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Mike O’Halloran previews the Garveys Supervalu Kerry County Hurling Championship Quarter Final between Causeway take on Ballyduff at Austin Stack Park on Sunday (1.45pm)…
Action from last year’s clash between Causeway and Ballyduff. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
Next Sunday sees both quarter finals of championship take place in Austin Stack Park Tralee where first Causeway will attempt to overcome their fellow parishioners Ballyduff.
When Causeway and Ballyduff met last year, Causeway had a comprehensive win.
The display by Causeway in Kilmoyley that day, seemed to suggest that they would be title contenders later in the year, that is not how it turned out.
There is no doubt that Causeway possess the talent to go all the way in this competition, but over the last few years, the promise they showed early in the competition, did not materialise.
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Causeway have a whole host of players who have worn the county shirt at all levels.
Keith Carmody, Bryan Murphy and Jason Diggins, along with Tommy Casey were starters for Kerry in Division 1B. Stephen Murphy, who operated at full forward against St Brendan’s in round two, played a few games in goals for Kerry.
Carmody, Murphy and Diggins were immense in a tough encounter against Lixnaw in Kilmoyley. Keith Carmody carried on that form for Causeway, when they lost their way against St Brendan’s.
Causeway are the 2015 County Hurling League champions, when they defeated St Brendan’s in the final a few weeks ago. St Brendan’s showed them no mercy in Abbeydorney in round two, both with the wind and against it.
For Causeway to win they need to find a consistency, that has been lacking for the past few years. They have lined out without Muiris Delaney and Colum Harty, for their last two games in this competition.
They welcomed back Tadhg Flynn between the sticks in round two. They will need everybody firing on all cylinders to progress. Ballyduff has reached the quarter final, when they defeated Ballyheigue, in a game of two halves in Kilmoyley.
Ballyheigue had put a fierce challenge to Ballyduff in the first half, scoring twelve points with the wind. It took a huge effort from Michael Boyle to get Ballyduff over the line.
Ballyduff, were beaten in the first round by Kilmoyley, where their lack of pace was exposed. For the win over Ballyheigue, Daniel Carroll and Barry O’Grady made a return, they were both injured for the first game.
Paud Costello also got another hours hurling under his belt. Ballyduff, are operating from a very small panel, as there is a gap of two or three years for next crop of young hurlers to come through.
Bearing that in mind and the age profile of five or six of the current players, Ballyduff will be doing all in their power to make it to the final. Games between Causeway and Ballyduff are always tense, expect the same on Sunday. I have a slight fancy for Ballyduff, to grind out a victory.
