Dr Crokes prove too powerful for inexperienced Clonmel side

The Dr Crokes juggernaut continues to roll despite the wind and rain at Lewis Road yesterday as the Kerry champions had too much firepower for an inexperienced Clonmel Commercials side who were without four key players.

Crokes started without the injured Ambrose O’Donovan and Kerry minor Gavin OShea come in at corner forward while Daithí Casey moved to join the powerful Jonny Buckley at midfield.

Clonmel lost three key players before the start, Eamon Hanrahan, Fergal O’Callaghan and the biggest loss of all, Michael Quinlivan.

Clonmel Commercials boss Philly Ryan said: “We lost good players before the throw-in but look, we have a big panel, and we’re not going to use that as an excuse . . . Obviously they were big losses, when you come to Kerry to play a Kerry team and you’re from Tipperary you need everything going right for you.”

However Dr Crokes with Johnny Buckley, Michael Moloney, Eoin Brosnan, Kieran OLeary and Colm Cooper pulling the strings in the first half with the elements, they raced 0-10 to 0-2 clear by half-time.

Crokes started with Buckley superb at midfield and the Killarney side rattled off of points through Cooper (four), Buckley, Daithí Casey, and Chris Brady as Crokes led 0-7 to 0-2 after 18 minutes, with an Ian Barne’s free and a fine effort by Eamon Kennedy Clonmel’s only returns.

Crokes lost Casey with concussion after an accidental hit and Shane Doolan came in at centre back while Eoin Brosnan went to midfield. Crokes were moving the ball with purpose and Cooper was not missing. They did not shoot a wide until the 26th minute, and further points from Brady, Luke Quinn and Cooper saw Crokes go in 0-10 to 0-2 in front.

Then, after Cooper converted another free a minute into the second period, Clonmel hit three unanswered points from Ian Barnes, Richie Carroll and Alan Lonergan. The visiting crowd were crying out for a goal to make the final quarter interesting. However what followed was a Crokes goal, described by Philly Ryan as “a great goal, a thing of beauty, they worked it well”.

It was a brilliant move in the 52nd minute when Kieran O’Leary, Jamie Doolan, Brian Looney were involved as they played in Buckley and he floated a ball to the back post where Brosnan buried it to the net. That ended the game as a contest. Clonmel’s Ian Barnes, as he was red carded five minutes from time for a bad tackle on Fionn Fitzgerald.