Kenmare Shamrocks 2-14 Dr Crokes 1-24

A late scoring burst from an indomitable Dr Crokes team secured a 15th Kerry SFC title for the Killarney club at the expense of a gallant Kenmare Shamrocks team appearing in their first every county final.

Nine unanswered points in a four-minute period late in the second half flipped the contest on its head, helping Dr Crokes complete a remarkable 14-point swing, having trailed by seven points after seven minutes.

Having led for much of the game – with the superb Sean O'Shea posting nine points for his team – Kenmare were blitzed by four consecutive two-pointers from a Dr Crokes team that eventually rolled up their sleeves and did what they routinely do as a team and a club when silverware is on the line.

The victory moves Dr Crokes two clear at the top of the roll of honour, sees them regain the title they held two years ago, and delivers a remarkable ninth county championship medal for Brian Looney and Fionn Fitzgerald.

For Kenmare Shamrocks – only a senior club for the last decade – this will be a tough defeat to swallow, having led by two points with 10 minute to go before being blown away by Dr Crokes' late surge.

Tony Brosnan, twice, David Shaw and Tom Doyle raised orange flags in rapid succession between the 52nd and 55th minutes, and when Cian McMahon raised a white flag the Killarney club went from wo points behind to seven in front.

There was a late exchange of pointed frees between Sean O’Shea and Brosnan, but Dr Crokes were celebrating another county championship success by then.

It has all started so well for Kenmare who ran up a 1-03 to no score lead after just seven minutes; the goal coming from David Ciuciu’s fist in the sixth minute as the underdogs were rampant playing with a stiff wind advantage under a winter sun.

Dr Crokes finally got a score from Alex Hennigan, and they picked away at the scoreboard through the second quarter with Brosnan, Cillian Fitzgerald, Charlie Keating and Shaw among the scorers as they trailed 0-07 to 1-08 at the interval.

The Crokes started the second half with a 32nd minute goal from Mark O’Shea, but Kenmare struck back within 30 second with Kevin O’Sullivan getting the final touch to restore his team’s four-point lead.

By the 42nd minute Dr Crokes had pulled level, 1-12 to 2-09, and while the Shamrocks momentarily pushed the lead back out to three thanks to Sean O’Shea (two-point free) and Donal O’Sullivan, the Kenmare men had no answer to Dr Crokes late, great scoring blitz.

Dr Crokes: Shane Murphy, Cllian Fitzgerald (0-01), Fionn Fitzgerald, Mark Fitzgerald, Evan Looney, Gavin White, Brian Looney (0-01), Charlie Keating (0-01), Mark O’Shea (1-00), Maidhcí Lynch, David Shaw (0-07 (2 tp)), Tom Doyle (0-02 (tp)), Tony Brosnan (0-07 (3 tp, 0-03f)), Cian McMahon (0-02), Alex Hennigan (0-03). Subs: Adam Byrne for M Lynch (46), Neil O’Shea for C Fitzgerald (52), Michael Potts for C McMahon (60), Billy Courtney for D Shaw (60), Mark O’Carroll for T Doyle (60)

Kenmare Shamrocks: Kieran Fitzgibbon, Liam O’Sullivan, Dara O’Shea, Tommy Cronin, Dan McCarthy, Darragh O’Connor, Jimmy Lehane (0-01), David Ciuciu (1-00), Kevin O’Sullivan (1-00), Jack O’Sullivan (0-01), Seánie O’Shea (0-09 (3 tpf, 0-02f)), Stephen O’Brien, Eoghan McCarthy, Dónal O’Sullivan (0-02), Tom Murnane (0-01). Subs: Jack Tangney for E McCarthy (39), Zach O’Shea for J Lehane (46), David Hallissey for S O’Brien (53)

Referee: Sean Joy