Our hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, looks at the two Kerry SHC semi-finals coming up this weekend…
NEXT weekend sees both semi-finals of the Garveys SuperValu Kerry senior hurling championship take place in Austin Stacks Park Tralee.
On Friday August 29 at 6.45, the kings of Kerry hurling, Kilmoyley and Ballyduff, face each other in the first semi-final.
Kilmoyley have been regarded by some pundits as a surprise packet of the semifinals qualifiers, that surprise belies their record in both the County League and the championship so far.
Kilmoyley have come to town this year without some of their big names of the past but have shown that they are not to be trifled with.
Daniel Collins could be a pivotal to Kilmoyley’s chances on Saturday.
Led by young Daniel Collins, who has now taken on the free-taking duties, Tom Murnane anchors any line he is selected on and Adrian Royle is both a provider and scorer up front, along with Tommy Maunsell and the powerful Colman Savage.
At the back Seanie Murnane, Conor Fitzell and Dougie Fitzell will curb a lot of the Ballyduff attacks.
Ballyduff are regarded by most Kerry hurling fans as the championship specialists and to win the championship you must beat Ballyduff.
I’m not so sure that is how it works, but they are a formidable force and it also said you must defeat them in a semi-final, because they are very difficult to beat in a final.
They have stuttered through this season losing the first game, where they were dogged by injuries and fellas on vacation. Ballyduff have regrouped and are training well. Ballyduff will more than likely be without Padraigh Boyle, whose hand was still in plaster when I spoke to him on Saturday (but knowing him he might play withone hand).
Barry O’Grady will be hoping to lead his Ballyduff side to another county final on Saturday.
Ballyduff is captained this year by the stylish dual star Barry O’Grady, a man who will leave no drop of sweat unshed to gain victory.
Prediction: Ballyduff.
On Sunday August 31, the defending champions St Brendan’s Ardfert take on Lixnaw also at 1.30pm. St Brendan’s are bouyed by the inclusion of the great all-rounder Darren Dineen.
Lloyd George said during wartime you need three ‘M’s, Men, Munitions and Movement. St Brendan’s have all three in abundance: men hardened in battle in both hurling and football, munitions in a skills set that enables them fire scores from any angle or distance and movement gained from a firece fitness regime by their general Pat O’Driscoll and tactical movement from Frankie Flannery.
Martin Stackpoole, the last line of defence in the Lixnaw team.
While St Brendan’s have great forwards in John Egan, Daithi Griffin and Cian Hussey, they are led from the back by the young gun Kevin Hannafin.
Lixnaw were St Brendan’s opponents in last year’s final and came up short and while they might not have the power up front as the “Navigators”, they have a set of young fearless forwards like Ricky Heffernan, James Flaherty and Conor O’Brien and the new star John Buckley, who, if they click, can do damage.
Lixnaw have an “Iron Defence System” that has withstood many attacks in the past and that dome has been further reinforced by ironman Paul Galvin. Then add the Corridons and the teak-tough stylish Trevor McKenna and there is a minefield to be negotiated by St Brendan’s.
Get through the minefield and you face one of the best keepers in Kerry Martin Stackpoole.
This game should be the contest of the year with Lixnaw just about shading it if Brendan Brosnan lines out.
Prediction: Lixnaw
