Kerry SHC: Michael Leane-inspired Ballyheigue power past St Brendan's into semi-final
17 February 2024; A general view before the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Kerry and Mayo at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Ballyheigue are back in the semi-finals again after a second half muscle flex which saw them put St Brendan's Ardfert to the sword after a gripping contest that was hard fought and at times threatened to boil over.
But after St Brendan's led 0-12 to 1-5 at the interval, few could have imagined that Ballyheigue would emerge a transformed side. However, former Kerry senior Michael Leane thundered into the game like a colossus and St Brendan's lost their way and the game.
The draw for the semi-finals was made straight after the final whistle and it has thrown up the same semi-finalists but different pairings as champions Abbeydorney will play Kilmoyley and Ballyheigue will face Ballyduff probably on Saturday next.
But back to today’s gripping encounter that saw Ballyheigue outscore St Brendan’s 2-11 to 0-8 in the second half.
It was a real reversal of the opening half where St Brendan's looked the better side with their young guns, namely Fionan Egan, Gary O’Riordan, Hugh Lenihan and Gavin Raggett really shining.
St Brendan's raced 0-8 to 0-3 in front at the end of the opening quarter thanks to points from Seanie Brosnan and Egan (0-3 each), and one apiece from Lenihan and Liam Óg O’Connor. Ballyheigue replied with points from Felim O’Sullivan, Philip Lucid and Seamie Foran but the St Brendan's defence, backboned by Daithi Griffin and Eric Leen, were in control. With Lucid’s radar from placed balls not working, Ballyheigue were fortunate to be only four adrift at half time.
Ballyheigue, with Foran shackling Brosnan and Dara Kearney keeping a lid on veteran John Egan, meant it was a struggle for St Brendan's up front. Jordan Goggin also had the measure of Egan but he was one of St Brendan's best players on the day but it Leane who changed the course of this contest with an incredible second half display.Â
Despite an early Gary O’Riordan point, Leane was soon in action as he grabbed three high balls in succession and when he burst through, he was taken down for a penalty that Lucid drilled low beyond Darren Delaney in the St Brendan’s goal. Liam Óg O’Connor, Egan and O’Riordan replied for the Ardfert side to see them lead by three (0-15 to 2-7) after forty minutes.
But it was all Ballyheigue after this with Leane the catalyst as he set up scores, was fouled as well and fired over two beauties.
Lucid, now operating around midfield, fired over three magnificent points in row in an 0-8 to 0-2 scoring spree but a Lenihan point saw the gap down to two with four minutes plus seven added time minutes remaining.
Then came the score that secured Ballyheigue’s place in the last four, when Felim O’Sullivan dropped a long range free that Leane knocked into the path of Padraig Kenny and he found the St Brendan's net.
A St Brendan's selector was shown a red card for an altercation near the touchline as tempers became frayed and one St Brendan's player was fortunate not to have seen red as referee John Bugler did not see the incident.
P Lucid (1-5, 1-0 pen, 2fs), M Leane (1-3), P Kenny (1-1), T Gaynor and F O’Sullivan (f) (0-2 each), S Foran, C Casey and S Foran (0-1 each)Â
F Egan (0-8, 5fs), L Og O’Connor (0-3, 1f), H Lenihan and S Brosnan (0-3 each), G O’Riordan ( 0-2), E O’Flaherty (0-1).
D O’Loughlin; S Foran, D Kearney, G Slattery; J O’Halloran, C Casey, D O’Sullivan; F O’Sullivan, C Walsh; N Guerin, M Leane, J Goggin; P Lucid, T Gaynor, R O’Halloran.
P Kenny for R O’Halloran (22), A Thornton for C Walsh (35), C Walsh for A Thornton (49).
D Delaney; G Raggett, E Leen, B Daly; H Lenihan, D Griffin, D Dineen; G O’Riordan, S Brosnan; S O’Halloran, L Og O’Connor, E O’Flaherty; J Egan, F Egan, E FerrisÂ
F Horgan for J Egan (46), M Davis for B Daly (63), C McDonagh for E Ferris (63)Â
J Bugler ( Clare)
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