Tag Archives: kerry hurling championship

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O’Halloran’s Hurling: Ballyduff And Lixnaw Have Enough To Book Final Place

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rsz_mike_ohalloranOur hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, looks at the two Kerry SHC semi-finals coming up this weekend…

NEXT weekend sees both semi-finals of the Garveys SuperValu Kerry senior hurling championship take place in Austin Stacks Park Tralee.

On Friday August 29 at 6.45, the kings of Kerry hurling, Kilmoyley and Ballyduff, face each other in the first semi-final.

Kilmoyley have been regarded by some pundits as a surprise packet of the semifinals qualifiers, that surprise belies their record in both the County League and the championship so far.

Kilmoyley have come to town this year without some of their big names of the past but have shown that they are not to be trifled with.

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Daniel Collins could be a pivotal to Kilmoyley’s chances on Saturday.

Led by young Daniel Collins, who has now taken on the free-taking duties, Tom Murnane anchors any line he is selected on and Adrian Royle is both a provider and scorer up front, along with Tommy Maunsell and the powerful Colman Savage.

At the back Seanie Murnane, Conor Fitzell and Dougie Fitzell will curb a lot of the Ballyduff attacks.

Ballyduff are regarded by most Kerry hurling fans as the championship specialists and to win the championship you must beat Ballyduff.

I’m not so sure that is how it works, but they are a formidable force and it also said you must defeat them in a semi-final, because they are very difficult to beat in a final.

They have stuttered through this season losing the first game, where they were dogged by injuries and fellas on vacation. Ballyduff have regrouped and are training well. Ballyduff will more than likely be without Padraigh Boyle, whose hand was still in plaster when I spoke to him on Saturday (but knowing him he might play withone hand).

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Barry O’Grady will be hoping to lead his Ballyduff side to another county final on Saturday.

Ballyduff is captained this year by the stylish dual star Barry O’Grady, a man who will leave no drop of sweat unshed to gain victory.

Prediction: Ballyduff.

On Sunday August 31, the defending champions St Brendan’s Ardfert take on Lixnaw also at 1.30pm. St Brendan’s are bouyed by the inclusion of the great all-rounder Darren Dineen.

Lloyd George said during wartime you need three ‘M’s, Men, Munitions and Movement. St Brendan’s have all three in abundance: men hardened in battle in both hurling and football, munitions in a skills set that enables them fire scores from any angle or distance and movement gained from a firece fitness regime by their general Pat O’Driscoll and tactical movement from Frankie Flannery.

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Martin Stackpoole, the last line of defence in the Lixnaw team.

While St Brendan’s have great forwards in John Egan, Daithi Griffin and Cian Hussey, they are led from the back by the young gun Kevin Hannafin.

Lixnaw were St Brendan’s opponents in last year’s final and came up short and while they might not have the power up front as the “Navigators”, they have a set of young fearless forwards like Ricky Heffernan, James Flaherty and Conor O’Brien and the new star John Buckley, who, if they click, can do damage.

Lixnaw have an “Iron Defence System” that has withstood many attacks in the past and that dome has been further reinforced by ironman Paul Galvin. Then add the Corridons and the teak-tough stylish Trevor McKenna and there is a minefield to be negotiated by St Brendan’s.

Get through the minefield and you face one of the best keepers in Kerry Martin Stackpoole.

This game should be the contest of the year with Lixnaw just about shading it if Brendan Brosnan lines out.

Prediction: Lixnaw

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O’Halloran’s Hurling: What Will The Semis Bring?

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rsz_mike_ohalloranOur hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, looks at the semi-final pairings in the Supervalu Kerry SHC…

The draw for the 2014 Kerry Senior hurling Championship has pitted Lixnaw against the 2013 champions St Brendan’s Ardfert, a repeat of last year’s final.

On the other side of the draw, Ballyduff take on Kilmoyley. The semifinals will take place on the last weekend of August.

St Brendans made their way to the semi-finals with wins over Ballyduff in the first round and an extra time win over Lixnaw in round two.

They defeated Ballyduff by six points on a scoreline of 2-10 to 10 points before overcoming Lixnaw in extra time by one point.

An incident in that game could have a bearing on the semi-final; Darren Dineen received a rather harsh red card and misses the game.

Darren’s contribution to St Brendan’s has been massive and St Brendan’s will need others to step up to the plate if they are to overcome Lixnaw.

Lixnaw bossed Abbeydorney in the last round in a pretty tight, dour game, where Lixnaw’s better scoring forwards and superior game management as well as a teak-tough defence choked the Abbeydorney challenge.

Lixnaw had already beaten Ballyheigue in the first round. They will be hoping that their young star Brendan Brosnan will be recovered for this game and if he is, along with the influence of Paul Galvin, they will give St Brendan’s a very stern test.

Kilmoyley awaited their semi-final opponents since the second round as they awaited the winners of the Ballyduff v Crotta O Neills quarter-final. Some pundits expressed surprise that Kilmoyley are in the semi-finals but anybody that saw them play in the county league were not a bit surprised.

Kilmoyley have been producing great underage players for quite a while now and that production line is now bearing fruit.

In Daniel Collins, Tom Murnane, Adrian Royle, Conor and Dougie Fitzell they have match winners all over the field. They booked their place in the semis with a 1-16 to 1-12 win over Crotta O’Neills.

Ballyduff also booked their place in the semis with a win over the home of the Game Cocks, on a score line of 1-22 to 0-13.

Ballyduff were defeated by St Brendan’s in the first round by six points, but overcame Causeway to progress to the quarter-final game with Ctotta O’Neills.

Ballyduff have been steadily improving in every game and with a few more of their panel returning to full fitness they should be more than a match for Kilmoyley come the end of August.

A great boost for Ballyduff was the return to form of Bobby O Sullivan in the quarter-final where he was excellent from play and frees.

The Cashensiders are awaiting news on Padraigh Boyle who fractured a bone in his hand in the game against Causeway.

The last weekend of August should see an improvement in the standard of hurling which has been full of honest endeavour but of mediocre quality.

• Follow Mike on twitter on @StageandSport

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O’Halloran’s Hurling: Round Up Of Weekend’s County Championship Action

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rsz_mike_ohalloranOur hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran looks back at the weekend’s action in the Supervalu Kerry Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals…

Ballyduff 1-22

Crotta O’Neills 0-13

As expected Ballyduff overcame Crotta ONeills in what can best be described as “a nice game a hurling”. Overall the game lacked the bite one would expect from the knockout stages of the Garvey’s Supervalu Hurling Championship.

Ballyduff played with the wind in the first half. The Cashen-siders coasted for 20 minutes, and led by 0-8 points to 0-3 before they went for a 10-minute nap, allowing Crotta to go in at halftime only one point down (0-8 to 0-9). Crotta could have been ahead but Shane Nolan missed a goal chance on 31 minutes.

Ballyduff ambled out for the second half, seemingly thinking that a lead and a stiff wind at their back would be enough to see off the Crotta challenge.

If that was their mindset, they got a rude awakening as Crotta went a point up (0-10 to 0-9), with scores from Shane Nolan and the classy Jordan Conway. Ballyduff drew level.

But Richard Nolan put Crotta back in front 11 points to 10. Matt Lynch of Crotta could have put five between the teams, but he put a point chance wide and missed out on a goal chance between the 10th and 12th minute.

At 14 minutes, Ballyduff’s alarm went off, and the snooze button was not pressed. Led by Aiden Boyle, Barry O’Grady, Michael Boyle and Bobby O’Sullivan, they went into a four-point lead in six minutes.

Shane Nolan had two points for Crotta before the end, but really it was all Ballyduff. Young Jack Goulding added a goal and a point. His goal bound shot crept under Sean Twomey’s body in the Crotta goal. Kevin Junior O’Connor, Barry O’Grady and Bobby O’Sullivan added points before John Paul Leahy scored the last point of the game.

Ballyduff went into this game without their star forward Padraigh Boyle. They are also awaiting the return from injury of David Goulding and Declan Bowler. With the return of these players their hand will be strengthened, and they should have a great chance of reaching the final.

Ballyduff scores: Bobby O Sullivan 1-11 (0-9f), Jack Goulding 1-1, Aiden Boyle 0-4, Barry O’Grady 0-3, Giles Grady 0-1, Kevin J O’Connor 0-1, John P Leahy 0-1.

Crotta scores: Shane Nolan 0-11 (0-9f), Richard Nolan 0-1, Jordan Conway 0-1.

Ballyduff ‘s total score in three games so far: 4-44.
Total number of scores: 48.
Individual scorers: 11.

Crotta ‘s total score in three games so far: 2-37 .
Total number of scores: 39.
Individual scorers: 7.

Lixnaw 1-14

Abbeydorney 2-8

The World War II advice “keep calm and carry on” could easily be the motto Lixnaw adopted in this battle against Abbeydorney on Saturday evening.

Lixnaw went into the game with a superior attacking threat and a formidable rear-guard. Most people expected them to lower the black and amber colours with ease.

Lixnaw played with a stiff wind in the first-half and all seemed to be going according to plan as they went into a three-point lead after eight minutes. Lixnaw were blowing holes in the Abbeydorney defence, and were it not for a defect in in their shooting sights they could have been further ahead.

After 14 minutes Lixnaw found themselves driven back into their trenches when Steven O’Sullivan and Abbeydorney veteran Paul McElligott had a goal each. Then up stepped the Lixnaw raw recruit John Buckley to stroke over a beautiful point.

His point gave Cillian Fitzmaurice the fortitude to set up commander-in-chief of the Lixnaw attack, Ricky Heffernan, to rifle the ball to the net. Despite having a penalty saved Lixnaw led by 1-7 to 2-1 at the ceasefire.

On resumption of hostilities, Abbeydorney got to within point of Lixnaw, but were never able to gain a solid foothold in Lixnaw territory.

Paul Galvin was introduced to the fray for Lixnaw, and his influence was immense. Abbeydorney found it hard to set up any attack that might wound Lixnaw.

This was a battle where Abbeydorney attempted to outmuscle Lixnaw to gain the upper hand, but unfortunately for them, they lacked the firepower up front to kill off the much more organized and well-drilled outfit that is Lixnaw. In classic Lixnaw style they stuck to their guns, remained calm and carried on.

Lixnaw scorers: Ricky Heffernan 1-6 (0-5f), James Flaherty 0-4, John Buckley 0-2, Cillian Fitzmaurice 0-1, John Griffin 0-1

Abbeydorney scorers: Darragh O Connell 0-6 (0-3f), Steven O’Sullivan 1-0, Paul McElligott 1-0, Brendan O’Leary 0-1, James O’Connor 0-1.

Lixnaw’s total score in the three games so far: 1-49.
Total number of scores: 50.
Number of individual scorers: 14.

Abbeydorney’s total score in three games so far: 2-31.
Total number of scores: 33.
Number of individual scorers: 7.

 

 

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O’Halloran’s Hurling: Round-Up Of Weekend’s Championship Action

 

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rsz_mike_ohalloranOur hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, was in Austin Stack Park over the weekend to see the Supervalu Kerry County Senior Hurling Championship action…

BALLYDUFF, Abbydorney, Crotta O Neills and Lixnaw advanced to the quarter finals next weekend August 2, where Ballyduff will take on Crotta O Neills at 5.15pm followed by Lixnaw and Abbeydorney at 7pm in Austin Stacks Park.

Kilmoyley, and St Brendan’s meanwhile, are through to the semi-finals.

Kilmoyley 1-16 Crotta O Neills 1-12

On Saturday evening last, in a game that never sparked into life, Kilmoyley easily overcame a Crotta O’Neill’s outfit that offered little threat up front.

Kilmoyley had a dream start when Flor McCarthy goaled within a minute of the throw-in after being set up by the excellent Adrian Royle.

Kilmoyley led 1-7 to 1-4 at half-time, Shane Nolan goaling for Crotta.  The sides were level six minutes into the second half but Kilmoyley used all their experience and pulled away with one of their veterans Ian Brick scoring two points.

Kilmoyley – who were well served by young Daniel Collins and Tom Murnane – scored 1-12 of their tally from play as against Crotta O’Neills 1-4.

St Brendan’s 1-18 Lixnaw 0-20

Also on Saturday evening, St Brendan’s kept their title retention ambitions on track with a one point win over Lixnaw after extra time.

They say goals win games and Kieran Fitzgerald’s opportunist goal for St Brendan’s gave them the lifeline they needed to overcome the challenge of the Lixnaw men.

Lixnaw started well and were three points up 10 minutes in. They then went five up and could have been ahead by eight had the ball hopped a little kinder for James Flaherty. Lixnaw led by three at half-time 0-8  to 0-5.

Early in the second half, Lixnaw led 0-10 to 0-5 but points from John Egan and the busy David Griffin along with Fitzgerald’s goal ignited the St Brendan’s turbo-charged comeback.

On 61 minutes John Egan must have thought he had put St Brendan’s into the semis but Ricky Heffernan tapped over a moved-in free to bring the game to extra time 1-11 to 0-14 points at full time in ordinary time.

St Brendan’s were down 0-18 to 1-12 early in the first-half of extra time and also lost Darren Dineen to a red card.

The sending off seemed to spur St Brendan’s into action and with points from John Egan (three in a row) and Rory Horgan, set the stage for young Cian Hussey to drill over the winner at the final curtain.

St Brendan’s scores from play – 1-9. Lixnaw Scores from play – 10 points.

Abbeydorney 0-14 Ballyheigue 0-11

On Sunday it was the clash of the ‘last chance saloon’ teams.

The losers from round one stepped out into midday sun with two of them about to inter their Nelius Flynn ambitions in Boothill.

Abbeydorney faced a young Ballyheigue side depleted through injury and including a couple of walking wounded. The game was not a great spectacle but was full of honest endeavour.

Ballyheigue played with the wind in the first half and how they must regret the ten wides they struck in this period. The game was 20 minutes old and there was only a total of four points on the board.

By half-time Ballyheigue led 0-5 to 0-4 points. One would have expected Abbeydorney to coast away from Ballyheigue with the aid of the wind in the second half but the young guns from the seaside battled gallantly and had chances towards the end to level matters and perhaps win the game but were unable to get the final pass away to hit the bullseye.

Abbeydorney were stronger and the accuracy from placed balls of Darragh O’Connell proved to be the difference in the shoot out between himself and Shane Dunne.

Ballyheigue can be pleased with the performance of their young talent especially Adrian Flahive and Michael Leane. Abbeydorney advance but will need to improve their scoring spread if they are to take the scalp of Lixnaw in the next round.

Ballyhiegue scores from play – 0-5. Abbeydorney scores from play – 0-5.

Ballyduff 3-12 Causeway 1-10

This was an eagerly awaited tie from these great rivals and for most of the first half, the fervour and excitement was building.

Causeway had a dream start playing with the wind  and they went three points ahead. At one stage Causeway led 1-6 to a goal, the great John Mike Dooley cancelling Padraigh Boyle’s goal, but by halftime the score was Causeway 1-7 Ballyduff 2-3.

The second Ballyduff goal was  a thing of beauty from the underage prodidgy Jack Goulding. Causeway entered the tunnel regretting the seven scoring chances they wasted in the first half.

The anticipated fervour and excitement never materialised as Ballyduff took control with Michael Boyle giving an exhibition of high fielding as well as smashing in a goal and Kevin Junior O’Connor giving a master class in beautiful stick work and point scoring.

He stroked three beauties on being introduced as a sub.

Ballyduff made a statement of intent with this clinical dissection of Causeway and are now surely in the top two to lift the Nelius Flynn Cup.

Ballyduff scores from play 3-8. Causeway scores from play 1-4.

It is good to see that the teams scoring most from play won three of the four games over the weekend, with Abbeydorney and Ballyheigue drawing on the scores from play tally.

• Next weekend Lixnaw meet Abbeydorney that should result in a win for Lixnaw and Ballyduff should have enough to pip Crotta ONeills even though there is talk of an injury to one of Ballyduff’s most influential players.

If results go according to the predictions above, then the four best teams in the county are in the semi-finals by anybody’s reckoning.

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O’Halloran’s Hurling: Crotta, St Brendan’s, Causeway and Abbeydorney To Prevail

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Our hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, looks at this weekend’s matches in the Supervalu County Senior Hurling Championship…

rsz_mike_ohalloranROUND two of the Garvey’s SuperValu Kerry Senior Hurling Championship takes place in Austin Stacks Park Tralee, with two double headers on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday at 5.15pm, Crotta O’Neills take on Kilmoyley while at 7pm Lixnaw take on St Brendan’s.

A Phoenix-like rise from the ashes of being unable to field a team in 2013, drove Crotta to defeat their neighbours Abbeydorney on a scoreline of 1-12. to 0-9 led by their county star Shane Nolan.

Kilmoyley defeated the boys from north of Ballinorig cross (Causeway), Adrian Royle’s goal was the difference between the two sides, 1-11 to 0-11 points it ended, Daniel Collins scoring 10 points.

After the Crotta demolition of Abbeydorney, there is every chance that they can take the scalp on Kilmoyley next Saturday. That game is followed by the clash of two of the favourites Lixnaw and St Brendan’s (the title holders).

Lixnaw had, as expected, an easy win over Ballyheigue on Friday night – Lixnaw put 15 points on the board as against 0-8 points for Ballyheigue.

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Injured Lixnaw star, Brendan Brosnan.

The win was never in doubt even though Lixnaw lost one of their top players to injury, Brendan Brosnan the Kerry Hurling All Stars young hurler of the year 2013.

Lixnaw looked slick and moved the ball at ease. St Brendan’s put Ballyduff to the sword on Sunday afternoon on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-10 points, with an all action fitness-driven display which the boys from the Cashen could find no answer to either up front or at the back.

Young Kevin Hannafin, the St Brendan’s full back showed that sitting in the same dressing room as the great DJ Carey with Carlow IT last season has done him no harm at all.  He marshalled at least three Ballyduff attackers at his ease.

St Brendan’s have the perfect balance of skill, power, fitness and now, the self belief that winning in 2013 has brought them and should have enough to pip Lixnaw.

On Sunday at 2pm, Abbeydorney take on Ballyheigue followed by Causeway v Ballyduff at 3.30pm.

Ballyduff were missing at least six of their preferred 15 and will be hoping for better against Causeway on Sunday. I have my doubts that they will be able to raise their game sufficiently to defeat Causeway who are a severely wounded beast after being defeated by Kilmoyley last weekend.

Causeway have the players and management to win a Neilus Flynn Cup but they need to put their skill, pace and will to win into a game for sixty-four or five minutes every day they play and that is something they have failed to do over the past few seasons.

Causeway mentors believed that their win over their great rivals Ballyduff last year was just the fillip they needed to get over the line, unfortunately for them it didn’t work out like that.

Abbeydorney should have enough for Ballyheigue on paper, especially with the injury list Ballyheigue are reporting.

So predicted winners Crotta, St Brendan’s, Causeway and Abbeydorney. Two of the others will only be coming to town for van burger ‘n’ chips during the roses.

(Last week’s prediction success rate was 50%)

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O’Halloran’s Hurling: Looking Forward To The Championship

Suits Select July

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rsz_mike_ohalloranOur hurling analyst, Mike O’Halloran, takes a look at the Supervalu Kerry County Senior Hurling Championship ties coming up this weekend…

THE Kerry Senior Hurling Championship begins this weekend, when Ballyheigue take on Lixnaw at 7pm on Friday in Austin Stack Park.

Lixnaw, who are only one place above Ballyheigue in the County Hurling League, will be fancied to win this one, given their strength at underage for the last few years, along with their great tradition of keeping their best hurling for the annual trip to “town” in July and August.

Ballyheigue are struggling the last two seasons with a very light young team. They are second from bottom of the League, they will battle to the end but it is unlikely that they will be able to overcome the power of Trevor McKenna, Ricky Heffernan and the deft touches of James Flaherty and John Griffin, nevermind attempting to get the slioter past one of the best keepers in Kerry hurling Martin Stackpoole.

On Saturday it’s the clash of the great rivals and neighbours Causeway and Kilmoyley at 7pm.

I saw Kilmoyley defeat Causeway recently in Causeway in the league. The final score, where Kilmoyley only won by a couple of points, bore no relation to the dusting Kilmoyley gave Causeway led by Tom Murnane ably assisted by Daniel Collins.

Causeway are working very hard this year to make the breakthrough, having won a couple of senior trophies last year but the big one, The Nelius Flynn Cup, continues elude this group of players.

Causeway will expect to overcome Kilmoyley but I’m not so sure. Even though Kilmoyley are ravaged by retirements and emigration, they lead the County League and “haven’t gone away” me thinks.

On Sunday afternoon at 1pm, Abbeydorney take on their neighbours from across the Shanow bridge, Crotta O Neills.

Abbeydorney have prepared well for this year’s championship. Apparently they have forgone the chance to play in the West Munster League to concentrate on matters local.

Continued below…

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They have a great blend of young players like the O’Learys to compliment the experience of Aiden Healy, Mike Hannafin, Ciaran Dineen.

They should have enough to overcome the very young outfit from Crotta who will be depending on their county men Sean Weir and Shane Nolan, Crotta are very dependant on Shane and Sean and if O’Dorney can keeep their free count down they should be advancing to the next round proper.

The second part of this double header is the meeting of the 2013 champions St Brendan’s and Ballyduff at 2.30pm. In a rehearsal for this game St Brendan’s came out on top in the Co League.

Ballyduff lie just behind Kilmoyley in second place in the Co League and are putting some serious scores on the board, putting five goals and 20 points past Ballyheigue plus 3- 18 when they defeated Crotta.

St Brendan’s will seek to win back to back titles and this is the first step on the road to that goal, but they will be recieve a very stern test from Ballyduff, who are the favourites every year.

Ballyduff are carrying quite a few injuries and two of their group are away on holidays.

They have trained extremely hard for this game and have really put their noses to the grindstone in an effort to be the hurling kings of the Kingdom.

I feel that maybe given the fact that St Brendan’s are the champions, is just the fillip they needed to fulfill the potential that group from Ardfert has shown given their underage success over the last ten years.

rsz_hurling_1The will be led by the Kerry Hurling All Stars Hurler Of The Year 2013 Darren Dineen (pictured here receiving his presentation from JJ Hanrahan Munster Rugby.)

St Brendan’s can win The Nelius Flynn but through the back door as Ballyduff might just pip them on Sunday.