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THE 2017 County League drew to a close on Sunday with virtually a full round of fixtures taking place and, fortunately for all those teams needing favours, it all turned out as expected.

One team who are in no need of favours at the moment are Dr Crokes who made it 11 from 11 in Division 1 with an emphatic 6-22 to 1-11 win over Glenbeigh-Glencar. They will be joined in the final by An Ghaeltacht who beat St Mary’s by four points in Caherciveen. Rathmore, who defeated Austin Stacks in Rathbeg, were waiting in the wings if An Ghaeltacht slipped up but they’ll have to make do with a third-place finish.

At the other end, Stacks and Desmonds have been relegated and they’ll be joined in Division 2 by either Mary’s or Milltown-Castlemaine who will have to contest a playoff.

Legion were crowned Division 2 champions following a resounding 4-18 to 2-11 win in Glenflesk and they’ll operate in the top tier next season, as will Beaufort and Spa who had also already secured promotion.

Kilcummin stayed up at the expense of Waterville with victory over Spa, while relegation had previously been confirmed for St Pat’s and Listry.

In Division 3, Ballymac, Na Gaeil and Dromid have all been promoted although it’s still unclear who’ll go up as champions. St Michael’s-Foilmore, Fossa and either St Senan’s or Gneeveguilla will play Division 4 football in 2018.

Keel and Lispole will face off in the Division 4 final before starting their preparations for life in Division 3, and Dr Crokes’ B team could be joining them on the back of a comfortable 11-point victory over Castlegregory. They will play Skellig Rangers, who beat them on the opening day, in a playoff to decide who will clinch the third promotion place.

If they manage it, Crokes’ B team will be in the same division as Laune Rangers and Gneeveguilla (if Gneeveguilla win their playoff), a prospect which would have seemed inconceivable just a few short years ago.

Scartaglen, Sneem-Derrynane and Duagh have been relegated to Division 5 and will be replaced by Cordal, Ballylongford and either Cromane or Rathmore B who finished joint third on 17 points.

All in all, you’d have to say the biggest shock of the entire 2017 County League has been the demise of Austin Stacks. Last year’s beaten finalists won just once, at home to Desmonds (who lost all their games), and picked up a paltry four points in total from 11 games.

Despite their terrible league form they’ve still managed to navigate their way to the quarterfinal of the County Championship, so all is not lost yet for the men from Connolly Park.

Crokes, meanwhile, have been rampant and will be favourites to add another league title to their collection, although An Ghaeltacht have impressed en route to their surprising second-place finish.

From a local point of view, it will be great to see all three Killarney clubs, Legion, Crokes and Spa, back in Division 1 in 2018.
 

 
Daithi Casey, Dr Crokes. Pic: Eamonn Keogh