Mike O’Halloran reports on the St Brendan’s v Causeway, Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC quarter final played on Sunday…
St Brendan’s 4-16
Causeway 1-8
Action from the St Brendan’s v Causeway match. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
St Brendan’s had to drive through floods to get to Kilmoyley after a huge downpour prior to the game, but on arrival at the pitch and from the throw in they blew Causeway out of the water, with pure power passion and skill to which this Causeway team and management had no answer at any time during the game.
The whole county knows that Causeway have probably the biggest collection of quality hurlers of any club, but there seems to be something missing when it comes to winning big games.
St Brendan’s had a poor start to their charge to the Neilus Flynn, when they went down to Abbeydorney and made hard work of beating Ballyheigue.
Since then they have been re-energised into a ruthless, fast, fit, skilful and intelligent unit.
Their demolition of Causeway was absolute, from the backs to midfield to the forwards they won every skirmish hands down they played like men possessed from the first whistle to the end.
I said a few weeks ago that some St Brendan’s supporters and players had felt that they had left a championship after them last year. Well today in Kilmoyley they have gone in search of another one in 2015.
John Egan had six points on the board and Kevin Skinner had one, before Causeway won a free that was converted by Paul McGrath on sixteen minutes.
Action from the St Brendan’s v Causeway match. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
Two minutes later Egan had made it 1-8 when had converted another free and then ‘sunk in’ for a goal that was as simple as it was beautiful from the magician.
Paul McGrath added two more frees for Causeway and Keith Carmody, who didn’t start the game due to an eye injury, pointed on his introduction for John Fitzgerald.
Darren Dineen who was awesome at centre back also had a point for St Brendan’s and Eric Leen added one on 33 minutes.
The great hurling man that is John Mike Dooley had a point for Causeway, to leave the score at the break St Brendan’s 1-11 Causeway 0-5, game over?
Yes, because never mind the score, the manner of the dominance of St Brendan’s was breathtaking.
More misery was in store for Causeway in the final 30 minutes when the youngster Eric Leen latched on to Darren Dineen long ball and smashed a ground stroke to the net.
Kevin Skinner, who was most impressive all night, added a point. Colum Harty pointed for Causeway on six minutes, but further disaster was to befall Causeway when they managed to fumble a ball into the net under severe pressure from young Leen.
3-12 points to 0-6 with seven minutes gone in the second half.
Causeway moved Tomas Casey out the field and he tried his heart out but there was to be no respite for his teammates. Paul McGrath added two more points, Gerry Wallace, who had moved from one end of the field to the other, exchanged goals with Colum Harty.
John Egan put two more points in his satchel of scores Daithi Griffin and Kevin Skinner had one each to end a glorious hour for St Brendan’s and a miserable one for Causeway.
Final score St Brendan’s 4-16 Causeway 1-8.
St Brendan’s:
Darren Delaney, Cpt. Rory Horgan (Denis Moriarty) Jerry Wallace (1gl) Stephen Leen, Eamonn Corridon, Darren Dineen (1pt) Kevin Orpen, Fionan Horgan, Conor Flaherty (Kieran Fitzgerald) David Griffin (1pt) Kevin Skinner (3 pts) Eric Leen (1gl 1 pt) Fionan Mackessey, Tim Hannafin, John Egan (1gl 10 pts). 1 O.G.
Causeway:
Stephen Murphy, Fergus Carroll, Mattie Ryan, Bryan Murphy, Eamonn Fitzgerald, Jason Diggins, John Mike Dooley (1pt) Tommy Barrett, John Fitzgerald (Keith Carmody 1pt), Muiris Delaney, Anthony Fealy (Jason Leahy) Darren Leahy, Thomas Casey Cpt, Paul McGrath, (5 pts) Colum Harty (1gl 1 pt)
