Abbeydorney and St Brendan's cruise into Kerry hurling semis

Two one-sided quarter-finals confirmed the last four in the Kerry SHC

Brendan O’Leary of Abbeydorney. Pic: Domnick Walsh 

Two one-sided Garveys SuperValu Kerry SHC quarter-finals were played in baking hot conditions in the Austin Stack Park on Saturday afternoon with both effectively over at half-time.

St Brendan's were far too good for Crotta O’Neill's in the opener, posting another big total, winning 5-19 to 2-11. St Brendan's had the luxury of introducing Sydney-based Cian Hussey who came home to help his club and scored a point in his five-minute cameo. 

Hussey was on the St Brendan's team that last won Neilus Flynn cup in 2013, as a minor, lost two finals in 2015 and 2021 and was top scorer in the 2021 championship.

St Brendans exploded off the blocks with a second-minute Liam Óg O’Connor goal and had a second from Kerry U-20 All-Ireland winner Eoin O’Flaherty within nine. 

Barry Mahony, who was not fully fit, was ploughing a lone furrow for Crotta, scoring four first-half points, while Evan O’Sullivan added two from placed balls and Seanie McElligott completed their first-half total.

Meanwhile St Brendan's were rampant with Fionán Egan scoring a third goal in the 18th minute to move them 3-3 to 0-4 in front.

Egan contributed 0-4 in the first period while Eoin O’Flaherty decorated his goal with two points as St Brendan's retired 3-6 to 0-7 up at the interval.

A fourth goal, two minutes into the second half, helped stretch the Ardfert men’s lead to 12 points, and Crotta were playing for pride and respectability from there on. The 2024 champions did mine two goals in the second half, but they were little more than consolation scores. Sean Brosnan put the cherry on the cake for St Brendan's with his second goal of the half/

Eric Leen kept Crotta top gun Jordan Conway scoreless, while Hugh Lenihan Gavin Raggett, Gary O’Riordan and Daithi Griffin were imperious at the back for the Ardfert side. Up front, Egan, O’Flaherty, O’Connor and Seanie Brosnan are deadly accurate.

Barry Mahony, who carried Crotta on his back, produced the highlight of the second half with a brilliant sideline cut that Evan O’Sullivan flicked to the Ardfert net. But it was too little too late and St Brendan's march on and face Causeway next.

There was hope that Ballyheigue would raise their game against back-to-back champions Abbeydorney, but that hope was punctured within five minutes when Michael Slattery burst through and rifled the sliotar into the top corner of the Ballyheigue net.

By the first water break Abbeydorney were moving through the gears and led 1-6 to 0-4, thanks to Michael O’Leary and Jack Sheehan. Mossie Gaynor, Colin Walsh and Philip Lucid did score points in sporadic attacks but once O’Leary, Sheehan and David Egan added points, Ballyheigue were listing badly. They were almost in the water in the 27th minute when their Kerry star and leader Colin Walsh was forced to limp off. Ballyheigue trailed 1-13 to 0-5 at half time and once the holders added five points, from the usual suspects, Oisin Maunsell, Jack Sheehan and Michael O’Leary, Abbeydorney had stretched 1-18 to 0-6 clear and the crowd began to head towards the exits.

Then in the 45th minute Jimmy O’Halloran, in a rush a blood, decided to aim a few kicks at sliotar as Michael O’Leary lay on the deck but made contact with O’Leary instead to receive a straight red.

The final quarter was painful as Abbeydorney added another goal through young Adam Maunsell, while Dara Kearney scored a very late consolation goal for Ballyheigue. Abbeydorney looked impressive as they prepare to face a Ballyduff side in the semis, thirsting for revenge having lost the last two finals to Abbeydorney.