“A PROPER football contest” is the weekend prediction from the Dr Crokes corner. It is a prediction the Killarney aristocrats make with confidence and one they hope comes to pass. You see, it’s been more than a while since the Crokes were last involved in a proper football contest.
It has, in fact, been two months since the Crokes played a competitive game of ball that wasn’t blighted or blunted by packed defences and an opposition approach of containment, containment, and, well, further containment. The contest in question was the 1-15 to 1-8 Munster quarter-final win at home to then reigning provincial champions Castlehaven on November 10. Thereafter, Pat O’Shea’s Crokes were held to nine points by Rathgormack in the semi-final and four points by Loughmore-Castleiney in a most frustrating opening half to the Munster final.
Neither fixture made any accommodation for expression. Neither fixture cared much for inventiveness, beyond picking 14-man locks. Sunday, against Errigal Ciarán, will be different.
That they are almost certain of. The sometimes lazy Ulster football stereotype has no place here. It does not apply.
How could it when the forward unit in question is home to three Canavans. “With some of the games you play, the challenge is the unknown factor,” explains Crokes selector Denis Coleman. “If you are playing a team you are more familiar with, it is easier to prepare for, whereas playing against Loughmore and Rathgormack, they were arguably tough.
