.
Mike O’Halloran watched a thrilling Kerry SHC encounter at Austin Stack Park yesterday…
Abbeydorney 1-18
Lixnaw 0-19
The Abbeydorney panel. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
I spoke to an Abbeydorney man before the game, a certain Mr Donovan, and he said “this is going to be the upset of the weekend and Jack Sheehan is going to be the man of the match.” William O’Leary told me they were going to win.
Win they did. It was nip and tuck until Shane Conway had two points in a row to put Lixnaw ahead five points to three.
Abbeydorney then lost Michael Slattery before the water break, David Egan replaced him.
PJ Keane and Tomas Hannafin put Abbeydorney ahead before points from Shane Conway, Jamie Galvin and Jeremy McKenna made the score nine points to seven.
Continued below…
.
Daniel O’Leary and PJ Keane levelled for Abbeydorney. PJ added two before halftime and Shane Conway rapped over one to leave the score at halftime Abbeydorney 0-11 Lixnaw 0-11
The Lixnaw panel. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
On the restart, three points from John Buckley and one for Brian O’Leary made it Lixnaw 0-14 Abbeydorney 0-12.
PJ Keane, Jack Sheehan and Michael O’Leary brought the score to fifteen points with Shane Conway scoring one, all square at the water break.
Then came the score that changed the game, a cracking goal from young Jack Sheehan. James Flaherty replied for Lixnaw and they added three more points but it was not enough as Abbeydorney added three as well.
This was a cracking game full of passion and skill, but two men made a huge impact on the result; Michael O’Leary was imperious and Jack Sheehan got the goal and goals win matches.
Abbeydorney will now meet Kilmoyley in the semi-final where Ronan Donovan will pits his wits against the Collins brothers.
