A tense and tough game is on the cards when Ballyduff and Kilmoyley meet on Sunday in the Garveys Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final. Mike O’Halloran sets the scene…
Ballyduff and Kilmoyley will renew rivalry after their epic battles last year in the final, where it took over two hours to separate them.
Liam Boyle dragged Ballyduff back into the drawn game with a goal from nowhere, Kilmoyley went on to win the replay to draw level on titles won with Ballyduff.
This year Kilmoyley saw off an injury ravaged Crotta with an easy win scoring 3-16 in the process.
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St Brendan’s were next up and Kilmoyley won that encounter with their neighbours scoring 19 points on that occasion.
Kilmoyley are in much the same position as Lixnaw as they too have had less games than those who have lost along the way.
Ballyduff lost to Lixnaw by nine points and believed that the scoreline did not reflect their efforts.
Ballyduff struggled past a very good Abbeydorney team by a single point before overcoming Causeway at the death by the same margin.
Kilmoyley have a settled team of champions led by Daniel Collins who is now at full fitness. In the full of his health he is unstoppable.
Tom Murnane struggled at the beginning of the competition with an injury and word is that he is back to his best.
James Godley captains the Kilmoyley team and his partnership with Paudie O’Connor at midfield is blossoming. Paudie was one of Kerry’s stand out players in the league last season, Godley can count himself unlucky not to be on Kerry’s starting fifteen.
Aiden McCabe is solid in his net minding duties and I’m pretty sure his aim this year is for the Neilus Flynn to make the short journey from his sideboard in Togher Ban to Godley’s trophy cabinet in Larah.
Ballyduff will welcome back their ‘yanks’ Daniel O’Carroll and Jack Goulding — Jack has come back in fine fettle as was seen the weekend before last in Thurles.
PJ O’Gorman will be his usual dependable self, as well as minding the net he will be urging Eoin Ross, Cathal Kearney and Paud Costello to greater effort.
This year Ballyduff have been bolstered at the back by the return of Ally O’Connor and with Paud back to full fitness scores will be at a premium for Kilmoyley. Paud’s injury last year certainly had a bearing on the final result.
The Ballyduff backs will need to curb the ball handling of Adrian Royle and Sean Maunsell and the quick feet and accurate striking of Maurice O’Connor.
Up front for Ballyduff, Padraigh Boyle is a handful for anybody and will keep Colman Savage, Seanie Nolan and Flor McCarthy busy.
Gary O’Brien and Aiden Boyle provide the power and ball winning up front for Ballyduff expect Tom Murnane and Dougie Fitzell to try to cut off the supply to them.
This is a game that is hard to call. Kilmoyley have scored more in two games than Ballyduff have scored in three so I think Kilmoyley may have a very slight edge. VERDICT: Kilmoyley