.
Mike O’Halloran looks at the Garvey’s SuperValu Senior Hurling Championship Round 2A and 2B clashes taking place in Austin Stack Park this Sunday…
Round 2B (Losers Group) Abbeydorney v Ballyheigue (1.45pm)
Ballyheigue’s Conor Galway in action against John Griffin of Lixnaw last weekend. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ballyheigue are in a bit of bother numbers wise these days and found the going very difficult against Lixnaw but they battled hard in the second half even though they were fighting a losing battle.
John Mike Pierce could not be faulted in his performance in goal, Ballyhiegue will also expect their captain Mark Dineen to raise his game for this encounter.
Diarmuid Walsh will come up against PJ Keane or Brian O’Leary and should be on par with both.
Continued below…
.
Conor Galway played well against Lixnaw Daniel O’Leary will attempt to put the shackles on him.
They will give it their all against Abbeydorney, but it may not be enough. Abbeydorney will take heart from the way they put it up to Ballyduff and were it not for poor shot selection and a missed penalty they might have progressed.
Abbeydorney may have made a mistake in playing Ronan Donovan in the corner — perhaps his pure pace could be better utilised further out the field running at defences.
Expect Kieran Dineen to do a marking job on Philip Lucid as Kieran had a good game on Padraig Boyle last weekend.
Abbeydorney to win this one, as an aside they should take a trip to Steve Sullivan and invite him into the panel as they need one or two more forwards.
VERDICT: Abbeydorney
Continued below…
.
Round 2A (Winners Group) Lixnaw v Ballyduff 3.30pm
Ballyduff used all their guile and physicality to overcome Abbeydorney by one point in the first round and now will pit themselves against Lixnaw the standout team of the championship so far.
John Buckley of Lixnaw is tackled by Adrian Flahive of Ballyheigue in last week’s game. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ballyheigue had no answer to the organisation, skill, pace and accuracy of Lixnaw and allowed Lixnaw to dictate terms from the start.
Ballyduff might not have the same pace as Lixnaw but they will bring fierce physicality to the game and will have on display Padraig Boyle, the best goalscoring forward in Kerry.
The power of Garry O’Brien and Aiden Boyle was in evidence on Saturday night — Aiden got two points and Garry put himself about to win frees.
Continued below…
.
Ally O’Connor on his return looked a little rusty, with a championship game under his belt he will improve no end.
How will the slight Lixnaw forwards cope against the likes of Paud Costello? I’m pretty sure that Fergus Fitzmaurice and Mark Foley will come up with a plan to expose the lack of pace in Ballyduff.
The first touch, movement and game management of Lixnaw will cause Ballyduff a lot more trouble than Abbeydorney did.
Lixnaw have the ability to move their forwards around as they are all comfortable in any position; last week we saw Mike Conway switch positions with Shane.
Lixnaw to win with Ballyduff awaiting the return of Jack Goulding, Daniel Carroll and Jack Sullivan to continue their quest for championship honours in the next round.
VERDICT: Lixnaw
