O'Donoghue Cup EK Championship 2007

 O'Donoghue Cup Final(Played in Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday 24th Nov)

Dr Crokes  2-13  ----- Rathmore  0-5.

We won our 23rd East Kerry Championship by defeating Rathmore 2-13 to 0-5. This was the 54th year of the competition and our 5th win of the decade is just one short of our record haul of six in the sixties with two years left to equal or break that record.

Even though we won in the end by fourteen points we didn't have it all our own way in the first half as our opponents had plenty of play but squandered four or five easy enough chances, especially from frees.A goal after five minutes in the second half made Rathmore's task of winning almost impossible even though they had the advantage of the stiff breeze. Our opponents tried right to the end but we were always on the day able to increase our tally on the scoreboard ,culminating with a great Eoin Brosnan goal four minutes from time.

James Fleming opened the scoring for us after two minutes but Rathmore equalised seven minutes later. This was however their only score of the half. In the last twenty of this thirty minutes we scored six points. It was not as if our opponents failed to launch attacks during this period but rather that they were guilty of missing some very kickable frees.We went in at the break 0-7 to 0-1 in front, a lead that was not insur mountable considering that they would have the advantage of the strong breeze in the second half.

Rathmore had the first score after the break, a point within thirty seconds.; this looked the forerunner to a revival by them. They were however rocked back on their heels in the 35th minute when the influential Colm Cooper passed to Brian Looney who transferred to Jamie Doolan who left a few defenders in his wake and finished clinically for a great goal. The teams exchanged points in the next few minutes but two points by us without reply left us 1-10 to 0-3 in front with thirteen minutes to go.Our opponents reduced the deficit with a point but we quickly added on two points. With four minutes to go Eoin Brosnan, who firstly with Johnny Buckley and later with Ambrose O'Donovan gave us superiority at midfield raced through for a great goal. Rathmore had a point before the end, leaving us winners by 2-13 to 0-5.

Team and Scorers; Kieran Cremin; Keith McMahon, Luke Quinn, John Payne; Mike Moloney, Brian McMahon, Gavin Tucker 0-1; Eoin Brosnan(capt) 1-0, Johnny Buckley 0-2; Brian Looney, Colm Cooper 0-6(0-4frees) Shane Doolan 0-1; Kieran O'Leary, James Fleming 0-2(0-1free), Jamie Doolan 1-0.   Subs; Ambrose O'Donovan 0-1, Ian Howard, Edmund O'Sullivan, James Jones.

O'Donoghue Cup S/Final   Dr Crokes 2-12 Scartaglin 1-09 Sun Nov 4th

(Played in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday 4th Nov)

What would probably  have been the greatest upset in the 54 years staging of the O/Donoghue Cup was a distinct possibility at half time in the semi final of the competition against Scartaglin. Our opponents were six points in front at this stage, having played the far better football and unlucky not to be further ahead (our goalie Andrew O'Connell saved us on a few occasions).We did improve in the second half and scored 2-8 to Scarts 0-2 but it was only in the last five minutes that we clinched victory by six points.

The teams exchanged points on three occasions in the first twenty minutes even though we played second fiddle to our opponents.The next five minutes was dominated by Scartaglen who sent over four unanswered points.We had a point in the 26th minute but a goal from the penalty spot by the losers on the stroke of half time gave them a six point lead, 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

The introduction of Jamie Doolan at half time gave us greater options in attack.He showed well for the ball, took on the opposition and carved out openings.We were well on top in the third quarter and scored 1-3 without reply to gain equality.Scart however were far from finished and went a point in front in the 50th minute.We hit back with three pointed frees from Colm Cooper. one a super effort from the sideline.Our opponents got our lead down to the minimum a minute later and both sides had chances in the next few minutes without registering a score. Our experience told in the last five minutes and we added on 1-2, the goal coming from the boot of Colm Cooper who finished with a total of 1-7.

We were best served in defence by goalkeeper Andrew O'Connell, Gavin Tucker and Mike Moloney. Eoin Brosnan had a very good second half at midfield. In attack Colm Cooper, Shane Doolan and Jamie Doolan were best.Johnny Buckley made a good contibution also both in attack and midfield.

Dr Crokes Best Player; Colm Cooper.

Team and Scorers; Andrew O'Connell; John Payne, Luke Quinn, Mike Moloney; Batt Moriarty, Brian McMahon, Gavin Tucker; Eoin Brosnan, Ambrose O'Donovan; Brian Looney, Colm Cooper 1-7(0-4frees), Shane Doolan 0-2; Kieran O'Leary 1-0, James Fleming, Johnny Buckley 0-1.  Subs; Jamie Doolan 0-2(0-1free), Keith McMahon.

O'Donoghue Cup Q/F

   O'Donoghue Cup -- Round 1

Dr Crokes  5-11  --------- Spa  2-6(Played in Lewis Road on Thursday 5th July.

We qualified for the Quarter Final of the competition by beating Spa 5-11 to 2-6. Spa are unlucky to have met us both last year and this at a time of the year when we are at our very best. The visitors had the advantage of the hurricane wind in the first half and when they trailed at half time by five points their task in the second half was one of mammoth proportions. They did give their all in this second half but were chasing the game once our lads scored their third goal in the thirty fourth minute.

Spa had the first two points of the game but we quickly equalised. The teams then exchanged goals to leave them level 1-2 each after nine minutes. Spa had two points without reply to lead at the end of the first quarter but the rest of the half belonged to us as we outscored the opposition 1-4 to nil to go in at half time 2-6 to 1-4 in front.

Spa now had a mountain to climb as they faced the strong wind. They did score the first point of the second half but their inability to keep out the goals(three more in this half) kept them out of contention.They did try hard to the end and were rewarded with a goal in the fiftieth minute.This was too little too late leaving us victors at the end 5-11 to 2-6.

Dr Crokes Best Player;  Colm Cooper.

Team and Scorers; Kieran Cremin; Keith McMahon, James Cahillane, John Payne; Batt Moriarty, Shane Doolan 0-1, Jamie Wrenn; Eoin Brosnan 1-0, Ambrose O'Donovan; Johnny Bucklay 0-2, James Fleming 0-1, Brian Looney 0-3(0-1-45); Kieran O'Leary 2-0, David Moloney 1-0, Colm Cooper 1-4(0-1free). Subs; Nicholas Murphy, Gavin Tucker and Ian Howard.

 THE FOLLOWING IS THE REVISED DATES FOR THE ODONOGHUE CUP