Kerry SHC: Lucid points Ballyheigue to big win over Crokes

Ballyheigue's Philip Lucid playing for Kerry in the 2023 Munster Senior Hurling League. Picture: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Kerry SHC Group C: Ballyheigue 2-26 Dr Crokes 0-16 

Having tallied the highest win in the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship this year, Ballyheigue confirmed their status as Group C winners with a 16 point win over Dr Crokes at the Austin Stack Park.

Inspired by both Philip Lucid and Eric Walsh in the full forward line, Ballyheigue had far too much firepower for Dr Crokes to handle. Mark Heffernan along Conor O’Hare Crokes, kept Crokes ticking over but they just did not have the quality required up front.

It was evenly contested clash between the two in the early exchanges, Dr Crokes did start brighter as Tom Doyle and Mark Heffernan pointed for a one point lead in the fourth minute.

Ballyheigue soon levelled matters and the first crucial save of the half from the Dr Crokes net minder Diarmuid Quirke, thwarted the green flag being raised. Crokes worked the ball down the other end and former Portumna captain Conor O’Hare split the posts for a 0-3 to 0-2 lead by the eighth minute.

By the end of the first quarter the game was level 0-5 apiece. Quirke, a substitute goalkeeper for the Kerry Seniors this year, denied Philip Lucid a goal chance in the 13th minute with a fine stop from close range.

The Seasiders did start to find their form as the quarter ended and Eric Walsh with a purple patch tallied 1-2 in less than two minutes. Walsh rose highest to collect a dropping ball and turned to hit a rasper into the top corner. The lead was 1-6 to 0-6 after Walsh’s exploits.

As the half wore on, Ballyheigue got on top and slotted the next five scores to build a healthy eight point lead ahead of the break. Heffernan slotted two frees in stoppage time to reduce the gap to 1-11 to 0-8 at the break.

The third quarter was again a strong showing from Ballyheigue with Lucid one of the key scorers to lead 1-18 to 0-11 by the 45th minute. Crokes, to their credit, kept pressing but as the legs began to tire, Ballyheigue kept the scores ticking and added their second goal in the 54th minute as Ciaran Casey found Lucid across the square to score. In fact Lucid added 1-4 in the final quarter, David O’Mahony scored two and Felim O’Sullivan added another two.

Dr Crokes face Kilmoyley in a must win game next weekend but with Kilmoyley also needing the win, that will be probably be beyond Crokes.

Scorers for Ballyheigue: P Lucid 1-11 (3f), E Walsh 1-4, F O’Sullivan 0-4, M Leane and D O’Mahony 0-2, each T Gaynor, C Walsh (65), N Guerin 0-1 each 

Scorers for Dr Crokes: M Heffernan 0-8 (7fs, 1 ‘65’), C O’Hare 0-4, T Doyle 0-2, K Landers, and O Hayes 0-1 each 

BALLYHEIGUE: C Slattery; S Ó Fuaráin, D Kearney, G Slattery; J Goggin, C Casey, D O’Sullivan; F O’Sullivan, T Gaynor; M Leane, N Guerin, B O’Riordan; P Lucid, E Walsh, C Walsh.

Subs: D O’Mahony for O’Riordan (42), P Kenny for Guerin (53), J O'Halloran for Goggin (56), 

DR CROKES: D Quirke; M O’Connor, J Murphy, N Doncel; M O Buckley, M Lenihan, C O’Cuiv; C O’Hare, W Allen; B O’Connor, M Heffernan, D Carroll; K O’Connor, T Doyle, K Landers.

Subs: C Murphy for Buckley (47). O Hayes for K Landers (50). TJ O’Sullivan for Carroll (56) 

REFEREE: M Browne (Limerick)