Shane Nolan shoots down Causeway as Crotta make dream Kerry SHC start

Former Kerry hurler Shane Nolan. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Kerry SHC Group A: Crotta O’Neills 1-19 Causeway 0-13 

With Shane Nolan rolling back the clock, Crotta O’Neills began the defence of their Kerry Senior Hurling Championship crown with a strong display against Causeway. The former Kerry hurler scored 0-14 of the 1-19 tally.

However Causeway were without a number of key players including Jason Diggins and Muiris Delaney and then to add to their injury woes, they lost goal scorer in chief Gavin Dooley and Ger Leen and that reduced them to the bare bones.

Crotta were without last year’s captain Bill Keane and also brilliant defender Sean McGrath who picked up a foot injury during the week.

But the Crotta O’Neills defence was well marshaled by their sweeper Rory Mahony who gave a Man of the Match display.

Crotta started brightly with Shane Nolan converting two early frees inside five minutes. Causeway created a goal chance in the ninth minute when Gavin Dooley combined with Dan Goggin, but Goggin’s effort was superbly saved by Adam O’Sullivan.

A Keith Carmody free and a long range Tommy Casey point had the side’s level by the 12th minute and by the end of the quarter Crotta led 0-6 to 0-5 as Nolan converted a point either side of another Carmody effort.

Colum Harty was next to have a shot saved by O’Sullivan, another brilliant save by the Crotta keeper thwarted Causeway and Joseph Diggins was denied on the rebound by stout Crotta defending.

Nolan pointed a close range free as Crotta went up the other end to keep their heads above water. As the half wore on, it was tough to separate the two as Causeway came right back into the tie. Nolan was inspiring at one end but Dan Goggin had Causeway level just on the stroke of half-time.

The defending champions would lead 0-11 to 0-9 at the break. Cillian Trant pucked a point from distance before Nolan added a beautiful free. 

Crotta started brighter in the second half with Nolan and Trant adding early points, Causeway would pull it back to a one point game in the 37th minute, Goggin and Mahoney looked to change the momentum but minutes later Nolan converted his eighth free.

Nolan added two more frees for a 0-16 to 0-12 lead by the end of the third quarter, soon Nolan provided the assist for the opening goal. A bursting run through the Causeway defence saw Jordan Conway have plenty of space and Nolan supplied the pass for Conway to hit a rasper past John Mike Dooley.

Crotta had a canter to the finish with Nolan their main source of scores in the final minutes, a big statement from the holders.

Scorers for Causeway: D Goggin 0-5, K Carmody 0-3 (1f, 1’65), B Barrett (2fs), T Casey 0-2 each, J Diggins, C Harty, D Mahoney, 0-1 each 

Scorers for Crotta: S Nolan 0-14 (13fs), J Conway 1-1, C Trant 0-2, J Sheehan and S McElligott 0-1 each 

CROTTA: A O’Sullivan; E Shanahan, S Weir, A Behan; C Trant, D O’Donoghue, T O’Connor; J McKenna, T McKenna; C White, J Sheehan, S McElligott; R Mahony, S Nolan, J Conway.

Subs: G Parker for C White (45), D Nolan for A Behan (48), S O’Donoghue for T McKenna (52), D O’Donoghue S McElligott (52), M Keane for S Weir (58) 

CAUSEWAY: J M Dooley; G Leen, B Barrett, M Lynch; E Murphy, K Carmody, T Casey; G Carey, S Sheahan; J Diggins, C Harty, D Mahony; G Dooley, D Goggin, B Lyons.

Subs: D Legg for G Dooley (11), K Leahy for G Leen (30+1), T Barrett for M Lynch (h/t), A Whyte for G Carey (52), D Sheehan for D Mahony (55) 

Referee: D O’Callaghan (Limerick)