It was Kerry county senior football final day as Austin Stacks and Dr Crokes squared off.
Here’s how it all unfolded.
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RESULT: Dr Crokes 4-16 Austin Stacks 0-12
It’s Kerry county senior football final day as Dr Crokes face Austin Stacks. Throw-in at Fitzgerald Stadium is 3pm.
Dr Crokes are bidding today for a fourth successive title and of course they defeated Austin Stacks in the 2010 final by 1-15 to 0-11.
Austin Stacks last lifted the Kerry county senior football title in 1994 when they defeated Dr Crokes after a replay. Big day then for the Tralee-based club as they attempt to claim silverware.
Austin Stacks fans always bring plenty of colour and noise. Today is no different.
Plenty big names in action today with Dr Crokes having Colm Cooper, Kieran O’Leary and Johnny Buckley in their ranks while Kieran Donaghy and Daniel Bohane line out for Austin Stacks.
Noel O’Leary and Vince Casey are the joint managers for Dr Crokes while Austin Stacks are lead by former Kerry All-Ireland winner Stephen Stack.
The winners today advance to the Munster senior club football championship where they will face Castlehaven on November 3rd. Last Sunday, Castlehaven claimed their second successive Cork senior football crown with a final win over Nemo Rangers.
We’re closing in on throw-in at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.
Here’s the Austin Stacks team.
AUSTIN STACKS: Darragh O’Brien; Fearghal McNamara, Daniel Bohane, John Dennis; Pa McCarthy, Denis McElligott, Ronan Shanahan; Barry Shanahan, Shane Carroll; Greg Horan, Paul O’Donoghue, Michael Collins; Darragh Long, Kieran Donaghy, Shane O’Callaghan.
And here’s the Dr Crokes team:
DR CROKES: David Moloney; Kieran Ward, Luke Quinn, John Payne; Eoin Brosnan, Fionn Fitzgerald, Shane Myers; Ambrose O’Donovan, Johnny Buckley; Alan O’Sullivan, Daithi Casey, Brian Looney; Kieran O’Leary, Colm Cooper, Chris Brady.
The curtain-raiser went the way of Templenoe in the Kerry novice championship final as they got the better of Listry by 2-15 to 2-13.
Dr Crokes the overwhelming favourites for this game, can Austin Stacks spring a surprise?
Seamus Mulvihill from St Senan’s is the referee.
Kieran Donaghy as expected will play at midfield for Austin Stacks.
Both sides enter the game on the back of comprehensive semi-final wins. Dr Crokes hammered Kerins O’Rahilly’s while Austin Stacks thrashed Feale Rangers.
Cork SHC semi-final: It’s now Ballymartle 1-10 Sarsfields 0-19 with about 10 minutes left in that game.
Dr Crokes 0-1 Austin Stacks 0-0: 1 mins - Lightning start by Dr Crokes as Brian Looney points from play.
Dr Crokes 0-2 Austin Stacks 0-0: 1 mins – And now Colm Cooper swings over a free. Great start by Dr Crokes.
Dr Crokes 0-2 Austin Stacks 0-1: 3 mins – Austin Stacks get off the mark thanks to a lovely point by Barry Shanahan.
Dr Crokes nearly on target again but Kieran O’Leary sees his point effort stopped by the upright.
Nearly a goal registered by Austin Stacks but no one is on hand to finish the ball to the net after Kieran Donaghy created the chance.
Dr Crokes 0-4 Austin Stacks 0-1: 6 mins – Daithi Casey from play and Colm Cooper from a free, after he was fouled himself, stretches Dr Crokes lead.
Dr Crokes 0-5 Austin Stacks 0-1: 7 mins – Johnny Buckley raises the white flag with a quality point. Dr Crokes exerting their authority now.
Austin Stacks defender John Dennis makes a brilliant run from deep but with a scoring chance on offer for the Stacks, it is John Payne who nips in to intercept and avert the danger for Dr Crokes.
Dr Crokes 0-5 Austin Stacks 0-2: 8 mins – But now Austin Stacks do manage to notch a point with Paul O’Donoghue, the ex-John Mitchels player, on target.
Dr Crokes 0-5 Austin Stacks 0-3: 10 mins – Fine point by Shane O’Callaghan to help Austin Stacks eat into Dr Crokes advantage. Plenty scores early on.
Dr Crokes 0-6 Austin Stacks 0-3: 11 mins – Lovely point by Kieran O’Leary, his first of the day, restores Dr Crokes three-point advantage.
Dr Crokes 0-8 Austin Stacks 0-3: 13 mins – Two quick points by Colm Cooper, the first from the fist and the second kicked between the posts. Dr Crokes dominating around the middle and using it as the platform to control the game.
Alan O’Sullivan had a chance to extend Dr Crokes lead but his effort for a point tails wide.
John Dennis has now been detailed to mark Colm Cooper.
Austin Stacks John Dennis and Colm Cooper of Dr.Crokes (file photo)
PicL INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Dr Crokes 0-10 Austin Stacks 0-3: 19 mins – Now a seven-point advantage for Dr Crokes with points now from Kieran O’Leary and Chris Brady.
Austin Stacks make an early change with David Mannix coming in for Darragh Long.
And then Austin Stacks spurn a scoring chance as Mikey Collins point effort is stopped by David Moloney as the Dr Crokes goalkeeper rises high to catch the ball and prevent it from going over the bar.
Dr Crokes 0-10 Austin Stacks 0-4: 21 mins – It’s defender Fearghal McNamara who provides the inspiration for Austin Stacks as he notches a score.
Goal for Colm Cooper!
Dr Crokes 1-10 Austin Stacks 0-4: 25 mins – Is that game over already in Fitzgerald Stadium? That man Colm Cooper has fired the ball to the net for the first goal of the game. The creator was wing-forward Alan O’Sullivan.
That’s a sizeable lead that Dr Crokes now possess.
Dr Crokes 1-10 Austin Stacks 0-5: 28 mins – Shane Carroll pulls a point back for Austin Stacks.
Dr Crokes 1-10 Austin Stacks 0-6: 29 mins – And Carroll on the mark again from a play with a left-footed shot.
The half-time whistle is approaching with Dr Crokes still seven points clear.
Half-Time: Dr Crokes 1-11 Austin Stacks 0-6: Kieran O’Leary fires over a point to round off a great first-half performance by Dr Crokes. They’re eight points clear at the break.
We’re getting set again for the second-half action.
Goal for Dr Crokes!
Dr Crokes 2-11 Austin Stacks 0-6: 31 mins – Dream start to the second-half for Dr Crokes as Chris Brady fires to the net after a terrific run by Daithi Casey.
Kieran Donaghy puts the ball in the net for Austin Stacks but the referee judges that Donaghy committed a foul and free out for Dr Crokes.
Dr Crokes 2-11 Austin Stacks 0-7: 36 mins – Barry Shanahan pulls a point back for Austin Stacks but they still trail by 10 points and have a mountain to climb.
Dr Crokes 3-11 Austin Stacks 0-7: 38 mins – That should be that. Dr Crokes register a third goal with Kieran O’Leary planting the ball to the net.
Dr Crokes 3-11 Austin Stacks 0-8: 39 mins – David Mannix notches another point for Austin Stacks.
Kieran O’Connell on for Austin Stacks for Denis McElligott.
Kieran O’Leary of Dr Crokes with Denis McElligott of Austin Stacks
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Dr Crokes 3-12 Austin Stacks 0-8: 41 mins – Now Kieran Ward gets in on the scoring act as the Dr Crokes defender fists over a point.
Conor Jordan replaces John Dennis on the Austin Stacks team.
Dr Crokes 4-12 Austin Stacks 0-8: 44 mins – And it’s goal number four for Dr Crokes with Daithi Casey firing home.
William Kirby is on for Austin Stacks for Shane O’Callaghan while Jamie Doolan replaces Chris Brady in the Dr Crokes side.
Dr Crokes 4-13 Austin Stacks 0-8: 47 mins – Kieran O’Leary punches over a point for a Dr Crokes team that are set to claim their fourth successive county title.
Brian Looney of Crokes with Ronan Shanahan and Kieran Donaghy of Austin Stacks
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Dr Crokes 4-14 Austin Stacks 0-9: 48 mins – Johnny Buckley with Dr Crokes latest point.
Michael Moloney on for Dr Crokes instead of Luke Quinn.
Shane Myers and Alan O’Sullivan gone off for Dr Crokes with Gavin O’Shea and David O’Leary coming in.
Dr Crokes 4-14 Austin Stacks 0-10: 51 mins – Shane Carroll points for Austin Stacks.
Dr Crokes 4-15 Austin Stacks 0-10: 54 mins – Point by substitute Jamie Doolan for Dr Crokes. Shane Doolan is in for John Payne.
Dr Crokes 4-15 Austin Stacks 0-11: 58 mins – Point for Greg Horan for Austin Stacks in Fitzgerald Stadium.
FULL-TIME: Dr Crokes 4-16 Austin Stacks 0-12: All over with Daithi Casey firing over a point to seal Dr Crokes victory. Four in a row for the Killarney-based club who are deserving champions. Thanks for joining us today.
