Kerry SHC: Champions Crotta dethroned by youthful Ballyheigue after titanic battle

It was a game that everything but when the chips were down in extra time both Colin Walsh at the back and Michael Leane at midfield stepped up for Ballyheigue.

KERRY SHC: Ballyheighue will meet Abbeydory in the semi-final. Picture: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Kerry SHC quarter-final: Crotta O’Neill’s 2-22 Ballyheigue 3-24 ( AET) 

Ballyheigue dumped reigning champions Crotta O’Neill’s out this years Garvey's Supervalu Senior Hurling Championship after a pulsating contest that required extra time where the seasiders came good.

It was a game that everything but when the chips were down in extra time both Colin Walsh at the back and Michael Leane at midfield stepped up with Leane floating over three superb points that pushed his side 2-23 to 2-21 early in the second period of extra time only for Jordan Conway to reduce the deficit to a point.

But the deciding score came three minutes from the end of extra time when Padraig Kenny set up Philip Lucid for a the killer goal and when he added a long free, a weary and out on their feet Crotta O’Neill’s had to surrender their crown, with brilliant Ballyheigue making the semis where they will meet Abbeydorney. Ballyduff will face Kilmoyley in the other last four game. 

The opening half was a ding dong affair with the two sides exchanging points. They were tied at 0-5 apiece after ten minutes. The matchups were interesting with Sean Weir marking Philip Lucid while last year's winning captain Bill Keane earmarked to curb the aerial threat of Eric Walsh.

At the other end it was young Dara Kearney who was trying to curb the threat of Crotta’s top scorer Shane Nolan while young Seamie Foran had the unenviable task of tracking Jordan Conway.

Shane Nolan converted two early frees while Jordan Conway, Gavin Parker and Tomas O’Connor added points from play for Crotta.

Ballyheigue who were moving well can thank Philip Lucid who converted a free and also fired over a point from play while Brian O’Riordan, Michael Leane and wing back David O’Sullivan also added points to level the contest.

Crotta then moved two clear with points from Gavin Parker and Shane Nolan but Lucid replied with a free after he was fouled himself reduced the deficit to a point. But then in the 17th minute Crotta struck for a goal that came from a brilliant catch by Jordan Conway from a Cillian Trant delivery and though fouled, he found Shane Nolan who blasted the ball to Ballyheigue net.

But Ballyheigue responded with a goal of their own when centre back Ciaran Casey raced through the heart of the Crotta defence to finish the net. Philip Lucid then fired over a beauty to reduce the deficit to the minimum - 1-8 to 1-7 - with twenty minutes gone.

Declan O’Donoghue then pushed Crotta two clear but Ballyheigue with Tomas Gaynor and Colin Walsh driving them forward added four Philip Lucid frees but Jordan Conway ensured that Ballyheigue would only lead by the minimum at half time - 1-11 to 1-10.

The champions were clearly rattled by a youthful Ballyheigue side pushed on in the second half with Lucid deadly accurate from placed balls but Gavin Parker and Rory Mahony leveled the contest in the 42nd minute.

Shane Nolan had Crotta a point clear at the end of the third quarter, but Lucid leveled and both Nolan and Felim O’Sullivan ensured that the sides were level with just four minutes plus injury left.

Lucid and Eric Walsh pushed Ballyheigue two clear early in added time but the champions did not give in and a Shane Nolan bullet like free flew to the net and suddenly Crotta were a point clear. However when Crotta conceded a needless free in the dying embers, Philip Lucid sent the game to extra time from distance.

After a tight first half of extra time with Ballyheigue leading 2-22 to 2-21, the game was in the balance but Ballyheigue came good in the that second period.

Scorers for Ballyheigue: P Lucid ( 1-15, 12fs, 1’65), M Leane ( 0-4), C Casey and P Kenny ( 1-0 each), D O’Sullivan, F O’Sullivan, T Gaynor, B O’Riordan, and E Walsh ( 0-1 each) 

Scorers for Crotta O’Neills: S Nolan ( 2-10, 1-8 frees, 1’65), J Conway ( 0-4,1f), R Mahony ( 0-3), G Parker ( 0-2), C Trant, T O’Connor, Declan O’Donoghue ( 0-1each) 

Crotta O’Neills: A O’Sullivan; B Keane, S Weir, D Nolan; C Trant, T O’Connor, R Mahony; T McKenna, J McKenna; Declan O’Donoghue, G Parker, Darragh O’Donoghue; J Sheahan, S Nolan, J Conway.

Subs: S McElligott for Darragh O’Donoghue ( inj 22), S McGrath for D Nolan ( 42), C White for Declan O’Donoghue ( 44), A Behan for J Sheehan ( 52) , S O’Donoghue for A Behan (65), D Kennelly for G Parker ( e/t), E Shanahan for T McKenna ( e/t), J Sheehan for C White ( et), 

Ballyheigue: C Slattery; S Foran, 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 B O’Riordan ( 45), P Kenny for E Walsh ( 64), E Walsh for D O’Mahony ( e/t) J O’Halloran for T Gaynor ( e/t) Referee: J O’Halloran (Limerick)