Kerry SHC: St Brendan's top group as Podge Boyle injury a massive blow for Ballyduff

In the quarter-finals, St Brendan's will play Ballyheigue and Ballyduff face Causeway.

Kilmoyley and Abbeydorney have been given byes to the Kerry SHC semi-finals. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Kerry SHC Group A Rd 3: St Brendan’s 3-9 Ballyduff 0-13 

The St Brendan's young guns proved too strong for a wasteful Ballyduff side in this Group A contest played at the Austin Stack Park on Saturday evening, thanks in the main to a two goal salvo from Fionan Egan.

But while there wasn’t any jeopardy in this contest and both sides ended up in the quarter-finals. Ballyduff’s championship aspirations were dealt a massive blow when their chief marksman and talisman Padraig Boyle pulled up injured after taking a free in search of a game saving goal.

Podge was clearly in trouble and had to be removed from the field in the 55th minute, appearing to have suffered a serious leg injury. His absence from the quarter-final in two week's time would severely damage Ballyduff’s prospects of advancing any further. 

But this is not to take away anything from this St Brendan’s victory that was chiseled out the granite by the likes Eric Leen, Daithi Griffin and Darren Dineen and delivered with panache of youngsters Hugh Lenihan, Seanie Brosnan, Liam Óg O’Connor, Eoin O’Flaherty and Fionan Egan.

Ballyduff were flying on one wing in the scoring stakes with Podge Boyle firing over the opening three points with St Brendan’s points coming from Liam Óg O’Connor and two from Fionan Egan.

But St Brendan’s struck for the opening goal when Fionan Egan playing with his dad John by his side, cheekily went for goal from a close-in free as Ballyduff had only four on the line. Egan spotted the gap and went for it, and the sliotar rolled into the net.

Ballyduff were being thwarted by some excellent defending by Leen and Griffin and some incredible running from Eoin O’Flaherty. Ballyduff didn’t score for 18 minutes with some poor shooting and missed frees as St Brendan's retired 1-5 to 0-5, with Podge Boyle scoring Ballyduff’s entire tally.

While Evan Boyle tried everything for Ballyduff along with Darragh Slattery in the second half, St Brendan's were just that bit better with a superb Liam Óg O’Connor goal in 36th minute boosting their chances. Then, after points from Podge Boyle and Anthony Kavanagh, St Brendan’s scored the killer goal in the 48th minute. Again it was Fionan Egan who finished to the Ballyduff net after a great Seamus O’Halloran run down the wing.

This saw St Brendan’s move 3-8 to 0-9 in front and despite four late Ballyduff points, the Ardfert side was firmly in control, and the loss of Podge Boyle ended Ballyduff’s slim hopes of a late fightback.

SHC Draw made after this game:

Kilmoyley and Abbeydorney get byes to the semis:

Quarter-finals:

Ballyheigue v St Brendan’s; Ballyduff v Causeway 

Scorers for St Brendans: F Egan (2-4, 1-2fs), L Óg O’Connor (1-2), E O’Flaherty (0-2), S Brosnan (0-1).

Scorers for Ballyduff: P Boyle (0-7, 4fs), A Kavanagh and K Boyle (1f) (0-2 each), L Rochford and D Moriarty (0-1 each) 

BALLYDUFF: D Quinlan; J P O’Carroll, P Costello, K O’Connor; D O’Carroll, D Slattery, E Boyle; A Segal, J Segal ; A Kavanagh, D Moriarty, K Boyle; P Boyle, J Enright, L Rochford 

Subs: S Carrig for A Kavanagh ( 51), A O’Connor for P Boyle ( inj 55) 

ST BRENDAN'S: D Delaney; G Raggett, E Leen, B Daly; H Lenihan, D Griffin, D Dineen; E Flaherty, S Brosnan; S O’Halloran, L Óg O’Connor, C McDonagh; J Egan, F Egan, E Ferris.

Subs: F Horgan for C McDonagh (43), a McDonagh for J Egan (57), M Davis for E Ferris (57) 

Referee: J Hayes (Limerick)