter O’Dwyer. Trailing 1-4 to 0-5 at the break, having spurned a host of scoring chances with Noel Downes the worst offender, the home team were put on the back-foot further when Chris Brady, Jamie Doolan and Brian Looney found their range. Against the wind, goalkeeper Peter O’Dwyer’s kick-out following Looney’s point was a poor one and the ball was transferred to an alert Looney who looked to have sealed the victory when he slotted a goal.

Complacency may explain some of what followed but fatigue was undoubtedly the principle factor as Crokes, a week after seeing off Dingle to win a third Kerry SFC title, lost their shape and discipline. Kilmurry-Ibrickane managed their first point in 24 minutes when half-time replacement, Mark McCarthy, sailed a kick over the bar. Crokes keeper Moloney, having denied Enda Coughlan a goal with a stretched palm in the fifth minute, acrobatically deprived Seamus Murrihy and tipped the rasping shot above his crossbar. The vocal home support didn’t need much encouragement and further points from corner back Shane Hickey and a free from Coughlan, which narrowed the deficit to four, had the majority of those in the stand on their feet.

The comeback of all comebacks was sensed when McInerney bagged his fourth free of the game after Downes had been fouled. Myers broke some of Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s momentum when he availed of Gavin O’Shea’s pass to give Crokes some respite and restore their four-point lead. But back came John Kennedy’s men, McCarthy adding his second of the game and then Downes finishing a move that had been started by Peter O’Dwyer catching Moloney’s kick-out from McCarthy’s score. With two minutes signalled and the game in the balance, tempers flared as Kennedy exchanged heated words with a member of the Crokes camp.

By that stage, Crokes’ defending was desperate and cynical and McInerney’s fifth free, one minute into the additional two signalled by referee Conor Lane, made it a one-point game. However, Crokes, sensing the significance of the moment, put an onus on winning the next kick-out and, with Colm Cooper heavily involved, played enough keep-ball until the Cork official blew for full-time. Full of beans, Crokes were a different team in the first 40 minutes of the game, Cooper getting a touch for their first goal in the fourth minute from a Casey free delivery. Looney came to the fore after the break but it was Casey and Jamie Doolan who were the sharpest in the Crokes attack.

Even with Kilmurry-Ibrickane keen to exert their muscle on occasions which saw them pick up two yellow cards in the opening 20 minutes, Crokes were able to play clever possession football. And just when it appeared a paucity of midfield possession could prove their undoing, a clever Chris Brady pass set up Buckley for a point and then Casey linked up beautifully with Doolan to register another to give Crokes a two-point lead at the break.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: C Cooper 1-1 (0-1 free), B Looney 1-1; J Doolan 0-2; D Casey, J Buckley, C Brady, S Myers 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilmurry-Ibrickane: I McInerney 0-5 (all frees); M McCarthy 0-2; P O’Dwyer, J Daly (free), S Murrihy, S Hickey, E Coughlan (free), N Downes 0-1 each.

Subs for Dr Crokes: A Kenneally for Looney (inj 52); G O’Shea for Casey (54).

Subs for Kilmurry-Ibrickane: M McCarthy for N Hickey, O O’Dwyer for Talty (both h-t); S Murrihy for Daly, C Donnellan for T O’Connor (both 43).

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)

Next Round – the winners play the Tipperary champions in the Munster Club Semi-Final on Sunday November 18^th at a Tipperary or Kerry 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

Match Preview

The windswept fishing village of Quilty hosts the meeting of local team Kilmurry-Ibrickane and Kerry champions Dr. Crokes in the AIB Munster GAA Football Championship quarter-final this Sunday. Home advantage is a welcome boost for the Clare champions, as they will face a serious challenge when they meet Dr. Crokes. However, Kilmurry-Ibrickane have won four of the last five Clare titles, and won Munster titles in 2004 and 2009. Their pedigree at this level is undoubted.

Dr. Crokes also have won two Munster titles in the last decade, landing the crown last season, and back in 2006. With seven-time GAA All Star Colm Cooper in typically outstanding form, they won the Kerry title last weekend with a comfortable victory over Dingle, their third Kerry crown in a row. Alongside Cooper, Kerry stars Eoin Brosnan, Kieran O’Leary and Johnny Buckley are central to Dr. Crokes’ hopes, and they will feel they can beat Kilmurry-Ibrickane on Sunday. However, the Clare outfit are extremely experienced at this level, and a very tight game is surely in prospect.

For the Record

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Club Senior Championship 2012

Quarter-Finals

Sunday November 4^th (Replay date – Saturday November 10th)

@ Quilty                      Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) v Dr. Crokes (Kerry) 2:00pm

@ Clonakilty              Castlehaven (Cork) v Dromcollogher-Broadford (Limerick) 2:00pm

Semi-Finals
Sunday November 18^th (Replay date – Saturday November 24th)

@ Tipperary or Kerry venue             Clonmel Commercials (Tipperary) v

Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) or Dr. Crokes (Kerry)
@ Cork or Limerick venue               Stradbally or The Nire (Waterford) v

Castlehaven (Cork) or Dromcollogher-Broadford (Limerick)

Final

Sunday December 2^nd (Replay date – Saturday December 8th)

2:00pm throw-in

Odds and Ends

Since 2000, Cork hold the best record in the Munster Club Championship with 20 victories and 6 Munster Club titles during that period.

Kerry’s record in the Munster Club Senior Football Championship sees them with 14 titles, just over half the total of Cork clubs (27). Since 2000, Kerry have captured 3 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 16 Munster Club Senior Football champions (6%) have won the All-Ireland Club Senior Football title – 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.

Clare won 3 Munster Club Senior Football titles since 2004 and have won 13 of the 25 matches played in the Munster Club Championship since 2000.

Limerick’s Dromcollogher-Broadford defeated Nemo Rangers and Kilmurry/Ibrickane to win the 2008 Munster Club Senior Football title. Those 2 victories are the only wins for the Limerick Senior Football champions in this competition dating back to 2003, a period of 9 matches which include 8 defeats and 1 drawn game.

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 (14) – 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2011

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 1888 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/sfclub_teams

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.