Click on the ad above for more
Our hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, takes a look at the Supervalu Kerry County Senior Hurling Championship ties coming up this weekend…
THE Kerry Senior Hurling Championship begins this weekend, when Ballyheigue take on Lixnaw at 7pm on Friday in Austin Stack Park.
Lixnaw, who are only one place above Ballyheigue in the County Hurling League, will be fancied to win this one, given their strength at underage for the last few years, along with their great tradition of keeping their best hurling for the annual trip to “town” in July and August.
Ballyheigue are struggling the last two seasons with a very light young team. They are second from bottom of the League, they will battle to the end but it is unlikely that they will be able to overcome the power of Trevor McKenna, Ricky Heffernan and the deft touches of James Flaherty and John Griffin, nevermind attempting to get the slioter past one of the best keepers in Kerry hurling Martin Stackpoole.
On Saturday it’s the clash of the great rivals and neighbours Causeway and Kilmoyley at 7pm.
I saw Kilmoyley defeat Causeway recently in Causeway in the league. The final score, where Kilmoyley only won by a couple of points, bore no relation to the dusting Kilmoyley gave Causeway led by Tom Murnane ably assisted by Daniel Collins.
Causeway are working very hard this year to make the breakthrough, having won a couple of senior trophies last year but the big one, The Nelius Flynn Cup, continues elude this group of players.
Causeway will expect to overcome Kilmoyley but I’m not so sure. Even though Kilmoyley are ravaged by retirements and emigration, they lead the County League and “haven’t gone away” me thinks.
On Sunday afternoon at 1pm, Abbeydorney take on their neighbours from across the Shanow bridge, Crotta O Neills.
Abbeydorney have prepared well for this year’s championship. Apparently they have forgone the chance to play in the West Munster League to concentrate on matters local.
Continued below…
They have a great blend of young players like the O’Learys to compliment the experience of Aiden Healy, Mike Hannafin, Ciaran Dineen.
They should have enough to overcome the very young outfit from Crotta who will be depending on their county men Sean Weir and Shane Nolan, Crotta are very dependant on Shane and Sean and if O’Dorney can keeep their free count down they should be advancing to the next round proper.
The second part of this double header is the meeting of the 2013 champions St Brendan’s and Ballyduff at 2.30pm. In a rehearsal for this game St Brendan’s came out on top in the Co League.
Ballyduff lie just behind Kilmoyley in second place in the Co League and are putting some serious scores on the board, putting five goals and 20 points past Ballyheigue plus 3- 18 when they defeated Crotta.
St Brendan’s will seek to win back to back titles and this is the first step on the road to that goal, but they will be recieve a very stern test from Ballyduff, who are the favourites every year.
Ballyduff are carrying quite a few injuries and two of their group are away on holidays.
They have trained extremely hard for this game and have really put their noses to the grindstone in an effort to be the hurling kings of the Kingdom.
I feel that maybe given the fact that St Brendan’s are the champions, is just the fillip they needed to fulfill the potential that group from Ardfert has shown given their underage success over the last ten years.
The will be led by the Kerry Hurling All Stars Hurler Of The Year 2013 Darren Dineen (pictured here receiving his presentation from JJ Hanrahan Munster Rugby.)
St Brendan’s can win The Nelius Flynn but through the back door as Ballyduff might just pip them on Sunday.
