DR Crokes will meet Kenmare in the final of this year’s Kerry Senior Football Championship which will be a repeat of the dramatic 1987 decider won by Kenmare with a last gasp goal.
Despite losing both Colm Cooper and Fionn Fitzgerald after they were sent to the sideline late in the game, Crokes had just done enough to muster a 1-15 to 0-15 victory over Dingle with the crucial goal coming from the boot of veteran Eoin Brosnan in the second half.
The game at Fitzgerald Stadium this afternoon was an engaging encounter and Crokes needed to draw on all their big game experience with the ever-reliable Colm Cooper pointing the way with four.
Paul and Conor Geaney were in fine form for Dingle, both hitting the target with regularity but Brosnan’s 38th minute goal gave Pat O’Shea’s side the edge.
A flurry of late points from Ambrose O’Donovan, Colm Cooper, Micheál Burns and goalkeeper Shane Murphy edged Crokes closer to the title they last won in 2013.
Waiting for them in the final will be Kenmare who had a sensational 0-20 to 0-19 win against plucky Rathmore in an absolutely brilliant second game at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Paul O’Connor, Adrian Spillane and Patrick Clifford kicked them into a 0-13 to 0-10 half-time lead but Shane Ryan, the tenacious Aidan O’Mahony and Paul Murphy were keeping Rathmore in touch.
Kerry stars Stephen O’Brien and Tadgh Morley helped to restore Kenmare’s advantage and left six between them, 0-18 to 0-12, before Rathmore notched six points without reply with Aidan O’Mahony in incredible form.
Kerry’s All-Ireland minor winning skipper Sean O’Shea saved the day for Kenmare with two late points but there was real drama at the close when Paul Murphy burst through on goal only to see his rocket of a shot sail just over the bar.
The final has been fixed for Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday next at 3.30pm. It will be preceded by the Castleisland Mart Junior Premier Football Championship decider between Na Gaeil and Glenbeigh-Glencar at 1.30pm
The Junior Football Championship final between Fossa and Beale has been fixed for Austin Stack Park on Saturday next at 4.00pm while the Under 21 Hurling Championship final between Lixnaw and St Brendans will be in Abbeydorney on Saturday next at 4.00pm.
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