Former Kerry minor replaces Colm Cooper at last minute, scores 1-10 from play

Patrick McCarry

Football is alive!

Just a few days after lamenting the current state of football – following Kilmacud’s 0-7 to 0-4 win over Raheny – we are back in love. All it took was a boat-load of scores from the Kingdom, with Tony Brosnan having a field day.

Sunday in Killarney and fans flocked to Fitzgerald Stadium for another type of sermon. An Gaeltacht were taking on Dr. Crokes and this one was highly anticipated.

Credit: Dr Crokes

There was a place in the Kerry senior football championship quarter finals at stake and it was nip and tuck in the opening 20 minutes.

Crokes had initially named Kerry legend Colm Cooper in their starting XV but ‘The Gooch’ dropped to the bench just before throw-in. His place in the team was taken by former Kerry minor Tony Brosnan.

Back in 2006, Brosnan (pictured below) was in the stands, cheering on Cooper & Co., back in 2006 when his local club took on Cork’s Nemo Rangers. On Sunday, he was asked to fill Cooper’s boots and did it in stunning style.

An Gaeltacht led 1-2 to 0-4 early doors but Brosnan and Kieran O’Leary were on form for Crokes and edged them ahead with a steady return of points. Gaeltacht were hit with a crucial blow, on 16 minutes, when former inter-county star Marc O Sé was shown a red card.

Brosnan knocked over the game’s next score and, on 24 minutes, rattled the back of the net with a fine goal after Gavin White’s burst forward. From one point down after 14 minutes, Crokes went in 2-18 to 1-9 up at half-time; Johnny Buckley with their second goal.

The young Crokes forward was only getting started, though. His side charged out of the blocks in the second half and with David Shaw also coming to the fore, they were merciless in putting this game to bed.

Brosnan scored 0-9 in the second half alone. That took his match total to 1-14, with 1-10 coming from play. He did not kick a wide all day. Not bad for a late replacement for Cooper, who was an unused sub on the day.

Brosnan has one senior appearance for Kerry, in 2016 – appearing as a sub in a win over Clare – but he could be set for more in 2019 if he keeps up this club football form.

The final scoreline made for grim reading, for An Gaeltacht, with Crokes winning out 3-28 (37) to 2-15 (21). 58 points scored on a sunny Sunday in the Kingdom. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Not long after the final whistle blew in Killarney, the draw for the last eight was carried out on Radio Kerry.