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Our hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, looks at this weekend’s matches in the Supervalu County Senior Hurling Championship…
ROUND two of the Garvey’s SuperValu Kerry Senior Hurling Championship takes place in Austin Stacks Park Tralee, with two double headers on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday at 5.15pm, Crotta O’Neills take on Kilmoyley while at 7pm Lixnaw take on St Brendan’s.
A Phoenix-like rise from the ashes of being unable to field a team in 2013, drove Crotta to defeat their neighbours Abbeydorney on a scoreline of 1-12. to 0-9 led by their county star Shane Nolan.
Kilmoyley defeated the boys from north of Ballinorig cross (Causeway), Adrian Royle’s goal was the difference between the two sides, 1-11 to 0-11 points it ended, Daniel Collins scoring 10 points.
After the Crotta demolition of Abbeydorney, there is every chance that they can take the scalp on Kilmoyley next Saturday. That game is followed by the clash of two of the favourites Lixnaw and St Brendan’s (the title holders).
Lixnaw had, as expected, an easy win over Ballyheigue on Friday night – Lixnaw put 15 points on the board as against 0-8 points for Ballyheigue.
Injured Lixnaw star, Brendan Brosnan.
The win was never in doubt even though Lixnaw lost one of their top players to injury, Brendan Brosnan the Kerry Hurling All Stars young hurler of the year 2013.
Lixnaw looked slick and moved the ball at ease. St Brendan’s put Ballyduff to the sword on Sunday afternoon on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-10 points, with an all action fitness-driven display which the boys from the Cashen could find no answer to either up front or at the back.
Young Kevin Hannafin, the St Brendan’s full back showed that sitting in the same dressing room as the great DJ Carey with Carlow IT last season has done him no harm at all. He marshalled at least three Ballyduff attackers at his ease.
St Brendan’s have the perfect balance of skill, power, fitness and now, the self belief that winning in 2013 has brought them and should have enough to pip Lixnaw.
On Sunday at 2pm, Abbeydorney take on Ballyheigue followed by Causeway v Ballyduff at 3.30pm.
Ballyduff were missing at least six of their preferred 15 and will be hoping for better against Causeway on Sunday. I have my doubts that they will be able to raise their game sufficiently to defeat Causeway who are a severely wounded beast after being defeated by Kilmoyley last weekend.
Causeway have the players and management to win a Neilus Flynn Cup but they need to put their skill, pace and will to win into a game for sixty-four or five minutes every day they play and that is something they have failed to do over the past few seasons.
Causeway mentors believed that their win over their great rivals Ballyduff last year was just the fillip they needed to get over the line, unfortunately for them it didn’t work out like that.
Abbeydorney should have enough for Ballyheigue on paper, especially with the injury list Ballyheigue are reporting.
So predicted winners Crotta, St Brendan’s, Causeway and Abbeydorney. Two of the others will only be coming to town for van burger ‘n’ chips during the roses.
(Last week’s prediction success rate was 50%)
