Round 4-----  Dr Crokes  2-19----- Kilcummin  0-3(Played in Kilcummin on Sunday 20th April)

 In a game in which we were apprehensive about a result beforehand we ran out easy winners by 2-19 to 0-3. We should not however be carried away by the victory as our opponents were missing many influential players. We did however perform outstandingly well on the day and from as early as the 11th minute when a Kieran O'Leary goal put us 1-4 to nil in front we looked assured winners.

 We attacked from the start and 1-6 without reply left us nine points in front at the end of the first quarter. Even though we had most of the play in the second fifteen minutes we just added on two points to leave us leading at the interval 1-8 to 0-0.

 Even though Kilcummin came more into the game after half time we had the first four scores, four points to put us fifteen points in front. Our opponents never gave up and had three points to our one in the next five minutes. The last quarter again belonged to us as we added on 1-3 for a comprehensive victory.

 In defence Luke Quinn, Keith McMahon and Eanna Kavanagh were best. Ambrose O'Donovan and Johnny Buckley were well on top at midfield and in an attack that functioned well as a unit, Colm Cooper, Kieran O'Leary and  Jamie Doolan scored 2-14 between them.

 Dr Crokes Best Player;  Colm Cooper.

Team and Scorers;  Kieran Cremin; Keith McMahon, Luke Quinn, Mike Moloney; Batt Moriarty, Eanna Kavanagh, Gavin Tucker; Ambrose O'Donovan 0-1, Johnny Buckley 0-2; Brian Looney, Shane Doolan 0-2, James Fleming; Kieran O'Leary 1-2, Colm Cooper (capt) 0-8(0-1free) Jamie Doolan 1-4(0-4frees). Subs;  Edmund O'Sullivan, John Payne, Andrew Kennaally, Ian Howard, Mike O'Grady.

         Round 3----- Dr Crokes  2-11 ------ Listowel Emmets  0-7(Played in Lewis Road on Sunday 6th April).

 After three rounds we remain unbeaten in Division 1 of the County league as a result of our ten point win over Listowel on Sunday last. We were flattered by our ten point winning margin, scoring 1-3 without reply in the last five minutes of the game.

 Even though we were aided by the strong breeze in the first half, we were slow to start and were down two points to nil after five minutes. We had the next score of the game and our first in the tenth minute and drew level two minutes later. Emmets again took the lead a minute later with a point but when we scored three minors without reply it looked as if we would establish a reasonable lead before the interval. This however was not to be the case as we failed to score in the last five minutes and a score from Listowel left us just the minimum in front at half time 0-5 to 0-4.

 The task facing us in the second half, facing the elements as we were, looked a difficult one. The introduction of Colm Cooper and the scoring of three points in the first ten minutes of the half, without reply, gave the team the confidence they  needed. A goal by Shane Doolan for us, matched by three points from our opponents left us just four points in front going into the last ten minutes. It looked as if we were in for a grandstand finish. When we added a goal in the 56th minute the game was more or less settled as a contest. Substitute James Fleming added on three points in the remaining few minutes to give us a deserved but rather flattering ten point victory.

 Kieran Cremin kept a clean sheet. Best in defence were Eanna Kavanagh, Luke Quinn and Gavin Tucker. Ambrose O'Donovan and Johnny Buckley more than held their own at midfield. In attack, Kieran O'Leary, Shane and Jamie Doolan and substitute Colm Cooper were best.

 Dr Crokes Best Player;  Kieran O'Leary.

 Team and Scorers; Kieran Cremin; Mike Moloney, Luke Quinn, Eanna Kavanagh; Batt Moriarty, Brian McMahon, Gavin Tucker; Ambrose O'Donovan, Johnny Buckley 0-1(45). Ian Howard, Shane Doolan 1-1, Brian Looney; Mike O'Grady, Kieran O'Leary 0-5(0-1free), Jamie Doolan 0-1.  Subs;  Colm Cooper, Eoin Brosnan 1-0, James Fleming 0-3(0-2Frees).  

   2008 Fixtures

Dr Crokes 1-11 Castleisland Desmonds 1-07  Sun Mar 30th @ 2.30pm in Castleisland).

We made it two wins from two games played, after successfully overcoming the Desmonds challenge on Sunday last. Our mentors would have been well pleased with the result as we had to field without our five Kerry under 21 players. In fairness to our opponents they would have been short a few key players as well, so both sides got the chance to try out fringe players. A supremacy at centre field laid the foundations for the victory but we had to fight hard for victory in the end, having coasted into an eight point lead seven minutes into the second half. Our opponents got within three points of us with ten minutes to go and having exchanged points in the next five minutes we got the insurance point in injury time to run out winners by four points.

We had the first score of the game, a point in the third minute. Desmonds had two points in as many minutes to take the lead for the only time in the match. They did not score again until the 30th minute when they had their third point of the half. During their barren period we scored 1-4 , the goal a penalty well taken by Shane Doolan to give us an interval lead of 1-5 to 0-3.

We had three points without reply in the first five minutes of the second half to go into an eight point lead. Our opponents came more into the game at this stage and with an unanswered goal and a point closed the gap to four points by the 42nd minute. The teams exchanged points in the next five minutes but a point by Desmonds in the 50th minute narrowed the gap to three points.The teams once again exchanged points and our defence saw to it that we would not concede the goal our opponents pressed for. Substitute James Jones sent over the insurance point in injury time to ensure us joint top of the table status after two rounds of the league.

Kieran Cremin was again very sound in goal. All our six defenders acquitted themselves well, especially Eanna Kavanagh, Luke Quinn and Brian McMahon. Eoin Brosnan and Ambrose O'Donovan were well on top at midfield against a good Desmonds pairing who had a very good last quarter. In attack Shane Doolan, James Fleming and minor Daithi Casey who contributed six points were best.

Dr Crokes Best Player; Shane Doolan.

Team and Scorers; Kieran Cremin; John Payne, Luke Quinn, Eanna Kavanagh; Batt Moriarty, Brian McMahon, Gavin Tucker; Eoin Brosnan 0-1, Ambrose O'Donovan; Edmund O'Sullivan, Shane Doolan 1-1(1-0pen), Ian Howard; Daithi Casey 0-6(0-4frees), James Fleming 0-1, Mike O'Grady 0-1. Subs; Denis Galvin, James Jones 0-1.

Dr Crokes 1-17 G/Guilla 2-05 (Fitzgerald stadium 23/03/08) Round 1

We had a comprehensive nine points win over Gneeveguilla in the first round of the County league on Sunday the 23rd March. Even though we played very well we wouldn't want to be carried away with the result as our opponents were missing a number of players. At the same time a score of 1-17(only four points of which were from frees) was a very satisfactory total. Having had the aid of the breeze in the first half stood us in good stead as we built up an eight point to one lead at the interval. Against the strong breeze in the second half  we were even more effective, adding on a further 1-8.

Scores were registered quickly by us at the start , with two points on the board after four minutes. We had to wait until the fourteenth and fifteenth minute to add two more points to our tally.Our opponents had attacked strongly during this first quarter but failed to score, through poor shooting  and good defensive work on our part. We added on four more points before half time, Gneeveguilla's only score of the half coming in the 27th minute. This gave us an interval lead of 0-8 to 0-1.

We had a great start again to the second half, registering 1-3 to our opponent's one point in the first seven minutes to leave us twelve  point's in front. Gneeveguilla rallied with a goal in the fortieth minute but we had three points to their one in the next six minutes to restore our double digit lead(eleven points). Our opponents had a goal and a point after the threequarter stage to leave just seven points between the sides. We outscored them however three points to one in the last eight minutes to leave us 1-17 to 2-5 winners at the final whistle.

Kieran Cremin was always in command between the post. Best in defence were Luke Quinn, Batt Moriarty and Brian McMahon. We had two outstanding midfield displays from Eoin Brosnan and Johnny Buckley. The attack functioned well as a unit with Shane Doolan, Kieran O'Leary and Jamie Doolan best of the sextet.

Dr Crokes Best Player;  Eoin Brosnan.

Team and Scorers; Kieran Cremin; Keith McMahon, Luke Quinn, Mike Moloney; Batt Moriarty, Brian McMahon, Gavin Tucker; Eoin Brosnan 0-1, Johnny Buckley 0-4(0-1free); Shane Doolan 1-0, Eanna Kavanagh 0-1, Brian Looney 0-1; Edmund O'Sullivan 0-1, Kieran O'Leary 0-5(0-3frees)Jamie Doolan 0-4.  Subs; Ian Howard, John Payne, Daithi Casey.