|
Round 2- Ardfert 1-11- Dr
Crokes 1-09
Even though most pundits made us
favourites to get through to the semi final of this
prestigous competition Ardfert had other ideas and
ground out a two point victory. There is no doubt that
we had a great chance of winning this game. With fifteen
minutes to go the advantage lay with us. We were two
points up, had the strong wind in our favour and had a
numerical advantage, fifteen against fourteen. Our
opponents had a goal in the 46th minute to go a point in
front and from this to the end it was nip and tuck and
the game was their to be won by either side. The teams
were level at the end of the sixty minutes but in injury
time, Ardfert dug deep and knocked over two points and
gained a place in the semi final.
Our opponents had the advantage of the
very strong breeze in the first half and were four
points to no score in front after fifteen minutes. Two
points by Colm Cooper in the 17th and 22nd minute
narrowed the gap to two points. Ardfert outscored us
four points to one in the remaining minutes of a half
that lasted thirty seven minutes.
A goal and a point in the first three
minutes of the second half equalised the game. There's a
defining time in every game and I feel that the next ten
minutes of this game were very unproductive for us. We
had the strong wind in our favour, had an amount of
possession but failed to register a score. We had two
points before the end of the third quarter to put us in
a winning position, with fifteen minutes to go. Our
opponents struck for a goal in the 46th minute, to go
ahead by a point. Two points without reply in the next
seven minutes put us the minimum in front but Ardfert
equalised with five minutes to go. Both sides were down
to fourteen players at this stage. The teams exchanged
points before the 60th minute, so it looked as if the
game would go into extra time. Our opponents however had
other ideas and showed great mental strength to score
two points before the referee sounded the final whistle
in the 65th minute.
Best in defence were James Cahillane,
John Payne and Shane Doolan. Johnny Buckley had a very
good game at midfield. In attack Colm Cooper, Jamie
Doolan and substitute Eoin Brosnan, who had all the
scores between them, stood out.
Dr Crokes Best Player; Johnny
Buckley.
Team and Scorers; Alan
Kelly; John Payne, Luke Quinn, Mike Moloney; Shane
Doolan, James Cahillane, Batt Moriarty; Johnny Buckley,
James Jones; Daithi Casey, James Fleming, Brian Looney;
Kieran O'Leary, Colm Cooper 0-6(0-3frees), Jamie Doolan
0-2. Subs; Eoin Brosnan 1-1.
Dr Crokes 2-15 Rathmore 3-11 (Sun
3rd May Lewis Rd)
The neutral verdict on this game was
that neither side deserved to lose. Both sides did
however have their chance of winning, we when we led by
seven points, ten minutes after half time and our
opponents who had a point lead going into injury time in
ordinary time. We equalised and went on to win by a
point in extra time.
The teams exchanged points in the
first five minutes. We had three points without reply in
the next five minutes. Rathmore equalised with a goal,
midway through the half to get back on level terms. We
had a point a minute later but our opponents went into
the lead for the first time, with a goal in the 18th
minute. We hit back quickly with a well taken Kieran
O'Leary goal from a precision assist by Colm Cooper. Our
opponents equalised in the 25th minute but we finished
the half strongly with four unanswered points for an
interval lead of 1-9 to 2-2.
We started the second half very well
and three points without reply put us seven points clear
after 40 minutes. Rathmore got on top at this stage and
a goal, followed by a point reduced the deficit to three
points. We had a point in the 45th minute but the last
quarter belonged to our opponents who outscored us five
points to nil, to take a point lead into injury time.
With practically the last kick of the game, Colm Cooper
equalised for us from a free.
A Colm Cooper goal from a Kieran O'
Leary pass gave us a great start in extra time. Scores
were hard to come by and the only other score in the
first period was a Rathmore point. Points were
exchanged in the 13th and 14th minute and our opponents
reduced the deficit to the minimum, with a point in the
17th minute. We got possession of the ball at this
juncture and played 'keep ball' for the remaining
minutes and qualified to play Ardfert in the next round.
Best in defence were the outstanding
Shane Doolan, John Payne and James Cahillane. Ambrose
O'Donovan and Johnny Buckley more than held their own at
midfield. We had great displays in attack from Brian
Looney, Colm Cooper and Kieran O'Leary.
Dr Crokes Best Player;
Brian Looney, who scored six points from play.
Team and Scorers; Alan
Kelly; Luke Quinn, Mike Moloney, John Payne; Batt
Moriarty 0-1, James Cahillane, Shane Doolan; Ambrose
O'Donovan, Johnny Buckley 0-2; James Fleming, Eoin
Brosnan, Brian Looney 0-6; Kieran O'Leary 1-2, Colm
Cooper 1-4(0-4frees), Daithi Casey. Subs;
Jamie Doolan, David Moloney.
|
