OF COURSE, they may win back to back county championships anyway, but Dr Crokes have a wrong to right beyond Kerry, and they may require a route through the Club SFC to represent Kerry in the provincial club championships.

Last year’s treble winners in the Kingdom – League Division 1, Club SFC and SFC – booked their spot in next Sunday’s televised club decider against surprise packet, Na Gaeil, with this scratchy victory over Sean O’Shea and Kenmare.

It looked as routine as rain at the break with Crokes 0-11 to 0-4 in front, but the semi-final found a pulse 20 seconds after half time when Kenmare’s electric inside forward Tom Murnane (anyone who can keep pace with Gavin White merits the term) goaled for Shamrocks.

Game on? Hmm, not quite. By the 47th minute sub Paul O’Connor had Kenmare back within three points (0-14 to 1-8), but Crokes retained the facility to create and convert a scoring chance when they needed it. Cian McMahon and then Micheal Burns stretched the lead to four as the tied ticked down to its final ten minutes.

There was a late moment of alarm for Crokes, but keeper Shane Murphy was alert and alive to turn a snatched effort from Tommy Cronin around the post.

The wrong Crokes need to right? An All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final loss earlier this year to Errigal Ciaran that should haunt them. How they would love a shot at going an extra step or two early in 2026.

There’s a lot of road to travel within Kerry before that can be contemplated, but Dr Crokes unquestionably have most of what they need in terms of personnel and big game experience.

Dr Crokes' Bily Courtney converts the first of two 45s in the first half of their Kerry Club SFC semi-final in Tralee on Sunday. They will face Na Gaeil in next Sunday's decider Dr Crokes’ Bily Courtney converts the first of two 45s in the first half of their Kerry Club SFC semi-final in Tralee on Sunday. They will face Na Gaeil in next Sunday’s decider

A lot of Kenmare’s impetus naturally is sourced via Kerry centre forward Sean O’Shea who looked weary for this one. By comparison, Dr Crokes have a lot more arrows in their quiver and can spread that load more evenly. They had six players in Tralee on Sunday who were part of Kerry’s All-Ireland final squad. Gavin White can add an injection of pace on demand, as he did just before the break to give the Killarney men an 0-11 to 0-4 lead. Mark O’Shea, the midfielder, has matured impressively into the exampla gratis of doing the simple things well. 

Tony Brosnan, meanwhile had six points on the board after Crokes’ first half use of the breeze at Austin Stack Park, and he finished with 0-8. The interesting thing is none of those impressed as much as Billy Courtney in the first period, the midfielder converting a pair of 45s with ease, and proving a redoubtable foil for Mark O’Shea. Gavin O’Shea was busy around the middle third and Brian Looney has found a new lease of life on top of the one he had already discovered by dropping back as a half back sweeper.

By the 40th minute, Crokes were still 0-14 to 1-5 to the good, but three Kenmare points on the spin from impressive centre back Darragh O’Connor, Sean O’Shea and a fine Paul O’Connor effort, edged the Kenmare support a little closer to their seat edge. However Crokes are good at this. Claiming back the game’s tempo to suit their rhythm. McMahon and Burns twice took them to safe ground with points.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: T Brosnan (0-8, 1 2ptf), C. McMahon (0-2), B Courtney (0-2, 45s), M Burns (0-2), D Shaw, G O’Shea, T Doyle (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Kenmare Shamrocks: T Murnane (1-1), K O’Sullivan (0-2), D O’Connor, S O’Shea, S O’Brien, D O’Sullivan (free), J Tangney, P O’Connor (0-1 each).

DR CROKES: S Murphy; M Potts, F Fitzgerald, N O’Shea; B Courtney, G White, E Looney; M O’Shea, D Shaw; M Burns, G O’Shea, B Looney; T Brosnan, T Doyle, C McMahon.

Subs for Dr Crokes: A Hennigan for Shaw (45), C Fitzgerald for Doyle (49), M Cooper for McMahon (56.

KENMARE SHAMROCKS: K Fitzgibbon; C O’Sullivan, J McCarthy, T Cronin; D O’Shea, D O’Connor, Z O’Shea; J Tangney, T. O’Sullivan; K O’Sullivan, S O’Shea, J O’Sullivan; S O’Brien, D O’Sullivan, T Murnane.

Subs for Kenmare: G Wharton for T O’Sullivan (half time); P O’Connor for Tangney (40), J Lehane for Wharton (51), D Crowley for C ‘Sullivan, E. McCarthy for D O’Sullivan (55).

Referee: S Mulvihill (St Senan’s)