Our hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, was at the Kerry SHC semi-final replay on Saturday between Lixnaw and St Brendan’s…
Lixnaw 0-14
St Brendans 0-13
Only one point separated Lixnaw and St Brendan’s in the replay of Garvey’s SuperValu Kerry County Senior Hurling Championship semi-final played in Austin Stacks Park on Saturday evening.
The sides were level at eight points all at half-time, the St Brendan’s scores coming from John Egan (3) Cian Hussey (2) and one each from Nicky O’Sullivan, Kieran Fitzgerald and Kevin Orpen.
Lixnaw’s eight points came from Ricky Heffernan (3) Two each from James Flaherty and Michael Conway and one from the influential Paul Galvin.
Lixnaw had the benefit of a pretty strong wind in the second half and were expected to pull away, but scores were hard to come by with St Brendan’s even being denied a goal from a penalty when the replacement keeper for Lixnaw, young David Sills saved from Darren Delaney.
The sides were level again 24 minutes into the second half 12 points all, after Fionan Horgan raced up from corner back to drive over a point for St Brendan’s.
Lixnaw scored two more points but St Brendan’s could only add one. St Brendan’s missed two frees, a 65 and a sideline cut. Lixnaw hung on and now meet the young up and coming Kilmoyley in the final on September 28 (provided that Kerry and Donegal doesn’t end in a draw).
