Images source: Dr Crokes Facebook
Dr Crokes are celebrating yet another Kerry County League Division 1 success after a point earned in a hard-fought draw with Milltown-Castlemaine on Sunday was sufficient to clinch the title.
Their joy means ultimate disappointment for town rivals Killarney Legion who were harbouring county league aspirations of their own but that is now mathematically impossible and a play-off is not required with the shield already on display at Lewis Road.
Crokes managed a 0-12 to 1-9 draw away to Milltown-Castlemaine in a game that gave spectators great value for money and the black and amber worked ferociously to clinch their first league title since 2018.
Veteran attacker Kieran O’Leary proved inspirational for Crokes and kicked a crucial point late on and he also set up Billy Courtney – a former Kerry minor goalkeeper – who was the hero of the hour when he kicked the last point of the game to level matters and seal the title.
That share of the spoils looked unlikely minutes earlier when Eanna O’Connor converted a penalty for Milltown-Castlemaine after Seán Horgan was fouled.
Leading 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, Crokes, obviously without their Kerry contingent, were not short of scorers on the day with O’Leary and Courtney backed up by the exploits of Daithi Casey and Mikey Casey.
Peter Keane’s Killarney Legion registered a 1-14 to 1-13 victory over Kerins O’Rahillys and that sets up what will be a tense play-off with Strand Road’s fierce rivals Austin Stacks to determine who is relegated from the top flight along with Castleisland Desmonds and Gneeveguilla.
Kilcummin, Spa and Rathmore allretained their Division 1 status and Glenflesk, Laune Rangers and An Ghaeltacht are promoted to the top flight.
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