Extra man no help to Kilmurry

Dr Crokes 0-12   Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9

FOR 40 minutes of their 15th Munster club game since 1967, Kilmurry Ibrickane played the best football they’ve produced in living memory. They showed scant respect for the Kerry champions in Páirc Dr Crócaig, kicked a succession of sublime points, defended with vigour and took the game to Dr Crokes. Everything was rosy in the Kilmurry garden until 13 minutes into the second half.
It was then that Dr Croke’s centre-forward Daithí Casey, who had kicked three points, was issued with a second yellow card following a tangle with Stephen Moloney. The game looked up for Dr Crokes and Kilmurry’s huge following sensed their club was on the cusp of a stunning win. 
At that stage, Kilmurry led 0-9 to 0-7, with Colm Cooper yet to score for Dr Crokes. Yet it was from that moment on, Kilmurry imploded and Dr Crokes upped their game, outscoring the Clare champions 0-5 to 0-0 in the closing 17 minutes.
Subdued by Shane Hickey and a feverish Kilmurry work rate for more than 45 minutes, Colm Cooper landed all of Dr Crokes last four points and set up Kieran O’Leary’s third, 16 minutes from time.
Although Enda Coughlan was Kilmurry’s designated extra man, until he was red carded five minutes from full-time, Kilmurry were a much less effective team when they had an extra player for 13 minutes. The directness that had marked their display until then evaporated with the Clare champions lapsing into defensive mode, not breaking out with the same vigour and losing their shape in attack.
Incredibly, Kilmurry scored more in the game’s opening three minutes than they managed in the closing 23. Noel Downes, Kilmurry’s outstanding forward in Killarney, floated over a spectacular opening point from 50 yards, benefiting from a judicious Ian McInerney pass, who had linked up with Paul O’Connor, attacking from his new position at wing-back. That score set the tone and Kilmurry opened their shoulders.
Enda Coughlan and Michael Hogan added lovely scores, the latter at corner-forward, having swapped with Stephen Moloney. Come the eighth minute, Dr Crokes trailed by 0-3 to 0-0 and already had Jamie Doolan, Andrew Kenneally and Fionn Fitzgerald on yellow cards.
They settled somewhat though when Daithí Casey pointed their first score from play. A brace from Kieran O’Leary, with Kilmurry now standing off and giving Crokes too much time, added to another Casey score, left Crokes 0-4 to 0-3 up. Order restored, the Crokes supporters thought. 
Kilmurry replied with three points on the spin. Evan Talty and, substitute, Johnny Daly kicked two top-class scores, with Ian McInerney pointing from a free, won by Enda Coughlan. Although leading 0-6 to 0-4 five minutes from half-time, Kilmurry had lost wing-forward Mark McCarthy to a suspected cruciate knee injury. McCarthy had been instrumental in helping Kilmurry establish dominance in the middle third, winning several breaks from Dr Croke’s kick-outs. Just before half-time, Johnny Buckley kicked Dr Croke’s final first-half points, leaving Kilmurry 0-6 to 0-5 ahead at the interval with Dr Croke’s having been issued with five yellow cards.
Kilmurry emerged buoyed by the knowledge that a place in the Munster club final was there to be won. Enda Coughlan kicked a super point in the opening minute of the second half, after Declan Callinan and Stephen Moloney had combined. When Noel Downes picked up a break from a Michael Hogan shot, parried by Croke’s goalkeeper Alan Kelly, Kilmurry were 0-8 to 0-5 ahead and flying. Colm Cooper was now drifting outfield and Crokes were unquestionably rattled.
Points from Daithí Casey and substitute Chris Brady, sandwiched between a Johnny Daly free after Noel Downes had been impeded, left Kilmurry 0-9 to 0-7 ahead 13 minutes into the second half. It was at that juncture that Casey was sent off and Kilmurry lost their way.
Daly’s point was Kilmurry’s last score as Crokes took over, led by Colm Cooper, who hadn’t been a factor up until then.
Cooper equalised 12 minutes from time after Michael Hogan had spilled possession before kicking Crokes ahead nine minutes from time.
Kilmurry were struggling to keep their shape and didn’t appear to have a man advantage. They were unlucky though when Noel Downes hit the post after he connected with a Michael Hogan ball across the square, while Michael O’Dwyer missed a great chance to equalise seconds after Enda Coughlan had been red carded, for an offence that did not warrant dismissal.
A minute into injury time, Colm Cooper pointed Dr Croke’s two points up following a hastily taken Kilmurry free, while the same player pointed the game’s last score, from a free, two minutes later.
Kilmurry left Killarney unhappy that they lost a game that they could have won. Yet again, a sending-off resulted in the team, who were now minus a man, upping their game, while Kilmurry didn’t take advantage.
As despondent as Kilmurry’s supporters were however, they could not criticise the collective effort of their team. They gave it everything they could but came up marginally short against a quality team, who were playing in their home pitch.
Peter O’Dwyer had a superb outing in goals, coming off his line at the right time and generally excelling between the posts. Shane Hickey handled Colm Cooper as well as anyone could have expected, although it must be said that Cooper was very unlucky to be yellow carded in the first half, after he had been pinned to the ground by Stephen Moloney. Declan Callinan and Paul O’Connor were solid in the wing-back positions, although Evan Talty gave Daithí Casey too much room a few times at centre-back.
Midfielder Enda Coughlan, who kicked two magnificent points, worked exceptionally hard as did Peter O’Dwyer. Coughlan should not have been red carded five minutes from time. Yellow would definitely have sufficed. Up front, Noel Downes was Kilmurry’s best forward, while Mark McCarthy was winning kick-outs before sustaining his injury. In fact, Eoin Brosnan was switched to wing-back onto McCarthy early in the first half. Stephen Moloney had some good moments at centre-forward as did Michael Hogan and Johnny Daly when introduced.

Dr Crokes: Alan Kelly; John Payne, Luke Quinn (captain), David O’Leary; Fionn Fitzgerald, Eoin Brosnan, Shane Myers; Ambrose O’Donovan, Johnny Buckley; Andrew Kenneally, Daithí Casey, Brian Looney; Colm Cooper, Kieran O’Leary, Jamie Doolan.
Subs: Brian McMahon for David O’Leary (half-time), Chris Brady for Jamie Doolan (41 minutes), Shane O’Neill for Andrew Kenneally (52).
Scorers: Colm Cooper (0-4, 0-1f), Kieran O’Leary (0-3), Daithí Casey (0-3, 0-1f), Johnny Buckley, Chris Brady (0-1 each).
Wides: 5; frees won: 14; 45s: 1.
Yellow cards: Jamie Doolan, Andrew Kenneally, Fionn Fitzgerald, Daithí Casey, Colm Cooper, John Payne, Kieran O’Leary, Brian McMahon.
Red card: Daithí Casey.

Kilmurry Ibrickane: Peter O’Dwyer; Shane Hickey, Darren Hickey, Martin McMahon; Declan Callinan, Evan Talty, Paul O’Connor; Enda Coughlan, Peter O’Dwyer (captain); Ian McInerney, Stephen Moloney, Mark McCarthy; Michael Hogan, Noel Downes, Michael O’Dwyer.
Subs: Johnny Daly for Mark McCarthy (injured – 22), Niall Hickey for Michael Hogan (58).
Scorers: Noel Downes, Enda Coughlan (0-2 each), Johnny Daly (0-2, 0-1f), Michael Hogan, Evan Talty (0-1 each), Ian McInerney (0-1f).
Wides: 4; frees won: 19; 45s: 0.
Yellow cards: Darren Hickey, Michael Hogan, Evan Talty.
Red card: Enda Coughlan.

Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary).