.
Our hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, on North Kerry hospitality, the Kerry hurling manager and the three games up for decision in the Garvey’s Supervalu Senior Hurling Championship this weekend…
WE are off to North Kerry again this weekend to savour more of the wonderful fare that we saw last weekend.
The North Kerry club players brought all their passion, colour and excitement to the table, tables that were set by the wonderful work of the volunteers of the respective hosts of Kilmoyley, Abbeydorney and Causeway.
All the venues were a credit to their communities and just goes to show that community spirit is alive and well.
The GAA prides itself on its grass roots and the grass roots outdid themselves last weekend.
Continued below…
Lixnaw v Causeway (Abbeydorney, 7pm)
On Friday evening last in O’Dorney, Lixnaw overcame a spirited young Ballyheigue to set up a meeting with with Causeway this Saturday in Abbeydorney at 7pm.
Lixnaw had a little too much guile and power for Ballyheigue that evening and this Saturday they will come up against a Causeway team who have a whole host of county players to call on.
There is a doubt about the fitness of Bryan Murphy following his injury against Ballyduff. Murphy is a very influential player for Causeway and will weaken their challenge if he cannot line out.
Causeway backs will have to look out for forwards like Lixnaw’s Shane Conway this Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Causeway have a huge panel of players to call on and I have a feeling that they will need to be at the top of their game to overcome Lixnaw.
Causeway made relatively hard work of defeating a very understrength and poor Ballyduff team, who also lost their main scoring threat Padraig Boyle during the game.
Given that they are up against the champions, who have made a great start to their retention of their crown by disposing of Ballyheigue, Causeway will have to match the physicality of the Lixnaw backs and close down the collective genius that is their attack.
I don’t see Lixnaw losing this one, a very slight improvement in their accuracy will see them over the hurdle Causeway present.
Verdict: Lixnaw
Kilmoyley v Crotta O’Neills (Causeway 1.30pm)
On Sunday we travel to Causeway to see the replay between Crotta O’Neills and Kilmoyley.
I had tipped Kilmoyley to win this one last week and I got a text during the Ballyduff game from one of Kilflynn’s leading citizens to remind me of my prediction.
I am sticking with my prediction this week provided that dual star Daniel Collins and the hurling DJ Adrian Royle are able to line out from the start.
Crotta’s, Sean Weir, attempts a hook on Kilmoyley’s, Ian Brick in the drawn game last Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Crotta gave up an eight point lead and sometimes that can play on the mind of some players when replay time comes along. There is no doubt that Crotta have the talent to go the whole way to the final, but they may have to take the losers’ route to the final.
Any hurling fan would like to see Shane Nolan have a medal in his pocket to go with the booty he has already collected.
Verdict: Kilmoyley
Ballyheigue v St Brendan’s (Causeway 3.15pm)
An hour and 45 minutes later, the young guns from Ballyheigue will race out on to the Causeway turf to take on another one of my tips for last week St Brendans.
St Brendans were defeated by Abbeydorney and I had tipped St Brendans based on their trouncing of a few weeks ago Ballyduff. But as we saw, Ballyduff are a pale shadow of themselves.
St Brendans, Stephen Leen and Abbeydorney’s, Darragh O’Brien, contest a puck out in last Sunday’s game. Photo by Dermot Crean.
I spoke to an Ardfert man during the week and he felt that perhaps St Brendans were a little complacent and the trip to Causeway lacked the buzz and sense of occasion that the game in town brings.
I will have to go with St Brendans again this time, but don’t rule out a massive challenge from the Ballyheigue boys.
If St Brendans can get beyond this round, they can look to the return of the college star Kevin Hannafin to bolster their challenge later.
Verdict: St Brendans
A lot of the players on show this weekend will be out to impress the new Kerry hurling manager, whom I presume will be in attendance. Rumours abound about who will replace Eamonn Kelly the most successful manager in Kerry hurling history.
The sensible thing to do would be to promote the very competent coach Conor Gleeson who has worked with Eamonn over the past while.
There is no doubt that it is very disappointing for Kerry hurling to lose a manger of his quality, the task facing the management team for next season is immense and would be difficult for a settled management team to progress in the National League and to even compete in the round robin series in Leinster never mind a new set up.
I am not privy to the reasons why the manager left, but I feel he made the right decision.
All managers’ careers end in “failure” (leave while you are at the top).
There is a stated fear among hurling followers that next year could be, to say the least, very challenging, with this young team coming up against some of “the big guns” where some defeats can be expected.
Eamonn Kelly was a gentleman to deal with and we wish him all the best in the future and perhaps that future could see him come up against Kerry next season in Div 1B if he were to take on the vacant Offaly job.
Anyway, come out and support the hurlers in the Garveys Supervalu Hurling Championship. It’s on your doorstep.
