Final   Dr Crokes  0-14  ---  Gneeveguilla  0-9(Played in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday 20th December)

   We won our 25th O Donoghue Cup on Sunday last, beating Gneeveguilla in the final, 0-14 to 0-9. We would have to be proud of our twenty five wins in the 56 years of the Competition.

 Our opponents are not an easy team to beat in a final and they made us fight hard for our four in a row. Our greater experience was a contributory factor to our victory as we never panicked when Gneeveguilla threatened in the last quarter to bring down our seven point lead.

 We got off to a good start with two points in the first three minutes. By the eight minute we were in the lead by four points to one. Our opponents had three points to our one in the next seven minutes. This left us 0-5 to 0-4 ahead at the end of the first quarter. The defining period of the game was the last ten minutes of the first half. We had four points without reply to go in at the interval five points in front.

 The teams exchanged points on two occasions in the first ten minutes of the second half. Before the end of the third quarter we had two unanswered points for an 0-13 to 0-6 lead.  Our opponents came very much into the game at this juncture and three unanswered points reduced the deficit to just four points. Our backs defended stoutly in the last five minutes and Kieran O'Leary closed out the game for us with a point in the 59th minute.

 Our defenders had to work harder than in any other game in the Competition and were not found wanting. Midfield has served us very well all year but were not able to exert the dominance of previous games. Our forwards all played well, individually and as a unit. One would have to mention however, Brian Looney's man of the match performance, Colm Cooper's contribution of six points and Jamie Doolan's great showing for and winning of possession.

 Dr Crokes Best Player;  Brian Looney, followed closely by Fionn Fitzgerald.

Team and Scorers;  Kieran Cremin; John Payne, James Cahillane, Mike Moloney; Fionn Fitzgerald 0-1, Eoin Brosnan, Gavin Tucker; Ambrose O'Donovan, Johnny Buckley; Kieran O'Leary 0-1, Shane Doolan, Brian Looney 0-2; Colm Cooper 0-6(0-3frees), Daithi Casey 0-2(frees), Jamie Doolan 0-2.  Subs;  Andrew Kenneally, Luke Quinn.

  Semi- Final  ----  Dr Crokes  4-16  ---------  Cordal  1-5 (Played in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday 13th Dec).

  We got off to a good start, scoring four unanswered points in the first eight minutes. Cordal replied with a point in the tenth minute. We took over completely in the next eighteen minutes and scored 4-5 without reply. The teams exchanged points in the last two minutes, leaving us 4-10 to 0-2 ahead at the interval and in an unassailable lead.

 Cordal to their credit did not throw in the towel on the resumption. They matched us score for score in the second half but were never likely to make much inroads into our half time lead of twenty points.

  Dr Crokes Best Player;  Colm Cooper.

 Team and Scorers; Kieran Cremin; Fionn Fitzgerald, James Cahillane, Luke Quinn; Mike Moloney, Eoin Brosnan, Gavin Tucker; Johnny Buckley 0-1, Ambrose O'Donovan; Kieran O'Leary 1-1, Shane Doolan, Brian Looney 1-1; Colm Cooper 1-6(0-2frees), Daithi Casey 0-3(frees), Jamie Doolan 1-2. Subs;  Shane Myers 0-1, James Jones 0-1, Shane O'Neill, Alan Kelly, David Neeson.

  Q/Final----------- Dr Crokes 3-14------ Spa 0-04(played in Spa on Sat Dec 5th @ 2.00pm)

 We qualified for the East Kerry semi final with a good win over Spa. The fact that Spa were short a few influential players made our task easier but nevertheless we turned in a good display and ran out easy winners in the end.

 We got off to the best possible start, going 1-4 to nil in front by the 6th minute. Our opponents had their best spell in the game in the next six minutes, scoring three points without reply. We were well on top for nearly all of the rest of the first half. We scored seven unanswered points and then both sides exchanged points. This left us 2-11 to 0-4 ahead  at the interval.

 The second half was played out with little intensity. During this period, Spa had some near misses but failed to add to their tally. We added 1-3 to our first half score to run out winners, 3-14 to 0-4.

  In a very good team display, we were best served by John Payne, James Cahillane and Mike Moloney in defence. Johnny Buckley and Ambrose O'Donovan gave us a good pull at midfield. In attack, Colm Cooper, Kieran O'Leary, Daithi Casey and Jamie Doolan were best.

Dr Crokes Best Player;  Johnny Buckley.

  Team and Scorers;  Kieran Cremin; John Payne, James Cahillane, Luke Quinn; Eoin Brosnan, Mike Moloney, Fionn Fitzgerald; Johnny Buckley 0-1, Ambrose O'Donovan; Kieran O'Leary 0-3, Shane Doolan, Brian Looney 0-1; Colm Cooper 0-2(0-1free), Daithi Casey 2-5( 0-3frees), Jamie Doolan 1-0.  Subs;  James Jones, Gavin Tucker 0-2, Shane O'Neill, Shane Myers and David Neeson.

 1st  Round ----  Dr Crokes  2-15  ----- --Legion  1-3.(played in Lewis Road on Sat 21st Nov)

Everybody in the East Kerry Area , including our own supporters, anticipated a very close game against our neighbours. This however did not materialise. We came quickly out of the blocks and built up a twelve point lead by the interval. The fact that we had played against the strong breeze in the first thirty minutes made this an almost unassailable lead. We were fifteen points ahead at the three quarter stage and could afford the luxury of using our bench in the last fifteen minutes. This was probably our best display of the season and on the day would probably have beaten any opposition.

We were in complete control in the first half, combining well and taking nearly all our chances. The Legion forwards in fairness to them were denied possession but on a few occasions should have registered scores when in good positions. We led at the interval 1-9 to nil.

The teams exchanged points at the start of the second half and then a point by us was followed by a Legion goal which reduced the deficit to ten points. Any hopes of a fight back by our opponents were dashed in the next few minutes when we added on 1-2, the goal, a vintage Colm Cooper one, after a good combined movement. That left us fifteen points in front, with the last quarter being played out without urgency on either side. Both teams contributed two points in this period leaving us winners by 2-15 to 1-3.

On a day in which we had stars all over the field one would have to mention, Fionn Fitzgerald, James Cahillane and John Payne in defence, both of our midfielders and Colm Cooper, Kieran O'Leary and Jamie Doolan in attack.

Dr Crokes Best Player;  Colm Cooper.

Team and Scorers;  Kieran Cremin; John Payne, James Cahillane, Luke Quinn 0-1,  Mike Moloney, Eoin Brosnan (capt), Fionn Fitzgerald 0-1; Ambrose O'Donovan, Johnny Buckley 0-2; Kieran O'Leary 0-1, Andrew Kenneally, Brian Looney; Colm Cooper 1-6, Daithi Casey 1-1(0-1free), Jamie Doolan 0-3.  Subs;  Shane Doolan, James Jones, Shane Myers.