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Mike O’Halloran reports on the North Kerry Championship game played in Causeway last night between Causeway and Lixnaw…
Causeway 0-15
Lixnaw 0-14
Action from the game last night. Photo: Mike O’Halloran
Let me start by saying that I was very apprehensive about attending any games or being in crowds during the Covid, I have taken the threat of infection very seriously form day one. I attended wearing a mask.
On arrival in Causeway I was very impressed with their organisation and their adherence to the return to play guidelines.
They had sanitising stations and a PA system manned by a gentleman who welcomed everybody to the game as well as advising us of our obligation to social distance and to sanitise, the club had done their utmost to advise people on staying safe, but we supporters all need to be a little bit more aware of our own actions to keep each other safe.
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The game itself was quite a lively encounter, with both teams leaving everything on the field.
Causeway certainly did not look like a team that has been mothballed for months. They started without some of their stars, but they looked like champions and judging on tonight’s performance they must be odds on to win another county title if the county championship goes ahead this year.
Joe Diggins opened the Causeway account, Michael Conway replied for Lixnaw. His brother Shane pointed a free after James Flaherty won a ball in the air and was fouled.
Keith Carmody drew Causeway level, Shane Conway won possession from the puck out and drove over a point. Jason Leahy stroked over a monster free to make it 3 points all on nine minutes.
Billy Lyons had the next two points one from a free and one from play. Shane Conway and Keith Carmody swapped points, Billy tapped over to make it Causeway 0-7 Lixnaw 0-5 on 23 minutes.
The Lixnaw side. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
Billy Lyons and Shane Conway had a point each. Shane added two more before halftime. Mark Murphy also had a point to leave the halftime score Causeway 0-9 Lixnaw 0-8.
Michael Conway did have a goal chance smothered by John Mike Dooley just before the short whistle.
Sean Sheehan made it a two point game 23 seconds into the second half and a minute later James Flaherty reduced it to one.
Billy Lyons had a pointed free replied to twice by Shane Conway to level matters 11 points all on the seventh minute.
Shane put Lixnaw ahead a minute later only for Billy to split the post again from a free. On 17 minutes Shane put Lixnaw back ahead Colum Harty who had just been introduced pointed four minutes later.
Shane Conway had his clubs final point while Colum and Billy added a point each for Causeway.
Causeway, like I said earlier, look the real deal and will be difficult to beat in this competition. As for Lixnaw they seemed to have run into the same problem as they did in the county final.
The Causeway side. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
They seem to be unable to get the ball to the scoring zone in a way that gives their forwards a fair chance of winning possession.
On several occasions tonight it looked like Causeway had one or two extra backs. Lixnaw must be delighted that Johnny Buckley is back and Conor O’Keefe looks like a powerful unit now.
Darragh Shanahan impressed as did Jeremy McKenna. Shane Conway was his usual self but he needs much more assistance up front.
Causeway have Tommy Casey back and he was pretty impressive tonight as was Jason Diggins, Jason Leahy, Keith Carmody and Billy Lyons. Bryan Murphy came on late and looked really tuned in as did Colum Harty.
So for Lixnaw there’s quite a lot to improve on and I’m sure Fergus Fitzmaurice and Seanie McGrath will get onto that in the coming weeks.
It must be remembered that Lixnaw played most of the second half without Tweek and Brendan Brosnan and they only lost by a point and were it not for the save by John Mike from Michael Conway Lixnaw could have gone in at halftime leading.
Stephen Goggin must be delighted with his charges and how they have come out of the lockdown.
It was great to see a live game and let’s hope the Covid infection rates do not increase so that this and other competitions will be completed.
Stay safe, wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance and don’t be afraid to ask people to respect your space.
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