Dr Crokes 1-16, Templenoe 0-11.
Templenoe’s brave county championship campaign came to an end after a strong second half display from Dr Crokes gave them victory with 8 points to spare at FitzGerald Stadium Killarney last Sunday afternoon.
The game was played in ideal conditions and the first quarter in particular turned out to be a shoot-out between Killian Spillane and Tony Brosnan. Indeed there were no other scorers in the first 20 minutes, with both men continuing to show brilliant form, ahead of the resumption of the 2020 inter-county season. The opening score of the game stemmed from a Colin Crowley interception to set up Killian Spillane for the first of his six points total. Tony Brosnan replied with a pointed free for the Crokes. Then, these two marksmen repeatedly traded point for point to make the score four points apiece after 13 minutes. Two minutes earlier, Templenoe keeper Mark Looney did very well to stop a goal bound shot from Micheal Burns. While at the other end, Killian Spillane added another point for Templenoe, before Teddy Doyle looked to be through on goal only to see his effort go wide of the points to leave the score 0-05 to 0-04 at the first water break.
Dr Crokes then introduced Kieran O’Leary and started to come much more into the game when play resumed. They would go on to outscore Templenoe by six points to two before the half time whistle. Their purple patch started with Micheal Burns levelling the scores, Templenoe responded with a wonderful score from Adrian Spillane. But then Crokes tagged on fives unanswered points courtesy of Tony Brosnan, Kieran O’Leary (2), Micheal Burns and Chris Doncel to give the upper-hand in this contest. However, Templenoe did manage to get one more point before the break through Brian Crowley to keep them well in the game.
Half Time Score: Dr Crokes 0-10, Templenoe 0-07.
Templenoe had a bright beginning to the second half with Killian Spillane reducing the arrears to two points. Dr Crokes though had another trick up their sleeve with the introduction of Gavin White after the interval. A brace of points from Micheal Burns, Tony Brosnan and David O’Leary restored the Killarney’s side lead back to four points, but Templenoe battled on with Stephen O’Sullivan keeping them in touch with a point from a mark in the 37th minute. Not to be outdone Tony Brosnan also called the mark to bag himself another score, before Tadhg Morley combined with Adrian Spillane with the latter finding the range for his second point of the day. Micheal Burns then showed another side to his game, when he landed a 45 over the bar to give Dr Crokes a four points cushion ahead of the second half water break.
The contest was not yet won, but Templenoe had to make do without the services of Adrian Spillane for the remainder of the game due to injury. Dr Crokes opened up a five points gap for the first time in the match with yet another Tony Brosnan point, before Brian Looney signed his name on the scoresheet to put them 2 goals clear. Then Dr Crokes killed off any lingering hopes of a Templenoe upset, when a good team moved ended with Tony Brosnan putting Gavin White through for an easy goal from close range. But even towards the finish Templenoe did not capitulate and tried hard for a goal of their own, but it was not to be and ultimately they had to settle for fisted point from Teddy Doyle before the referee blew for full time.
All in all Templenoe still had a very good debut year at county championship level and will continue to draw encouragement from the famous win over Dingle last week ahead of the one big showdown clash remaining with Kilcummin to decide which Club remains at senior grade for 2021.
Final Score: Dr Crokes 1-16, Templenoe 0-11.
Scorers:
Dr Crokes: Tony Brosnan 0-08 (0-02f, 0-02M), Micheal Burns 0-04 (0-01 45), Gavin White 1-00, Kieran O’Leary 0-02, Chris Doncel 0-01, Brian Looney 0-01.
Templenoe: Killian Spillane 0-06 (0-02f), Adrian Spillane 0-02, Stephen O’Sullivan 0-01 (0-01 M), Teddy Doyle 0-01, Brian Crowley 0-01.
Teams:
Dr Crokes: Shane Murphy, Fionn FitzGerald, Cillian FitzGerald, David Naughton, Michael Moloney, David O’Leary, Michael Potts, Johnny Buckley, Mark O’Shea, Brian Looney, Gavin O’Shea, Micheal Burns, Billy Courtney Tony Brosnan, Chris Doncel.
Subs: Kieran O’Leary, Gavin White, John Payne, Alan O’Sullivan, Cillian O’ Regan.
Templenoe: Mark Looney, Kieran O’Neill, Tadhg Morley, Gavin Crowley, John Rice, Martin Reilly, Tom Spillane, Sean Sheehan, Adrian Spillane, Colin Crowley, Teddy Doyle, Josh Crowley Holland, Stephen O’Sullivan, Brian Crowley, Killian Spillane.
Subs: Kieran McCarthy, Patrick Clifford, Danny Cahalane, Cian Hallissey, Daniel Crowley.
