Mike O’Halloran previews the All Ireland Minor B Hurling Championship Quarter-Final in Newbridge on Saturday, between Kerry and Kildare…

The Kerry minor hurlers begin their campaign to win The All Ireland B Hurling Championship in Newbridge on Saturday, when they take on Kildare in the quarter-final of this competition.

Kerry manager, Ian Brick will have this team well prepared for this clash. There is a lot of great work being done in Kildare at underage and over the years Kildare hurlers have always put Kerry to the pin of their collar to beat them.

This Kerry minor panel is full of very exceptional young hurlers who will do their county proud and will, I believe, be in a semi-final against either Down or Donegal on August 15th – the final is down for decision on September 5th.

As usual there will be talk of the players who are unable to play; Brandon Barrett and Jack Goulding are also on the football panel and would, I believe, be certain starters were it not for their involvement with the football.

While their loss is huge, there is enough talent in the panel to overcome Kildare.

Quite a number of the panelists were on show during the senior hurling club championship. Eoin Ross took over the free taking duties when Padraig Boyle was injured and showed his confidence. I’m sure he will not be fazed by anything the Lilywhites throw at him.

Expect Robert Colins from Kilmoyley to be influential as will the Lixnaw lads, Shane Conway, John Buckley and Colin Sheehy. They were all excellent last weekend.

Fionan MacKessey and Eric Leen will certainly be a handful for any opponent in their age group.

It is also nice to see Jack Linehan from Crokes along with John M Foley of Kilgarvan join the hard-as-nails defender Ballymac native Ciaran Breen from Tralee Parnells named on the panel.

Ballyheigue will have their young star Michael Leen in the panel. Crotta boys Tomas Connor and Colin Browne should also make an appearance on the field.

Lixnaw the current Kerry county champions have ten players on the panel.

Speaking to one parent yesterday, they were very disappointed that the young hurling lads were getting very little coverage for their quarter-final.

I would suggest that if you are travelling to football game in Croke Park and are driving up on Saturday, divert to Newbridge to support the lads. There are lots of dual players on the hurling panel.

Remember we are now a dual county with both our hurlers and footballers in division one.

The team, captained by Lixnaw’s John Buckley is as follows:
1. David Silles Lixnaw
2. Billy Lyons Causeway
3. Micheal Leane Ballyheigue
4. Gerard Stackpoole Lixnaw
5. Eoin Ross Ballyduff
6. Jason Diggins Causeway
7. Robert Collins Kilmoyley
8. John Buckley Lixnaw (Capt)
9. Tomas O Conner Crotta O’Neills
10. Shane Conway Lixnaw
11. Jeremy McKenna Lixnaw
12. David Egan Abbeydorney
13. Eric Leen St Brendans
14. Fionan MacKessy St Brendans
15. Colin Sheehy Lixnaw

Fir Ionaid:
16. Robert Silles Lixnaw
17. Colin Browne Crotta O’Neills
18. Kieran O’Regan Kilmoyley
19. Liam Mullins Lixnaw
20. Brian O’Riordan Ballyheigue
21. Jack Lenihan Dr Crokes
22. Ciaran Breen Tralee Parnells
23. Ronan Donovan Abbeydorney
24. Aaron Tompson St Brendans
25. Jason Keane Lixnaw
26. Jamie McGrath Causeway
27. Tom Foley Lixnaw
28. Brandon Barrett Causeway
29. John Mark Foley Kilgarvan
30. Jack Goulding Ballyduff