Mike O’Halloran on the Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin County Minor Hurling Championship Final on Saturday…
Action from the Lixnaw v St Brendan’s minor final. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
THERE was a comprehensive win for Lixnaw over St Brendan’s Ardfert in the minor county hurling final in Kilmoyley on Saturday on a scoreline of 3-19 points to 1-10.
Lixnaw led at halftime by seven points (0-11 to 0-4).
They were never behind in this game and had their first point on 40 seconds from a free by the most complete underage hurler in the county, Shane Conway.
A minute later, his equally talented fellow forward Colin Sheehy tapped over another. Sheehy to my mind went on to have a man of the match display for Lixnaw using all his immense skill and ferocious speed to score almost every time he got the ball.
Fionan MacKessey had two points for St Brendan’s either side of a point from Jeremy McKenna, so Lixnaw led by four points on 20 minutes 0-7 to 0-3.
Action from the Lixnaw v St Brendan’s minor final. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
On 23 minutes, Fionan MacKessy brought a save from Robert Siles in the Lixnaw goal. The shot was weak but I thought it might be a sign of a St Brendan’s comeback.
Lixnaw added four more points before halftime, led by their captain John Buckley from midfield who, as well as winning possession and running at the St Brendans defence, also scored two points.
A revival of sorts came for a few minutes at the start of the second half for St Brendans, when they scored two points without reply to leave five between them after three minutes.
The Lixnaw team who won the minor final. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
The revival was well put on hold when Lixnaw’s ‘Captain Fantastic’, John Buckley drove through the Brendan’s defence to slap the ball to the net 1-11 to 0-7 now seven minutes into the second half.
Points followed from Conway, two and one from Buckley, then Colin Sheehy by far the best forward on display well and truly buried St Brendan’s revival when he blasted to the net on eleven minutes.
Jack Allen had a goal for Lixnaw towards the end to cancel out the goal from a free by Fionan MacKessey.
Colin Sheehy finished the game with 1-6 to his name and while he was the stand out player, there was hardly a weak link in this most impressive team.
Rob Silles was hardly bothered in the goal, his brother Dave at fullback didn’t put a foot wrong.
The St Brendans team who contested the minor final. Photo by Mike O’Halloran
Gerard Stackpoole at centre back was also impressive while John Buckley worked his socks off as did Jeremy MacKenna at centre forward.
Shane Conway was at his ease with the placed balls and in general play.
For St Brendan’s, who were under the cosh all day never gave up with Iarla Courtney, Fionan MacKessy and Eric Leen showing best for them.
Lixnaw made it two titles in a row with this impressive win and their conveyer belt of talented hurlers means their future is secure in the world of hurling in Kerry.
TEAMS
St Brendan’s: Shane McCrohan, Shane O Mahony, Aaron Tompson, James Lawlor, Adrian Nolan, Iarla Courtney, Geroid Savage, Fionan MacKessey, Eoghan Kearney, Padraigh O Connor Cpt, Eric Leen, Jimmy Shanahan, Michael Davis, Padraigh O Mahony, Jack McCarthy.
Lixnaw: Robert Silles, Tom Foley, David Siles, Conor O Keefe, Liam Mullins, Gerard Stackpoole, William Costello, John Buckley Cpt, Brian McAuliffe, Shane Conway, Jeremy McKenna, Davin Quilter, Colin Sheehy, Jamie Galvin, Jason Keane.
FOOTNOTE: The pitch in Kilmoyley was in its usual pristine condition but there was no scoreboard and the programs did not arrive until quite a few of the supporters had entered the ground.
Another aspect of the game was the amount of people who spent most of the game twenty metres into the field of play despite the pleadings of the officials.
Thanks to Josephine O’Riordan of St Brendans for the use of her camera
