AIB Munster Club SFC Semi-Final

DR CROKES (KERRY) 5-20 ST FINBARR'S (CORK) 1-11

By Paul Brennan at Lewis Road, Killarney

Dr Crokes booked their place in the Munster Club senior final for the seventh time this decade with a 21-point demolition of Cork champions, St Finbarrs, that sends out the strongest signal yet that the Kerry champions are intent on winning back the All-Ireland title they held two years ago.

First half goals from midfielders Johnny Buckley and Daithi Casey gave Dr Crokes a 2-11 to 1-3 lead at half time, and on a wet, difficult day in Killarney the home side added goals after the break from David Shaw, Micheal Burns and Jordan Kiely to complete the rout against a St Finbarr's team that tried valiantly.

In truth this contest was over by the 20th minute when the Crokes kicked their way to a 0-8 to 0-1 lead, having scored seven unanswered points, after St Finbarrs had started well with some very early intensity and movement.

In the 21st minute St Finbarr's got a lifeline when Eoin McGreevey lobbed Shane Murphy for an exquisite goal, but within 20 seconds Brian Looney scored Crokes' ninth point and a minute later Johnny Buckley rounded two defenders and cracked his shot to the St Finbarrs net.

Points from Burns and Shaw followed before Kieran O'Leary set up Casey for another rasping goal to leave Crokes 11 ahead at the interval.

It took less than a minute after the restart for Crokes to get their next score, and five minutes later Shaw fisted the ball to the net to make it 3-13 to 1-4.

St Finbarr's had little to offer by way of real penetration, despite the efforts of Cork midfielder Ian Maguire, but the loss of Michael Shields through injury early in the first half weakened them in attack.

Colm Cooper scored the first of his three points with his first touch after coming on, and then he set up Burns for Crokes fourth goal, before substitute Kiely scored their fifth in the 56th minute to make it 5-17 to 1-9.

Steven Sherlock converted three '45's in the second half and Shane Murphy had to make two fine saves as the Barrs sought looked to gain a consolation goal, but Crokes were ruthless - all 5-20 came from play.

The Kerry champions will play Clare's Miltown-Malbay in the provincial final in a fortnight, when they will look to regain the title they lost last year to Nemo Rangers.

Second half goals from Cormac Murray and substitute Sean Malone steered St Joseph's Milltown Malbay into the decider.

Eoin Cleary also kicked three points as the Clare outfit eventually defeated The Nire by 2-11 to 0-9 at Fraher Field.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: D Shaw 1-3, T Brosnan 0-4, J Buckley 1-1, D Casey 1-1, M Burns 1-1, J Kiely 1-1, B Looney 0-3, C Cooper 0-3, G White 0-1, G O'Shea 0-1, K O'Leary 0-1

Scorers for St Finbarr's: S Sherlock 0-6 (3 '45', 2f), E McGreevey 1-0, R O'Mahony 0-2, C Dennehy 0-1, I Maguire 0-1, D O'Brien 0-1

DR CROKES: Shane Murphy, John Payne, Michael Moloney, Fionn Fitzgerald, David O'Leary, Gavin White, Shane Doolan, Johnny Buckley, Daithi Casey, Micheal Burns, Gavin O'Shea, Brian Looney, David Shaw, Kieran O'Leary, Tony Brosnan.

Subs: Alan O'Sullivan for M Moloney (39), Colm Cooper for T Brosnan (42), Jordan Kiely for S Doolan (44), Michael Potts for D Shaw (48), Paul Clarke for J Buckley (51), Jason Lyne for M Burns (53).

ST FINBARR'S: John Kerins, Conor Dennehy, Glen O'Connor, Dylan Quinn, Colin Lyons, Ross O'Dwyer, Colm Scully, Ian Maguire, Eoin Comyns, Denis O'Brien, Michael Shields, Enda Dennehy, Colm Keane, Eoin McGreevey, Steven Sherlock.

Subs: Colm Barrett for Shields (13, inj), Jamie Burns for R O'Dwyer (15), Robert O'Mahony for C Keane (ht), Alan O'Connor for E McGreevey (34, inj), Alan McCarthy for G O'Connor (48), Adam Lyne for D O'Brien (56)

REFEREE: D O'Mahoney (Tipperary)