Kerry SHC: Ballyduff remain unbeaten, Causeway secure first win

KERRY SHC: Ballyduff continue their unbeaten run, Causeway secure first win. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

The two unbeaten sides Ballyduff and Crotta O’Neill’s faced off at a wet Austin Stack Park on Friday evening and it was the Duffers that made it three wins from three in group A of the Kerry SHC with a nine point win with both sides sending out their reserves into battle, 3-14 to 0-14.

Both teams only fielded four regulars with a number of young players being given an opportunity of staking a claim on a starting jersey in the quarter-finals in two weeks time. Ballyduff will be happier not only with the win but because a number of players shone while Crotta O’Neills will be happy with the performances of Gavin Parker, Cormac White, Seanie McElligott and Aodhan Behan.

It was youngsters like Luke Rochford, Dylan Moriarty, Jack Enright, Darragh Goulding, Stefan Carrig and Darragh Slattery who shone while experienced keeper P J O’Gorman was confidence personified.

Ballyduff troubled Crotta in the opening half with their pace up front and raced 0-6 to 0-2 in front after eighteen minutes with points from Killian Boyle (free), Jason Bowler, Dylan Moriarty(4 frees) with Seanie McElligott and Gavin Parker replying for Crotta.

But then in a three minute spell the game changed in Ballyduff’s favour when they struck for a two goals, an Adam Segal goal after a Killian Boyle assist and then Jack Enright set up Luke Rochford for a simple bit crucial goal.

Sean Murnane, Gavin Parker and Seanie McElligott saw Crotta hang on to Ballyduff coattails until half time when Ballyduff led 2-8 to 1-7.

Two early second half points from Conor White and Richard Nolan might have indicated a comeback from a Crotta but when David Goulding, just on as substitute, set up his brother Darragh in 41st minute for a point and from the puck out, David‘s effort for a point ended up in the Crotta net, it was game over at 3-12 to 0-11. Both sides ran their benches in the final quarter as Ballyduff top the group but both sides are through directly to the quarter-finals in two weeks time.

Elsewhere, Causeway recorded their first win of the Kerry SHC as an opening half double from Brandon Barrett and a Dan Goggin goal laid the foundation for an 11 point win, 3-17 to 0-15.

St Brendan’s haven’t won a game since the semi-final in 2021 in this competition and that wait will continue as they head to the preliminary quarter-finals. They did admirably well in the second half, down to 14 men they outscored Causeway in the second period but not enough to reduce the sizable half time gap.

Brandon Barrett saw a second yellow in the second half but it did little to stop the Causeway momentum. There was a strong wind blowing across the field with Evan Murphy and Tommy Casey impressing in defence and Colum Harty at his best in the final third.

It was Causeway who drew first blood when Brandon Barrett pointed a free in the fourth minute, from here it would be Causeway to set the tempo for the remainder of the half. By quarters end Causeway were ahead 1-5 to no score, the opening goal game through the prolific Barrett making a swashbuckling run for goal and finishing to the net.

Long range efforts from Keith Carmody and Evan Murphy soon made the gap double digits before Sean Brosnan pointed in the 19th minute to open the Ardfert mens tally. Fionan Egan and Nathan O’Driscoll soon added points to build momentum but at the other end a long ball was not dealt with by the St Brendan’s defence and Barrett buried the rebound to the net to make it 2-7 to 0-3.

As the half was concluding Earnan Ferris had a great chance for goal but he shot over from close range. Causeway tallied two late points before turning over a short puckout from Darren Delaney, Dan Goggin raced through and shot low for the third goal. Red mist descended after as Egan was red carded for a swipe on Gerard Leen. A double blow for St Brendan’s down to 14 men and behind 3-9 to 0-5 at the break.

The second half was only notable for a second yellow for Brandon Barrett of Causeway but St Brendans did outscore the winners 0-10 to 0-8 in the second half as both sides face preliminary quarter-final action next weekend.

Scorers for Ballyduff: D Moriarty (0-6, 5fs), L Rochford (1-2), A Segal (1-1), D Goulding (1-0), K Boyle (0-2, 1f, 1’65), J Bowler, Darragh Goulding and T Grady (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Crotta O’Neill’s: S McElligott (1f) and G Parker (0-4each), S Murnane (1f) and Declan O’Donoghue (1f) (0-2 each), C White and R Nolan (0-1 each) 

BALLYDUFF: PJ O Gorman; Aaron Whyte, Sean o Connor, Thomas Slattery; Aodhan Curly, Darragh Slattery, Tommy Grady; Adam Segal, Darragh Goulding; Jason Bowler, Dylan Moriarty, Jack Enright; Luke Rochford, Killian Boyle, Stefan Carrig 

Subs: David Goulding for L Rochford (40), S O’Sullivan for J Bowler (42), C Murphy for a Segal (48), P Slattery for D Moriarty (48), S Byrne for K Boyle (58) 

CROTTA O’NEILLS: D Murnane; A Behan , D Kennelly, E Shanahan; M Keane , Dominic Nolan , Dara Nolan, D Quille, S O Donoghue; C White, Declan O Donoghue, S McElligott; R Nolan, S Murnane, G Parker 

Subs: T Dowling for D Kennelly ( Blood 37), M Sheehan for D Quille ( 40), T Dillon for R Nolan ( 48), E Relihan for C White ( 53), R Houlihan for A Behan ( 53), C Whyte for G Parker ( inj 58) 

Referee: N Malone (Clare)

Scorers for Causeway: B Barrett 2-2 (2fs), D Goggin 1-2, C Harty 0-3, P McGrath (1f) 0-3 each, K Carmody, E Murphy, T Casey 0-2 each, D Mahoney 0-1.

Scorers for St Brendan’s: L Óg O’Connor (2f), S Brosnan 0-3 each, F Egan (2f), G Horan, G O’Riordan 0-2 each, N O’Driscoll, E Ferris, E Leen 0-1 each 

CAUSEWAY: J M Dooley; T Barrett, S Sheehan, G Leen; E Murphy, A Whyte, T Casey; G Carey, B Barrett; J Diggins, C Harty, D Mahony; P McGrath, D Goggin, K Carmody 

Subs: M Lynch for Whyte (58), D Sheehan for T Casey (58), K Dooley for Goggin (60), K Sheehan for J Diggins (60+3), D Legg for Mahoney (60+4) 

ST BRENDAN’S: D Delaney; T Wallace, E Leen, G O’Riordan; D Griffin, J Egan, D Dineen; N O’Driscoll, S Brosnan; E Ferris, K Orpen, M Davis, A McDonagh, L Óg O’Connor, F Egan.

Subs: G Horan for K Orpen (h/t). T O’Sullivan for A McDonagh (48), P O’Mahony for Ferris (60) 

Referee: S Stokes (Cork)