Our hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran looks back at the weekend’s action in the Supervalu Kerry Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals…
Ballyduff 1-22
Crotta O’Neills 0-13
As expected Ballyduff overcame Crotta ONeills in what can best be described as “a nice game a hurling”. Overall the game lacked the bite one would expect from the knockout stages of the Garvey’s Supervalu Hurling Championship.
Ballyduff played with the wind in the first half. The Cashen-siders coasted for 20 minutes, and led by 0-8 points to 0-3 before they went for a 10-minute nap, allowing Crotta to go in at halftime only one point down (0-8 to 0-9). Crotta could have been ahead but Shane Nolan missed a goal chance on 31 minutes.
Ballyduff ambled out for the second half, seemingly thinking that a lead and a stiff wind at their back would be enough to see off the Crotta challenge.
If that was their mindset, they got a rude awakening as Crotta went a point up (0-10 to 0-9), with scores from Shane Nolan and the classy Jordan Conway. Ballyduff drew level.
But Richard Nolan put Crotta back in front 11 points to 10. Matt Lynch of Crotta could have put five between the teams, but he put a point chance wide and missed out on a goal chance between the 10th and 12th minute.
At 14 minutes, Ballyduff’s alarm went off, and the snooze button was not pressed. Led by Aiden Boyle, Barry O’Grady, Michael Boyle and Bobby O’Sullivan, they went into a four-point lead in six minutes.
Shane Nolan had two points for Crotta before the end, but really it was all Ballyduff. Young Jack Goulding added a goal and a point. His goal bound shot crept under Sean Twomey’s body in the Crotta goal. Kevin Junior O’Connor, Barry O’Grady and Bobby O’Sullivan added points before John Paul Leahy scored the last point of the game.
Ballyduff went into this game without their star forward Padraigh Boyle. They are also awaiting the return from injury of David Goulding and Declan Bowler. With the return of these players their hand will be strengthened, and they should have a great chance of reaching the final.
Ballyduff scores: Bobby O Sullivan 1-11 (0-9f), Jack Goulding 1-1, Aiden Boyle 0-4, Barry O’Grady 0-3, Giles Grady 0-1, Kevin J O’Connor 0-1, John P Leahy 0-1.
Crotta scores: Shane Nolan 0-11 (0-9f), Richard Nolan 0-1, Jordan Conway 0-1.
Ballyduff ‘s total score in three games so far: 4-44.
Total number of scores: 48.
Individual scorers: 11.
Crotta ‘s total score in three games so far: 2-37 .
Total number of scores: 39.
Individual scorers: 7.
Lixnaw 1-14
Abbeydorney 2-8
The World War II advice “keep calm and carry on” could easily be the motto Lixnaw adopted in this battle against Abbeydorney on Saturday evening.
Lixnaw went into the game with a superior attacking threat and a formidable rear-guard. Most people expected them to lower the black and amber colours with ease.
Lixnaw played with a stiff wind in the first-half and all seemed to be going according to plan as they went into a three-point lead after eight minutes. Lixnaw were blowing holes in the Abbeydorney defence, and were it not for a defect in in their shooting sights they could have been further ahead.
After 14 minutes Lixnaw found themselves driven back into their trenches when Steven O’Sullivan and Abbeydorney veteran Paul McElligott had a goal each. Then up stepped the Lixnaw raw recruit John Buckley to stroke over a beautiful point.
His point gave Cillian Fitzmaurice the fortitude to set up commander-in-chief of the Lixnaw attack, Ricky Heffernan, to rifle the ball to the net. Despite having a penalty saved Lixnaw led by 1-7 to 2-1 at the ceasefire.
On resumption of hostilities, Abbeydorney got to within point of Lixnaw, but were never able to gain a solid foothold in Lixnaw territory.
Paul Galvin was introduced to the fray for Lixnaw, and his influence was immense. Abbeydorney found it hard to set up any attack that might wound Lixnaw.
This was a battle where Abbeydorney attempted to outmuscle Lixnaw to gain the upper hand, but unfortunately for them, they lacked the firepower up front to kill off the much more organized and well-drilled outfit that is Lixnaw. In classic Lixnaw style they stuck to their guns, remained calm and carried on.
Lixnaw scorers: Ricky Heffernan 1-6 (0-5f), James Flaherty 0-4, John Buckley 0-2, Cillian Fitzmaurice 0-1, John Griffin 0-1
Abbeydorney scorers: Darragh O Connell 0-6 (0-3f), Steven O’Sullivan 1-0, Paul McElligott 1-0, Brendan O’Leary 0-1, James O’Connor 0-1.
Lixnaw’s total score in the three games so far: 1-49.
Total number of scores: 50.
Number of individual scorers: 14.
Abbeydorney’s total score in three games so far: 2-31.
Total number of scores: 33.
Number of individual scorers: 7.
