Mike O’Halloran previews the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC Round 1 tie between Lixnaw and Ballyheigue this Friday night at Austin Stack Park (7.30pm)…

Very little hope is given to Ballyheigue this season, as they seem to be struggling badly to get numbers training and finding it difficult to field a competitive team.

At underage level things are looking good for them, but the next few years could be barren at senior level.

In the games they have played their scoring average suggests that they will not trouble Lixnaw.

Great credit is due to the boys that are lining out to keep the hurling alive at senior level and the people that are entrusted with promoting hurling in the county must make sure that the senior players are supported.

Continued below…

Expect county man Philip Lucid to lead by example in this uphill battle against Lixnaw. Mark Dineen leads the team as captain.

Ballyheigue must believe that this is championship hurling and there is always a surprise. Expect them to give it their all.

Young Johnny Buckley leads the Lixnaw troops into battle and given his exploits for Kerry this year he is a worthy leader.

I saw him pit his hurling ability against Michael Boyle the other night and he was quite impressive. Lixnaw have put in a huge effort this year in preparing for the championship, Fergus Fitzmaurice along with his fellow Ballinclogher man Trevor McKenna has had both the hurlers and the Finuge footballers under his charge and has coordinated the training to facilitate both codes.

Mark Foley has returned to the coaching role and I’m pretty sure he will be determined to prove a point after his time with the county set up last year.

Lixnaw have an abundance of quick accurate forwards with a bag of minor medals in their pockets, led by Shane Conway and Colin Sheehy and the evergreen Michael Conway.

I saw them demolish Ballyduff in Finuge recently with a display of beautiful open hurling up front and steely determination at the back.

At the other end of the field they have Martin Stackpoole between the sticks.

Lixnaw will expect an easy passage and progression to the next round. Perhaps that’s a rock they could perish on, but I doubt it. Verdict: Lixnaw