Our hurling writer, Mike O’Halloran, was in Austin Stack Park this afternoon for Kerry’s Christy Ring Cup clash with Down…
Kerry captain, John Griffin, is chased by Down men. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Kerry 2-17
Down 2-10
‘Job done’ the Kerry management will say.
The Christy Ring Cup is the terminus for the 2015 journey of this team and they have taken the first steps towards that station.
A seven point win was secured against a resilient Down team who opened brightly and led by 1-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes when Danny Toner flashed the sliotar past Stephen Murphy in the Kerry goal.
Kerry’s, Michael O’Leary, rises high. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Kerry started slowly – perhaps they had been upset by the late defection of Bryan Murphy who was unable to line out due to an ankle injury, he was replaced by John Egan with Keith Carmody moving to corner back.
The slow start came to an end when Darren Dineen smacked over a beauty giving Patrick Kelly licence to do likewise before Padraigh Boyle kicked the ball to the net to level matters on 13 minutes.
From that point on, Kerry were never behind with Down only adding two more points to 1-4 for Kerry, all the points coming from Shane Nolan. Colum Harty struck his customary goal on 35 minutes leaving the half-time score Kerry 2-7 Down 1-5.
Shane Nolan, about to fire a free towards goal. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
John O’Neill, the Tipp man, replaced Michael Boyle for the second half and – as in the first half – Down had the first score when James Foyle split the posts.
Down were not to score again for a further 14 minutes with Kerry adding four – Shane Nolan with two Patrick Kelly one and a raker from Padraigh Boyle. Down did have a goal chance cleared in this time.
Kerry added further points from Michael O’Leary, John Egan, Patrick Kelly, David Butler with Shane Nolan adding two. Down added four more points and scrambled a goal towards the end when Myles Nicholson pushed the ball into the net.
Kerry scored 2-17, which is a fair old tally, but that is what is needed these days to win hurling matches.
The management will say a win is a win and so it is, but the shooting of 16 wides is surely a concern. It must have been difficult for the players to raise themselves for this game, one which everybody expected them to win easily.
Kerry’s Patrick Kelly in action with Down’s Michael Hughes. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
There were flashes of the play that won the Division 2A title but not enough of it. So this game is the reminder that, as the management has been saying, the Christy Ring Cup is hard won.
So now it is on to next weekend where Kerry will meet the winners of one of today’s other matches.
The trip to Croke Park is definitely on and there is plenty in the tank for this team who played well within themselves today.
The loss of Bryan Murphy, the shooting of 16 wides, the huge weight of expectation and the lacklustre performance of a number of players, all these matters can and will be rectified in the coming days.
Bryan told me he will be back for next week, the fact that they created a further 16 scoring chances, and the dip in form of a few players will be sorted on the training ground, are all positives that will see their opponents next week fearing the Kerry hurling machine again.
Scroll down for more action and fan photos…
Kerry’s Colm Harty, nets the Kingdom’s second goal of the match. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Kerry’s Padraig Boyle about to move the ball up field. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Kerry’s Padraig Boyle, comes under close scrutiny from Down’s Conor Cassidy. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
Kerry and Abbeydorney’s Micheal O’Leary, comes away with the ball. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Kerry’s Sean Weir in possession. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
At the Kerry v Down in Austin Stack Park were, from left: Padraig McCarthy, Bronagh McCarthy, Sharon McMahon, Gloria Keane and Jennifer Conway. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
At the Kerry v Down in Austin Stack Park were, from left, front row: Callen Shaw, Abbey Boyle, David White, Killian Boyle and Dylan Shaw. Back row: Kelly McCabe, Bobby Boyle, Gillian Lucid, Alanna Stack, Katie McCabe and Megan Moriarty. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
At the Kerry v Down in Austin Stack Park were, from left: Gavin O’Keeffe, Sharon O’Keeffe and Olive Cantillon. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Kerry v Down in Austin Stack Park were, from left: Evan Scott, Marie Boland, Audrey Costello and Sinead Costello. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
