Mike O’Halloran saw St Brendan’s advance to the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC final after defeating Lixnaw last night in Abbeydorney…
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
St Brendan’s 2-15
Lixnaw 1-12
I had this game down as a draw and up until the 20th minute of the second half, it looked like it might be heading that way.
Lixnaw were behind by a point at that stage 1-11 to 1-10, then up steps John Egan with a free from his own half. Martin Stackpoole touched it and it ended up in the net, game over.
St Brendan’s have navigated their way to a county final after running aground in the first round against Abbeydorney.
They were in the Doldrums for long periods against Ballyheigue but eventually gathered enough wind to sail into a quarter final with Causeway.
The wash their ship created capsized the Causeway vessel. I thought that St Brendans’ display that night was awesome but might be have been aided by a weak Causeway challenge.
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
On Saturday evening, after a nervous opening five minutes, they raised all their sails and began their march to a county final, led by Dáithí Griffin and John Egan.
Griffin opened their account after only 13 seconds but by the fifth minute Lixnaw were 1-2 to to one point ahead, the points coming from Mike Conway with his brother Shane gliding in for the goal.
It was nip and tuck from there to the half-time whistle with John Egan at the end of a ball that Tim Hannafin knocked across the square, Egan tipped it into the net 1-3 to 1-2 in favour of St Brendan’s.
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
Enda Galvin and James Flaherty had points for Lixnaw, Kevin Skinner, who was excellent through out, replied for St Brendans, level again 1-4 each with 15 minutes gone.
Egan and Mike Conway swapped points, Skinner put St Brendan’s ahead, Conway pointed two before John Egan levelled at the halftime break, 1-7 each.
Even though the scores were level St Brendan’s were on top with more of the ball and in command in most areas.
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At half-time one had a feeling the “the yanks are coming” and so they did from the resumption, Cian Hussey and Kevin Hannafin joined the fray adding to the St Brendan’s arsenal.
The introduction to one of the top college hurlers in the country for St Brendan’s and the loss of John Griffin for Lixnaw was always going to have an impact on the game and so it did.
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
Add to that, Ricky Heffernan received attention for a few minutes. He was able to return to the action but he was not himself. Remember also that Lixnaw had to line out without Maurice Corridon.
Following Egan’s long range goal the game was over, so much so in fact that when St Brendan’s won a penalty through the great work of Kevin Hannafin, Egan just tipped it over for a point.
Michael Conway finished with a point from play and one from a placed ball.
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
St Brendan’s have proven that they are the quality team the showed in Kilmoyley, they were given a stern test today and passed it with flying colours.
They remaining teams Ballyduff and Kilmoyley will find it difficult to overcome their power and organisation.
I am not taking away from St Brendan’s win in any way, but Lixnaw haven’t played in five weeks and haven’t had the cut and thrust games to hone their team.
Last year they came through the back door and got better as they went along.
It looks like there is a title around for the taking for St Brendan’s.
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
St Brendans:
Darren Delaney, Rory Horgan, Conor Flaherty, Stephen Leen, Eamonn Corridon, Darren Dineen, Kevin Orpen, Fionan Horgan, Jerry Wallace (Kevin Hannafin 30″) David Griffin (3) Kevin Skinner (3) Eric Leen, Fionan Mackessey (2), Tim Hannafin (Cian Hussey 30″) John Egan (2.7.)
The St Brendan’s team which defeated Lixnaw in the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final at Abbeydorney on Saturday evening. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
Lixnaw:
Martin Stackpoole, Ger Stackpoole, TrevorMckenna, Pat Corridon, Brendan Brosnan, Darragh Shanahan, Stephen Power, John Griffin (Colin Sheehy 35″) Michael Stackpoole, Shane Conway (1G), Enda Galvin (Jeremy McKenna), John Buckley, James Flaherty (1pts), Michael Conway (9pts) Ricky Heffernann (2pts) (Cathal McCarthy)
The Lixnaw team who lost to St Brendan’s in the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final at Abbeydorney on Saturday evening. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
Action from the St Brendan’s v Lixnaw Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Saturday evening. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
