Mike O’Halloran looks forward to the repeat of last year’s final on Sunday when champions Kilmoyley take on St Brendan’s in the Garveys Supervalu Kerry SHC semi-final on Sunday in Austin Stack Park (throw-in 3.30pm)…

Kilmoyley will put their title on the line, when they meet neighbours St Brendan’s this Sunday in second part of the double-header in Tralee.

Kilmoyley fell to Abbeydorney but are back on track, with a win over Lixnaw. That win was led by an injured Daniel Collins, who has had a couple of weeks to recover further from that injury.

Sean Dowling is also restored to the team, his presence at full back is a huge bonus for them. Seanie Murnane and Sean Nolan are solid hurling backs, Tom Murnane continues to impress, as does Dougie Fitzell at centre back.

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Paudie O’Connor was very impressive, with the Kerry under 21s on Saturday and Jordan Brick recovered his form against Lixnaw. Luke Fitzell, Maurice O’Connor and Sean Maunsell will all contribute to the Kilmoyley effort to retain The Neilus Flynn.

One of their stand-out men in the quarter-final was James Godley and he will need to be at his very best to curb the host of stars on the St Brendan’s team.

St Brendan’s have cruised through their side of the draw, putting up huge scores against Causeway and Ballyheigue. They welcome Cian Hussey back to form, and he has proved to be a very important cog in their forward division.

The St Brendan’s forward line includes the genius that is John Egan and for Kilmoyley to win, he has to be curtailed. Tim Hanafin, Kevin Skinner and Darren Wallace will keep the Kilmoyley halfback line interested.

Daithi Griffin and Stephen Leen form a lively midfield – Griffin is a master ball carrier.

Perhaps their strongest line is the halfbacks, which includes the best centre back in Division 1B of the National Hurling League  in Darren Dineen.

Eamonn Corridon and Kevin Orpen will assist in attempting to repulse Brick, Maunsell and Fitzell, while the Horgans Fionan and Rory will need to be at their best to shackle Maurice O’Connor and Joe McElligott.

The experienced Conor Flaherty will provide protection for Darren Delaney in the goal. I have a suspicion that Kilmoyley might just scrape this one, based only on the fact that St Brendan’s had an easy passage to the semis and have not been tested.

Kilmoyley also welcome back to fitness Robert Collins. I saw him play in a challenge last week he looked sharp. Expect a massive battle with St Brendan’s attempting to make up for the loss of last year’s final.

Mike O’Halloran looks at the Garvey’s SuperValu Kerry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final between Abbeydorney and Ballyduff at Austin Stack Park on Sunday afternoon at 1.45pm…

We are down to the last four, in the championship, where Ballyduff take on Abbeydorney, and Kilmoyley joust with St Brendan’s.

Ballyduff, it is fair to say, started out this year, more in hope than expectation, they have reached the semis, with a comprehensive win over Causeway, a win that was orchestrated by Padraig Boyle.

I have been tipping Abbeydorney to go all the way this year.  I spoke to Kieran Dineen during the week, and he was optimistic about O’Dorneys chances against Ballyduff.

He cites a new attitude, by this current crop of Abbeydorney players. A big plus for the Bricksiders, is that they have all their big players around for the summer.

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They have big numbers at training, and are a very tight knit group. Abbeydorney have won both their games, to get to the semi-final.

In their replay against Crotta, they managed to shut down the threat of Crotta’s big guns, like, Shane Nolan, Sean Weir and Jordan Conway. In order to overcome Ballyduff, they will have to nullify the threat posed by Padraig Boyle, especially.

Padraig Boyle will have to be on top form and will need loads of support, from the likes of Jack Goulding and his brother Liam, to overcome Abbeydorney.

The O’Leary’s will lead the van for O’Dorney, but this Abbeydorney team is solid front to back. Beano I think has found a position that suits them best, his shot stopping and game management, from between the posts is very impressive.

Niall O’Connell and Aiden Healy, leave little past them. Kieran Dineen is a huge at centre back.

Up front James O’Connor is lethal  and Mike Hannafin works his socks off  for about 40 minutes, he is then replaced by the likes of Stevie O’Sullivan or Ronan Donovan.

Donovan and O’Sullivan provide serious pace when their opponents are beginning to flag and punish with hard running and accurate striking.

Abbeydorney should have too much power for Ballyduff, but you write off, Ballyduff at your peril.

Paud Costello, David O’Grady and Padraig O’Grady, will make sure that no soft scores are allowed.  Eoin Ross at wing back is capable of scoring a long range point or two.

Daniel O’Carroll is back from injury and will support Michael Boyle at midfield. Anthony O’Carroll has a big game in his arsenal and will need to produce it next Sunday. John Hussey will gain confidence from his cracking goal against Causeway.

Jack Goulding is capable of having a massive influence on the game with his pace and skill. If he runs at the Abbeydorney defence, he can win frees – Abbeydorney allowed Crotta back into the drawn game with the concession of frees.

Gary O’Brien is not yet ready to hand over the mantle of being one of Kerry’s best forwards and he will relish the opportunity to pit his wits against Aiden Healy.

Ballyduff might just shade this one, but don’t be surprised if Abbeydorney reach their third final in recent years.

CHAMPIONS Kilmoyley will do battle with parish neighbours St Brendans in a repeat of last year’s county final on Sunday week.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Garveys Supervalu Senior Hurling Championship was made on Radio Kerry today and resulted in the pairing as well as Abbeydorney taking on Ballyduff in the other semi-final. The games will be played as a double-header in Austin Stack Park on Sunday, August 14.

St Brendans will be out to avenge last year’s loss, when they were well beaten by Kilmoyley at Abbeydorney GAA grounds by 3-15 to 1-13.

Meanwhile, Abbeydorney have shown fine form defeating Crotta after a replay and then Kilmoyley to reach the semi-finals.

Ballyduff have improved well since their opening round defeat to Kilmoyley and really impressed in their victory over Causeway and the Boyle brothers goalscoring prowess will be a threat. It has the makings of a thrilling afternoon of hurling.

Mike O’Halloran says champions Kilmoyley did enough to overcome Lixnaw in the Garveys Supervalu Kerry SHC quarter-final in Austin Stack Park yesterday…

Kilmoyley 1-19

Lixnaw 1-16

My preview said that Lixnaw would win if Daniel Collins didn’t play, well he did and his goal was the difference at the end.

Collins, who was heavily bandaged on his left hamstring, was only operating at less than 50 per cent of his capacity and finished up with one goal and four points on the scoreboard.

Lixnaw played with a strong wind in the first half and they made very poor use of whatever advantage the wind presents. They persisted in long high balls to their inside forwards, who were unable to either control or even to get to the end of.

Lixnaw had drawn level on 24 minutes, when Brendan Brosnan pointed a free to leave the score six points all.

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Two minutes later Lixnaw were ahead seven to six as Michael Conway pointed a free.  Then a pivotal moment came when Daniel Collins strode through the Lixnaw defence and blasted to the net.

Lixnaw 0-10 Kilmoyley 1-8 at halftime.

Lixnaw did improve their challenge against the wind, but it was not enough to overcome Kilmoyley who went further ahead. Enda Galvin was introduced and he tapped over a point. He had a hand in the next score too when Michael Conway goaled.

That goal reduced the margin to four points, Paudie O’Connor pointed a sideline cut, Lixnaw replied with two points, but were unable to manufacture a goal to bring this to another day.

Kilmoyley did enough and players stepped up to help out the hampered Collins, especially Jordan Brick, who knocked over four points in the second half.

Maurice O’Connor and Joseph McElligott were lively up front, Paudie O’Connor and Dougie Fitzell also put in some serious work.

Kilmoyley advance to the semi-final with some work to do, Lixnaw return to the drawing board to try to figure out how manage their huge underage talent.

Scorers:

Kilmoyley: Daniel Collins 1-04 (4 frees) Jordan Brick 0-04, Paudie O’Connor (0-01 sideline cut,) Sean Maunsell 0-02, Maurice O’Connor 0-02 and Dougie Fitzell 0-02 , Tom Murnane 0-01, Sean Dowling 0-01, Joseph McElligott 0-1.

Causeway: Mike Conway 1-07 (7 frees), Brendan Brosnan 0-04 (3 frees), James Flaherty 0-02, John Griffin 0-01, Shane Conway 0-01, Enda Galvin 0-01.

• FOOTNOTE: A feature of the quarter-finals was the return from injury of Padraig Boyle, who turned out to be a huge influence on the Ballyduff performance. Boyle was far from being fully fit but he was able to overcome any opponent.

Likewise Daniel Collins was carrying an injury which meant he wasn’t operating near his best and he too was one of the best players on the field. I suppose class is permanent.

Mike O’Halloran watched Ballyduff net a volley of early goals which Causeway could never recover from in the Garveys Supervaly Kerry SHC quarter-final in Austin Stack Park yesterday…

Ballyduff 5-16

Causeway 1-15

The Boyles brothers blitzed Causeway and brought the boys from Ballyduff into the semi-final yesterday.

In my preview of this game I had tipped Ballyduff to come out the right side of this encounter but I didn’t expect the margin to be so huge.

I had spoken of the talent that Causeway have in their ranks, but that talent has had problems with consistency and that lack of consistency was the story again today.

Causeway did show up and were level with a point each after two minutes. Seven minutes later they were on their way out of the championship when they trailed by thirteen points.

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The thirteen point margin was created by four quality goals from John Hussey, Jack Goulding, Liam Boyle and Padraig Boyle.

The halftime score in favour of Ballyduff was 4-11 to 0-5.

Causeway had the wind in the second half and they also had the first two scores from Brandon Barrett and Paul McGrath.

The score of the second half came from Padraig Boyle on fourteen minutes when he took six Causeway men out of the game with sidesteps to drive over a beauty.

After that Causeway had four points without reply from Paul McGrath, Stephen Murphy, Keith Carmody and Jason Leahy.

A goal at the end from Mark Murphy put a better look on the scoreboard, but that’s all it did.

Ballyduff were in total command from beginning to the end, with nearly all their players putting in a serious shift. The same cannot be said for Causeway, apart from Keith Carmody and perhaps Brandon Barrett.

Ballyduff used all their bravery, guile and match craft to put Causeway to the sword.

The Boyles were the stars. Michael at midfield lorded over all he surveyed. Liam at centre forward ran the line and pitched in with scores. Padraig was just magical in his play, even though he was only just returning from injury. Aiden who is out injured was on the line with sensible instructions. Paud Costello was at his ease, at fullback, Eric O’Connor, worked hard.

Ballyduff haven’t gone away and are going to be a force for either Abbeydorney or St Brendan’s.

Ballyduff Scorers: Padraig Boyle 1-09 (7 frees), Jack Goulding 2-01, Liam Boyle 1-02, John Hussey 1-0, Gary O’Brien 0-02, Daniel Carroll 0-01, Eric O’Connor 0-01.

Causeway Scorers: Keith Carmody 0-04, Paul McGrath (3 frees) 0-4, Brandon Barrett 0-3, Mark Murphy 1-0, Stephen Murphy 0-02, Bryan Murphy 01,  Jason Leahy 0-01.

Mike O’Halloran on the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC Quarter-Final to take place on Sunday at Austin Stack Park (3.30pm)… 

Kilmoyley take on Lixnaw in the second game of the double-header in Tralee. The champions were defeated by a resurgent Abbeydorney in round two.

Most folk expected Kilmoyley to win that one, but they had no answer to Abbeydorney in extra time.

Daniel Collins went off injured in that game and his loss was immense. I saw Kilmoyley play in the county league and they impressed me with their ball distribution, game management and free scoring.

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It is fair to say that their main playmaker is Collins and his loss through injury, early in the game against Abbeydorney really upset their rhythm.

Kilmoyley will hope Collins (who is looking very doubtful now) can make it for the challenge that Lixnaw will present.

James Godley, Tom Murnane attempted to get Kilmoyley over the line against Abbeydorney and were well aided by Paudie Connor.

Jordan Brick was not his usual effective self against Abbeydorney, so expect a huge game from him on Sunday. Luke Fitzell was also introduced that day and he may start. This is also a game that may suit a role for James McCarthy or Ian Brick.

Room to improve for Kilmoyley, that improvement might not be enough to overcome Lixnaw.

Lixnaw arrived in the quarter-final, with a victory over Crotta, a game that they never looked like losing.

Lixnaw were defeated in the first round by Causeway in a game that was very competitive and hard, but the conditions didn’t help.

They have a very solid core of quality players, especially up front, in the Conways, Ricky Heffernan, Jason Wallace and James Flaherty, who are all capable of getting scores.

Add in the hard working Jeremy McKenna, and you have a potent force. Colin Sheehy who didn’t start the last day, is also there to add to the mix.

At the back Pat Corridon is sorely missed and if he comes back, the Lixnaw challenge will be hugely enhanced.

John Griffin will pull the strings at midfield, he will be joined by the back in form Brendan Brosnan.

The other young star, Johnny Buckley, will be doing all in his power to curb either Collins or Paudie O’Connor.

Lixnaw to progress, if Daniel Collins does not play.

Crotta came a cropper yesterday at the hands of Lixnaw in the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC game watched by Mike O’Halloran…

Lixnaw 4-8

Crotta O’Neills 1-8 

Lixnaw overcame the challenge of their near neighbours in the rain and wind swept arena that was Austin Stack Park on Sunday afternoon.

Goals win matches and Lixnaw put four past Crotta.

Lixnaw opened the scoring on four minutes with a John Griffin point and were three points to nil up before Crotta opened their account in the eleventh minute, a Shane Nolan pointed free.

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Disaster struck for Crotta when John Griffin struck to the net from over forty metres out. Jordan Conway cancelled out that goal three minutes later, only for Ricky Heffernan to score a goal at the other end from the puck out.

Lixnaw led 2-5 to 1-4 at half-time. Lixnaw struck for goal after four minutes of the restart, when Ray Galvin netted in a busy goalmouth.

Crotta made little use of the wind and could only manage four points in the second half, while Lixnaw had another goal from Shane Conway.

So the wait for progression in the championship goes on for Crotta O’Neills. For Lixnaw’s part, they progress with loads of work to do before the next round.

If Pat Corridon can make it back for the next game and Lixnaw knuckle down for a few weeks of serious training, they will be a force to reckon with. They come up against Kilmoyley in the quarter-final a side they are pretty familiar with over recent years.

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Lixnaw 

Martin Stackpoole: Willie O’Connor, Liam Mullins, Declan McCarthy; John Buckley, Gerard Stackpoole, Stephen Power: John Griffin (2p1g), Brendan Brosnan, Shane Conway (1g), Ricky Heffernan (1g1p) Jeremy McKenna; Jason Wallace (2p), Mike Conway (3p) (Enda Galvin), Ray Galvin (1g)( Colin Sheehy)

Crotta O’Neills

Brandon Conway, Adrian O’Mahony, Tom Cronin (Darren Twomey) David Behan; Darragh Ryan, Sean Weir, Tom B McElligott; Jonathan Caffrey (Jack Twomey) Tomas O’Connor, Thomas Quinlan, Mike Lynch (Colin Browne), Mick Munnelly (Ian McCarthy)Jordan Conway (1g 1p), Cyril Lynch, Shane Nolan (7p)

Mike O’Halloran was at an entertaining Kerry SHC tie in Austin Stack Park on Sunday between Abbeydorney and champions Kilmoyley…

Abbeydorney 0-20

Kilmoyley 0-16

Abbeydorney dispatched the champions Kilmoyley to the quarter-finals – where they will play Lixnaw – with a well deserved four point victory after extra time.

This was a fine competitive game played in a good spirits in trying conditions. Paudie O’Connor opened the scoring for Kilmoyley, Michael O’Leary replied with the first of his eight points half a minute later.

It was nip and tuck until Abbeydorney had four points before the end of the first half from Mike Hanafin, James O’Connor, PJ Keane and a raker from Aiden Healy.

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Sean Maunsell had a point in between for Kilmoyley. A huge factor in the game was the retirement of the great Daniel Collins through injury, his loss was immense for Kilmoyley, especially so early in the game.

Abbeydorney 0-7 Kilmoyley 0-4 was the score when play resumed for the second half. Kilmoyley had the first two scores of the second half from Murnane and James Godley.

Following those points James O’Connor struck a ball that must have rolled along the goal line almost wide. Tom Murnane, who was excellent throughout, drew the sides level on eight points all and Kilmoyley went ahead by two through Paudie O’Connor and James Godley.

Ronan Donovan was introduced for Mike Hannafin and he – along with David Egan and Stevie O’Sullivan – was to have a huge bearing on the result.

Donovan, of course, is a first cousin of Daniel Collins so half the Collins family were not too disappointed with the result perhaps.

The game ended in ordinary time twelve points all, after David Egan levelled it with a fine point.

At the beginning of extra time Beano Donovan made a great save from Sean Maunsell.

The sides were level at fourteen points each when Ronan Donovan struck a massive point to put O’Dorney ahead, followed by an equally impressive one from James O’Connor. Abbeydorney led at halftime in extra time 0-17 to 0-14.

Joe McElligott and Tom Murnane staged a mini revival for Kilmoyley but Abbeydorney were not to be denied a fine victory.

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Abbeydorney

Brian O’Donovan, Stephen O’Connor, Aidan Healy(0-1), Niall O’Connell, Eoin Egan (0-1), Kieran Dineen (0-2), Darragh O’Brien, Brendan O’Leary (C), Daniel O’Leary, Mike Hannafin(0-1), Michael O’Leary(0-8,4f), James O’Connor(0-3), Cathal Dower, Brian O’Leary, PJ Keane (0-2)
Subs: David Egan (0-1) for Dower (38), Ronan O’Donovan (0-1) for Hannafin, Stevie O’Sullivan for D O’Leary, Nigel Roche for E Egan (ET), Daniel Mahoney for Donovan (ET)

Kilmoyley

Aidan McCabe (C), Seanie Murnane, Colman Savage, Sean Nolan, James Godley (0-2), Dougie Fitzell, Flor McCarthy, Tom Murnane (0-6, 3f, 1’65), Tommy Maunsell, Paudie O’Connor (0-2), Sean Maunsell (0-2), Daniel Collins (0-2,1f), Maurice O’Connor (0-1), Adrian Royle, Jordan Brick
Subs: Mícheál Regan for Collins (25), Luke Fitzell for T Maunsell (49), Joseph McElligott(0-1) for J Brick (ET), John Paul O’Mahony for F McCarthy

Mike O’Halloran saw St Brendan’s show their title contending credentials against Causeway in Lerrig yesterday…

St Brendan’s Ardfert 3-19

Causeway 1-16

A complete display of hurling at its finest saw St Brendan’s advance in Round 2A of the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry Senior Hurling Championship.

St Brendan’s who played into a very stiff breeze in the first half, held their own with Causeway, leaving the score at halftime Causeway 0-10 to St Brendan’s 1-7.

Kevin Skinner put St Brendan’s on their way with a goal on nine minutes, the organisation and sheer confidence of St Brendan’s choked the challenge posed by a determined Causeway and a huge wind.

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John Egan, Cian Hussey, and Darren Wallace were very effective for the winners up front and Darren Dineen was massive at centre back.

In the second half, Cian Hussey was at the end of a long clearance and was able to goal past Tadgh Flynn, who was drafted into the goals to try to get some length into the pucks out against the wind.

St Brendan’s were 3-13 to 0-12 up with fifteen minutes to go, when Cian struck for another goal.

Keith Carmody scored a goal and a point in an attempt to start a Causeway revival but it was not enough, as Egan, Wallace and Hussey saw out the victory with points at will.

St Brendan’s have been very impressive in their two games to date and are well on the road to redemption for their loss in last year’s final. The only negative from a St Brendan’s point of view was that they finished with fourteen men.

St Brendan’s

Darren Delaney, Fionan Horgan (Eric leen (1pt), Rory Horgan, Conor Flaherty, Eamonn Corridon, Darren Dineen (2pts f), Kevin Orpen (Daniel Finnegan), Stephen Leen, David Griffin, Tim Hannafin (1pt) Darren Wallace (2pts) Kevin Skinner (1gl 1pt), Cian Hussey (2gls 4pts), Nicky O’Sullivan, John Egan (8pts)

Causeway

Jamie McGrath (Tadgh Flynn), Fergus Carroll, Kieran Leahy, Billy Lyons, Keith Carmody (1gl 3pts), Bryan Murphy, Jason Diggins, Anthony Fealy, Jason Leahy (2pts), Eamonn Fitzgerald ( John Cantillon) (Sean Leahy), Tommy Casey (1pt), Mark Murphy (1pt), Paul McGrath (0-7), Stephen Murphy, Alan Whyte (1pt) (Adam Whyte (1pt) (Joseph Diggins)