PREVIEW: Who Knows What Will Happen At The County Final Replay?

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Kilmoyley and Ballyduff have it all to do again in Saturday’s Garveys Supervalu Kerry SHC final replay at Austin Stack Park (throw-in 5pm). Mike O’Halloran ponders how it will go…

High-flying action from Sunday's game. Photo by Dermot Crean

High-flying action from the final two weeks ago. Photo by Dermot Crean

THE lyrics of the old Johnny Nash song go; “There are more questions than answers and the more I find out the less I know”.

That’s how I feel about the replay between Kilmoyley and Ballyduff on Saturday.

I have spoken to a lot of hurling folk during the week and each one has a different slant on how it might go, but they mainly ask questions.

Questions like, if Kilmoyley are a couple of points up, coming towards the end, will they still be looking over their shoulder for a Boyle or Goulding wonder goal?

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The atmosphere around the Kilmoyley supporters after the drawn game, was one of a group that felt they had left it after them. Ballyduff on the other hand, were like men who had just come the end of The Green Mile only for a power outage to disable the electric chair.

On visiting Kilmoyley on Thursday night, they had (much like Enda) regained their Mojo and were rearing to get at the Ballyduff boys and finish the job.

I spoke to the Ballyduff management on the morning of the drawn game and they said if they had two more weeks they would be in great shape, well they got their wish, and they too are chomping at the bit for a second chance.

Will Ballyduff race into a six point lead? One would think that Kilmoyley would have done their homework on how to prevent that.

Will Kilmoyley improve the return from their full forward line? No doubt they have the potential to do so. Their full forward line can also be augmented by Maurice O’Connor and Joe McElligott.

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Replays seldom resemble the drawn game and I have no doubt that the replay will as Cody says,  “take on a life of its own” so expect new names to influence matters.

In the preview on radio for the drawn game, I noted that apart from the usual suspects, like Padraig Boyle and Daniel Collins, lads like James Godley and Liam Boyle could have a big say in matters.

Godley played well and scored a goal and of course the ageless Boyle saved Ballyduff from execution, with his goal.

Who will be the big names the next day? I will go with Jack Goulding for Ballyduff and Maurice O’Connor for Kilmoyley. But expect Gary O’Brien to have hand in the result.

A straw poll taken from Crotta, Lixnaw and St Brendan’s all said Ballyduff, in the same poll Causeway, Abbeydorney and Ballyheigue pundits tipped Kilmoyley.

That poll was taken consulting men and ladies, who actually go to all the hurling games in Kerry, not just the County Championship and it just goes to show how hard it is to separate the two teams.

Johnny Nash also sang “I can see clearly now” maybe he can, but I can’t. The momentum should be with Ballyduff, but Kilmoyley will have learned a lot from the first encounter and they will point to a stronger bench.

Ballyduff will have benefitted from the extra few days training, they were hoping to have Aiden Boyle back for the replay but that seems not to be an option now, Bobby O’Sullivan looks sharp.

Perhaps you could see old heads like Micheal Regan or James McCarthy having an influence on matters, for Kilmoyley.

The referee can also have an influence on matters. The free count the last day was level so the free conversion rate is vital for both sides.

Expect a less open game and don’t expect a classic,

Johnny Nash sang “Lets go dancing” I say “let’s go hurling”. I know a Saturday evening is not ideal for supporters with work etc, but both clubs deserve the support of the hurling public.

Who will it be? Will it be Green and Gold or Green and White? Will it be Aiden McCabe or Padraig Grady?  Will it be Togher Ban or Baile Dubh for the celebrations.

“Whatever will be will be, the future is not ours to see” but the winner will win by more than four.

As that great camán wielder Johnny Nash said; “There are more questions than answers”. Either team will be worthy reps for Kerry in the semi-final of the Munster Intermediate Championship in November.

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