Sport

Cooper shines for Crokes

Laune Rangers 1-3 Dr Crokes 0-14: A TOTALLY DOMINANT performance by a Colm Cooper inspired Dr Crokes saw the three -in-a-row…

Mon Oct 15 2012 - 01:00

Laune Rangers 1-3 Dr Crokes 0-14:A TOTALLY DOMINANT performance by a Colm Cooper inspired Dr Crokes saw the three -in-a-row seeking champions make light work of a young Laune Rangers, who opted an ultra defensive strategy in this second Kerry SFC semi-final at Austin Stack Park, Tralee yesterday afternoon.

Crokes had to be very patient as Rangers brought 14 players back in front of goal in the opening half, when playing against the breeze and they tried to counterattack at pace.

Crokes, with Johnny Buckley a colossus at midfield and Eoin Brosnan to the fore as he broke forward out of defence, wasted a lot of ball in the opening half.

Rangers drew first blood when Mike Frank Russell fed Shane McSweeney with a superb pass and he drilled the ball to the Crokes net.

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The Killlarney-based side managed to kick nine first half wides but points from Cooper (2) Daithí Casey, Chris Brady and Eoin Brosnan saw them lead 0-5 to 1-1 at the interval.

The second half saw Crokes up the tempo and with Cooper weaving his magic with a couple of great points and numerous assists, the champions – without ever having to move into top gear – pulled clear to cruise to an eight -point victory with Rangers only scoring two second-half points in reply.

Dr Crokes now face Dingle in the county final in Tralee on October 28th and it is difficult to see the west Kerry outfit managing to stop the Killarney men’s three-in-a-row bid.

DR CROKES: D Moloney; J Payne, M Moloney, F Fitzgerald; S Myers, E Brosnan (0-1), L Quinn; A ODonovan, J Buckley; K OLeary (0-2), D Casey (0-4, two frees), B Looney, C Brady (0-1), C Cooper (0-5, one free), A Kenneally. Subs: G O’Shea (0-1) for A Kenneally (h-t), S Doolan for B Looney (47m), D OLeary for S Myers (57m), B Falvey for C Brady (60m).

LAUNE RANGERS: T Lyons; K Crowley, J Carey, J OCallaghan; C Riordan, P Crowley, K Sheehan; J Sheehan, T McGillycuddy; S McSweeney (1-0), P Joy (0-2), P Sheehan; MF Russell (0-1), L Hassett, K Doona.

Subs: G Mahony for L Hassett (37 mins), J OConnor for P Sheehan (38m), A Dunlea for K Doona (45 m), J Lynch for T McGillycuddy (53 m), C OShea for A Dunlea (60m).