Our hurling writer, Mike O’Halloran, was in Austin Stack Park yesterday for Kerry’s National Hurling League opener against Derry…

Kerry 0-14

Derry 0-14

THE few hardy souls who braved the cold of Austin Stacks Park went with the expectation that Kerry would have an easy opener to their National League campaign.

This expectation was based on last years defeat of Derry home and away by fairly big margins on both occasions.

All seemed to be going according to plan as after 18 minutes, Kerry led by six points to nil – Derry had three chances of points from frees and spurned all three.

Things changed when Derry exchanged their free takers, with Paddy Henry taking over  duties and he had Derry’s first point after 21 minutes.

Kerry led by five at halftime 0-11 points to 0-6, Shane Nolan with 0-5, Philip Lucid with 0-3, Michael Boyle, Adrian Royle and Michael O’Leary with one each.

Derry had the wind in the second half and began well. They had the first four points of the half before Shane Nolan pointed a free for Kerry after Keith Carmody was upended.

Kerry only added two more points before the end but Derry added four to make the final score 0-14 points each.

The ref added two minutes which was just as well for Kerry as Shane Nolan’s free at the death earned Kerry a point.

This was a poor performance from Kerry who looked leaden-footed and had very few ideas once their early dominance at midfield was negated.

Remember also that Derry missed two great goal-scoring chances. On the plus side, Kerry had 17 wides and a bit of sharpening up in shooting will improve things.

Kerry head to Wicklow next Sunday with the aim of gaining two points but to gain points in Aughrim will always be a battle.

So not the best start for Kerry. Their stated aim this year is to win the Christy Ring Cup which is all very well, but winning becomes a habit and this team needs a win or two to regain the confidence they had last year.