Kerry SFC Final – Dr. Crokes v South Kerry

O’Sullivan delivers at the death

South Kerry 1-8, Dr Crokes 0-10

By Jim O’Sullivan of the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, November 02, 2009

JUST when it appeared yesterday’s Kerry senior football decider in Fitzgerald Stadium was heading for a replay, county star Declan O’Sullivan fisted over the winning point to leave South Kerry champions for the ninth time. It was fitting that O’Sullivan should have the final say after his massive role in a game which only sprung to life in the last 20 minutes and it was all the sweeter for the Dromid Pearses man after he had missed an open goal at the three-quarters stage. The divisional side could not have complained if the game ended in a draw, given that Crokes twice took the lead after having drawn level for the first time in the 51st minute.

That followed the most influential period in the game for Colm Cooper, linked with excellent play from Brian Looney, which had them in front by a point five minutes from the finish. Before the final whistle sounded, Crokes were out of luck when a ball hit in by substitute Fionn Fitzgerald went wide after goalkeeper Richard White misjudged it, with Eoin Brosnan challenging. While there were suspicions that the Crokes captain was fouled, video footage available afterwards indicated that a referee who didn’t get a number of calls right was correct in ignoring it. The best thing that could be said about the game at the start was that it was played in brightness after earlier torrential rain had darkened the sky, making the distant McGillicuddy reeks almost invisible in the mist.

It was a mere four minutes old when South Kerry were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ronan Hussey which was expertly converted by Bryan Sheehan. It gave the favourites the type of start they would have wished for, but ultimately it was to prove decisive in causing the Crokes to lose their third final to South Kerry in five seasons. While heavy underfoot conditions were a contributory factor and neither set of players could be faulted for effort, the first half failed to produce an exciting spectacle. South Kerry lost their way after a promising start in which Aidan O’Sullivan in particular showed up well, and both Declan O’Sullivan and Bryan Sheehan made their presence felt. Crokes did well to recover lost ground fairly quickly, with Brosnan frequently driving the team forward from the half-back line, Michael Moloney doing well alongside him and midfielders Ambrose O’Donovan and Johnny Buckley coming more into the game. However, for all their penetration they had little to show for their effort on the scoreboard – one reason being that Colm Cooper, who was tenaciously marked by Killian Young, was not getting any real service.

They came within a point in the 17th minute, after Cooper put over a free for his only score of the game. But, with South Kerry crowding their defence, progress was very slow and the divisional side finished the half strongly with scores from John Sugrue and Sheehan from a well-kicked free to lead 1-4 to 0-4 at the break. The Killarney men lifted their performance on the resumption, with Buckley putting over a massive kick from the right wing after Cooper outsmarted Young to make the opening.

Denied a David Moloney ‘goal’ minutes earlier because of a square infringement, Dáithí Casey pointed a free in the 38th minute to bring them back into contention. However South Kerry lifted the siege thanks to a fine Declan O’Sullivan point in the 45th minute. O’Sullivan had a golden chance moments later when a ball from Brian Hickey came back off the upright. However the chance went a-begging, much to Dr Crokes’ relief. The best of the game’s excitement was compressed into the last quarter, with Crokes followers greatly encouraged by a growing threat from Cooper and, more especially, by excellent play from Brian Looney. Two Looney points had the scores level in the 51st minute before another Casey free had them ahead for the first time. And, they had the confidence to get back in front again after Sheehan scored from play – with Looney again on target after an opening from substitute Jamie Doolan. But, showing the obvious benefit of their experience, South Kerry had the composure to maintain their effort, gain an equaliser from a close-in free from Sheehan – and then came Declan O’Sullivan’s fisted winner.

Scorers for South Kerry: B Sheehan 1-4 (1-3 frees); Declan O’Sullivan 0-3; J. Sugrue 0-1.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: B. Looney 0-4; D. Casey 0-3 frees; C. Cooper (free), K. O’Leary and J. Buckley 0-1 each.

SOUTH KERRY: R. White (Sneem/Derrynane); S. Curran (St. Mary’s), S. O’Sullivan (Skellig Rangers, capt), K. Young (Renard); Denis O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), A. O’Sullivan (do), E. O’Neill (Renard); B. Sheehan (St. Mary’s), J. Sugrue (Renard); B. Hickey (Skellig Rangers), A. O’Sullivan (Skellig Rangers), G. O’Driscoll (Skellig Rangers); R. Hussey (Sneem/Derrynane), D. O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) N. O’Shea (Dromid Pearses).

Subs: I. Galvin (Sneem/Derrynane) for O’Shea (41); P. Donoghue (St. Mary’s) for O’Driscoll (54); S. O’Sullivan (Waterville) for Sugrue (62).

DR. CROKES: K. Cremin; J. Payne, J. Cahalane, D. O’Leary; M. Moloney, E. Brosnan (capt), G. Tucker; A. O’Donovan, J. Buckley; K. O’Leary, A. Kenneally, B. Looney; C. Cooper, D. Moloney, D. Casey.

Subs: J. Doolan for K. O’Leary (41); F. Fitzgerald for D. Moloney (57); S. Myers for Kenneally (61).

Referee: Ger Lynch (Ballinskelligs)