Causeway and St Brendan’s breeze into Kerry SHC quarter-finals

Both sides recorded rioutous victories to progess to the next phase of Kerry's senior hurling contest

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Causeway did what needed to be done to progress to quarter-finals of the Kerry SHC, putting 4-17 past a helpless Dr Crokes side in monsoon like conditions at the Austin Stack Park. Crokes, who scored 1-12 on the day, made an explosive start to the contest when Colm O’Cuiv smashed one home after a couple of minutes. 

Brian O’Connor’s attempted point was not dealt with by the Causeway defence and O'Cuiv capitalised to give the underdogs the lead. Conor O’Hare made it a four point lead shortly after as Causeway struggled with the inclement weather conditions.

Dan Goggin had them on the board after 11 minutes and they almost followed up with a goal sixty seconds later, Colum Harty’s strike cannoned off the left hand post. Two Brandon Barrett frees however cut the deficit to a point as the quarter ended.

Causeway started to get up to speed as Goggin leveled after 16 minutes. A beautiful long range Keith Carmody point gave them a lead soon after. While Heffernan soon leveled the tie, Causeway then swung the game in their favour with a two goal salvo in the three minute spell.

The outstanding Goggin and pacey Harty combined in a flowing move before an unselfish pass from Harty to Carmody resulted in the first goal for the Causeway men after 21 minutes. Causeway added a second goal two minutes later as Harty pierced the Crokes cover and struck low past Diarmuid Quirke.

With a 2-8 to 1-2 lead under their belts, Causeway had well and truly rubber stamped their authority on the tie and despite Heffernan slotting over two late frees, Causeway headed to the dressing rooms ahead 2-10 to 1-4.

Barrett drew first blood for Causeway in the second half but Heffernan and Willie Allen found a purple patch for Crokes to see them behind 2-11 to 1-7 by the 35th minute. Causeway again started to pull the strings with Joe Diggins and Keith Carmody to the fore and by the end of the third quarter pushed their lead to 2-14 to 1-9.

Causeway at a canter wrapped up the tie in the final quarter, Crokes through Heffernan kept plugging away, and however a direct ball from Gerard Leen was gathered by Barrett on the edge of the square and fired into the net. Joseph Diggins soon added the fourth as the sliotar squirmed into the net past Quirke from range.

Meanwhile, St Brendan’s eased past Tralee Parnells 2-21 to 1-8 to book their place in the next round. For the first time since the 2021 semi-final, St Brendan’s recorded a win in the Kerry SHC as they cruised to 16 point victory in Abbeydorney.

After an early exchange of scores St Brendan’s took the lead after six minutes when Graham Horan slotted between the posts, a lead they would never lose. Seconds later they added the opening goal when Earnan Ferris rose to gather a ball inside, he had a shot saved by Ronan Gilsenan, but the rebound was batted home by Liam Óg O’Connor.

O’Connor had the umpires waving for the white flag on two occasions before Shane Healy and Darragh Keane replied for Parnells. By quarters end it was 1-6 to 0-4 in favour of the Ardfert men. Oisin O’Brien cut the deficit before Tadhg Brick fired just wide from close range for their first goal chance.

St Brendan’s remained diligent and slotted the next three points to lead 1-9 to 0-5 at the break. Whatever was said at the break kept the Ardfert side on top early in the second half. Ferris would find the net, ghosting past the Parnells cover before slotting past Gilsenan less than two minutes into the restart.

By quarters end St Brendan’s were ahead 2-14 to 0-7 when Nathan O’Driscoll and Seamus O’Halloran hit over the black spot. Parnells fought till the bitter end but their season now comes to an end.

The draw for Kerry SHC quarter-finals was made after the preliminary quarterfinals and it reads as follows: Ballyduff vs. Lixnaw, Ballyheigue vs. Crotta, Kilmoyley vs. Causeway, Abbeydorney vs. St Brendan’s.

Scorers for Causeway: B Barrett 1-6 (5fs), K Carmody 1-3, J Diggins 1-1, C Harty 1-0, D Goggin, P McGrath (1f) 0-3 each, D Legg 0-1. 

Scorers for Dr Crokes: M Heffernan 0-10 (9fs), C O’Cuiv 1-0, C O’Hare, W Allen 0-1 each. 

CAUSEWAY: JM Dooley; T Barrett, G Carey, G Leen; A Whyte, E Murphy, T Casey; J Diggins, S Sheehan; K Carmody, B Barrett, D Mahoney, P McGrath, D Goggin, C Harty Subs: B Lyons for Whyte (44), D Legg for Mahoney, K Leahy for T Barrett (both 55), M Lynch for B Barrett, D Sheehan for Goggin (both 58) 

DR CROKES: D Quirke; M O’Connor, J Murphy, TJ O’Sullivan; M Owen Buckley, M Lenihan, N Doncel; C O’Hare, M Heffernan; K Landers, T Doyle, W Allen, B O’ Connor, C O Cuiv, J Riordan Subs: A O’Connor for Buckley (44), J Lenihan for Murphy (47). 

Referee: M Browne (Limerick).