Kerry SHC: St Brendan's and Lixnaw play out thriller as Abbeydorney and Causeway make winning starts

Abbeydorney got their bid for a third consecutive title off to a good start with a resounding win against Tralee Parnells

Shane Conway helped Lixnaw to a draw against St Brendan's in the Kerry SHC. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD

On Sunday at Austin Stack Park, the opening Kerry SHC Group 1 game turned into a cracker with St Brendan's and Lixnaw drawing 1-20 to 2-17. 

St Brendan's looked good in the opening half with Liam Óg O’Connor scoring three points while Fionan Egan had six points from frees and play. 

Earnan Ferris got their goal in the 23rd minute. Shane Conway, with a succession of points, kept Lixnaw in touch and then Mikey Kelliher found the St Brendan's net. Conway and Gavin O’Keeffe added two more Lixnaw points but St Brendan's - driven on by Eric Leen, Daithí Griffin and Hugh Lenihan - added 0-5 before half-time from  Egan (2), Seanie Brosnan (2) and Gary O’Riordan. St Brendan's retired 1-14 to 1-9 in front at the interval.

Lixnaw brought on Conor O’Keeffe at half-time and along with John Buckley, Darragh Conway and Jeremy McKenna, they had St Brendan's on the back foot. Shane Conway showed all his class with two points and then he left a trail of defenders in his wake as he cut in and blasted the ball to the roof of the net. He followed with a point from play and suddenly at the end of the third quarter, Lixnaw led by the minimum (2-14 to 1-16). Nathan O’Driscoll and Egan pushed St Brendan's one clear but Shane Conway converted two more frees and added a 65.

Lixnaw were two clear with five minutes left but after John Buckley saved Lixnaw with a goal line clearance, two Egan frees levelled the contest again. Both sides had chances to win the contest with Seamus O’Halloran and Egan missing two scoreable frees for St Brendan's while Ivan Conway and Gavin O’Keeffe missed for Lixnaw. A point each, then. Lixnaw face Ballyduff next weekend needing something from it.

The final game of the weekend was a Group 2 encounter where Causeway outclassed a very poor Kilmoyley side 2-21 to 0-18. Causeway, inspired by a half-back line of Brandon Barrett, Jason Diggins and Keith Carmody, blitzed Kilmoyley in the opening half and led 1-15 to 0-8 at half-time. Causeway had nine different scorers with Gavin Dooley getting their goal while Dan Goggin fired over three points, and their half-back line contributed 0-5.

Kilmoyley were totally reliant on Daire Nolan who had 0-5 from frees and play. Dooley killed the game off with an early Causeway goal and it was left to Daire Nolan who finished with 0-12 to make the scoreboard look more respectable. Causeway can top the group if they beat Ballyheigue next weekend.

On Friday, Abbeydorney started their three-in-a-row bid with a resounding 3-14 to 1-6 victory over Tralee Parnells in the opening Group 3 encounter. The winners were anything but impressive in the opening half where they had to get rid of a lot of dirty diesel and possibly also some complacency considering they were playing Parnells who are only in their third year in senior grade and have yet to register a win.

Abbeydorney started well with two Michael O’Leary points and another from young Adam Maunsell. But the champions were rocked by a Parnells goal in the 16th minute when a Diarmuid Quirke free was deflected into the path of Darragh Keane who finished to the Abbeydorney net. 

Parnells held their own thanks to Tadgh Brick, Cillian Litchfield, Eddie Sheehy and Andrew Kerins until half-time as they retired 1-5 to 0-6 ahead against the champions. 

Having got the hairdryer treatment at the break, Abbeydorney blitzed Parnells in the second half and by the 40th minute, they led 2-9 to 1-6, an eight-point turnaround. Michael O’Leary added three points while Adam Maunsell and Oisín Maunsell found the Parnells net and it was game over. 

Jack Sheehan and Ronan Donovan added points and Kian Sheehan put the cherry on the Abbeydorney cake with a 53rd minute goal as they cruised to a 14-point win. They will face fellow parishioners Crotta O’Neills on this Friday with the winner probably topping the group.