Mike O’Halloran watched Ballyduff overcome Abbeydorney yesterday in the Garveys Supervalu Kerry SHC first round  tie at Austin Stack Park…

Ballyduff 0-13

Abbeydorney 0-12

A bore fest provided Ballyduff with a one point win over an Abbeydorney team that battled hard, but were out-muscled at the back at vital times and coughed up frees.

Ballyduff showed why you can’t bet against them “inside in town”. They were better able to manage their limited resources and have now bought themselves time to get Jack Goulding, Daniel Carroll and Jack Sullivan into championship action even if they lose to Lixnaw in the next round.

Michael and Padraigh Boyle pointed for Ballyduff on first and seventh minute, in between Brian O’Leary and Ronan Donovan had points for Abbeydorney.

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It was sixteen minutes before Ballyduff scored again and nineteen minutes before Abbeydorney pointed when James O’Connor split the posts.

Nigel Roche had missed two frees and a sideline cut in the meantime, Padraigh Boyle made it three all on 27 minutes, but Nigel Roche sent Abbeydorney in at halftime a point up four points to three.

Within two minutes of the restart Nigel Roche pointed a sixty five Niall O’Mahony added another before Padraigh Boyle eased over two in a row.

Nigel then put two between them seven points to five. Boyle reduced it to one and then came the turning point; Ronan Donovan was fouled bearing down on goal resulting in a penalty. Nigel struck it to the right and wide.

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On 45 minutes, Nigel pointed, Boyle replied with a beauty, only for Roche to put Abbeydorney two ahead again, nine points to seven.

Garry O’Brien was fouled after some robust attacking and  Padraigh tapped over, his brother Aiden followed with another point before David Goulding drove over from distance.

James O’Connor had two points and David Egan had one to draw Abbeydorney level before Aiden Boyle and Michael Boyle pointed Ballyduff to a one point win. Brian O’Leary had a shot from an angle to level matters but was wide.

Another golden chance for Abbeydorney to progress through the front door went a-begging, my question is where is Steve O’Sullivan?

As for Ballyduff, I said in my preview that the holy trinity of Michael Boyle Paud Costello and Padraigh Boyle would be influential for the winners and so they were.

What will become of Ballyduff when the Boyles are no longer available?

Next up for Abbeydorney is Ballyheigue a hurdle they may be able to overcome. There is only a hair’s breath between Abbeydorney putting three games together to progress in the championship, they can use their game against Ballyheigue to get back on track.

Ballyduff — PJ Gorman, Liam Boyle, Paud Costello, Michael Hussey (Thomas Slattery), Anthony O’Carroll, Eoin Ross, Cathal Kearney, Paul O’Carroll, David Goulding, Padraigh Boyle, Aiden Boyle, Ally O’Connor, John Hussey, Garry O’Brien, Michael Boyle (Cpt)

Abbeydorney — Brian Donovan, Steven Egan, Eoin Egan, Niall O’Connell, Daniel O’Leary, Brendan O’Leary, Kieran Dineen, P.J. Keane, Brian O’Leary, James O’Connor, Nigel Roche, Niall O’Mahony, Damien Ryall, Mike Hannafin Ronan Donovan.
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