Second half goal rush destroys Causeway as St Brendan's book first Kerry SHC final since 2021

Fionán Egan scored 2-9 on his way to helping St Brendan's into the final

Kerry SHC semi-final: St Brendans 5-18 Causeway 1-15 

Goal hungry St Brendans produced a devastating second-half display to overturn a three-point half-time deficit and reach their first Kerry Senior Hurling Championship final since 2021. 

Brendan's eventually ran out 15 point winners in an entertaining contest that swung dramatically after the restart.

The opening exchanges belonged to St Brendans as Liam Óg O’Connor needed just 20 seconds to split the posts before Fionán Egan doubled the lead with a long-range free.

Causeway gradually found their rhythm through the accuracy of Paul McGrath, who opened their account from a free before Gavin Dooley added an excellent score from a difficult angle. McGrath’s second free levelled matters after ten minutes, and Causeway edged in front for the first time thanks to fine efforts from Keith Carmody and Dooley.

St Brendans stayed in touch through inspirational scores from captain Eric Leen and Sean Brosnan, while Causeway goalkeeper Stephen Murphy produced a remarkable double save to deny both Egan and Gearóid Sheehan, for what looked certain goals.

Causeway continued to make the most of Brendan’s indiscipline, with McGrath punishing frees before Dan Goggin extended their advantage. The defining moment of the half arrived on 26 minutes when Gearóid O’Mahony gathered a long delivery, shrugged off his marker and blasted to the net for Causeway for a 1-8 to 0-6 lead.

Brendans refused to wilt, however. Brosnan and Egan narrowed the gap before Gearóid Sheehan rifled home a superb goal following slick passing to draw the sides level at 1-8 apiece. Causeway finished the half strongly however, with Muiris Delaney, Goggin, Billy Lyons and Carmody all raising white flags to help establish a 1-13 to 1-10 interval lead.

The game turned completely within minutes of the restart. Earnán Ferris rattled the Causeway net just seconds into the second half before Egan struck a brilliant solo goal three minutes later. Ferris was unlucky not to add another major, as Murphy got a touch for a 65. Egan converted the resulting 65 before hammering home a penalty after Murphy conceded a foul. Suddenly, St Brendans held a 4-11 to 1-13 lead in the blink of an eye.

Egan continued to torment the Causeway defence, adding another point before McGrath briefly halted the tide with a free. Cian Hussey responded immediately, and any lingering hopes of a Causeway comeback disappeared when Nathan O’Driscoll’s long delivery found Gearóid Sheehan, who escaped his marker to fire Brendan’s fifth goal.

Egan continued his scoring spree with further frees, Hussey and Liam Óg O’Connor added late points, while Brandon Barrett’s injury-time score merely served as consolation for Causeway as St Brendan’s completed a stunning second-half turnaround.

Scorers for St Brendans: F Egan 2-9 (1-0 pen, 5f, 65’), G Sheehan 2-0, E Ferris 1-0, S Brosnan 0-3, L Óg O’Connor, C Hussey 0-2, E Leen, N O’Driscoll 0-1 each. 

Scorers for Causeway: P McGrath 0-5 (5f), G Mahony 1-0, D Goggin 0-3, G Dooley, K Carmody 0-2 each, B Lyons, M Delaney, B Barrett 0-1 each.

ST BRENDANS: D Delaney; G Raggett, E Leen, Killian Wolfe; H Lenihan, D Griffin, N O’Driscoll; O Ferris, G O’Riordan; G Sheehan, L Óg O’Connor, E O’Flaherty, S Brosnan, E Ferris, F Egan.

Subs: S Leen for G Raggett, C Hussey for K Wolfe (Both H/T), S O’Halloran for E Ferris (49), D Dineen for N O’Driscoll (52), J Egan for G Sheehan (57).

CAUSEWAY: S Murphy; K Leahy, A Fealy, J Leahy; B Barrett, J Diggin, K Carmody; T Casey , G Mahony; C Harty, M Delaney, P McGrath; D Goggin, G Dooley, B Lyons.

Subs: T Barrett for K Leahy (43), B Long for P McGrath, M Lynch for J Leahy (Both 49), D Legg for G Mahony (56).

Referee: J Bugler (Clare).