Oisin Maunsell beats the pain to inspire Abbeydorney to hat-trick of Kerry SHC titles

HAT TRICK: Abbeydorney’s hurlers celebrate their third consecutive Kerry SHC final win after they downed St Brendan’s of Ardfert in the decider Sunday at Austin Stack Park in Tralee. Pic: Domnick Walsh, Eye Focus.

Kerry SHC final: Abbeydorney 3-16 St Brendan’s 1-12

ABBEYDORNEY produced a performance for the ages when they outplayed a youthful St Brendan's side to complete three in a row Kerry Senior Hurling Championship titles in Sunday's one-sided decider at Austin Stack Park.

For a club that had to wait 50 years for a title, it's some marker to put three consecutive titles together and Abbeydorney will relish this victory as one of their best.

Their inspiration was full forward, Kerry hurler and former Kerry minor football captain Oisin Maunsell who was unmarkable and ended with 2-4. Maunsell proved a warrior like the mythical character he is called after, playin the entire game with broken right wrist and broken finger on his left hand.

St Brendan's made the better start and led 0-3 to 0-2 at the end of a slow burner of an opening quarter. Fionan Egan scored all three for St Brendans while Oisin Maunsell and Michael O’Leary (free) replied for Abbeydorney.

But then momentum changed in a two minute spell when Abbeydorney struck with two superbly taken goals, first when Michael Slattery found the St Brendan's net and then Jamesie O’Connor’s long delivery was fielded by Oisin Maunsell and turning he blasted the ball beyond Darran Delaney. 

Nathan O’Driscoll and Liam Óg O’Connor responded for the Ardfert men but the Abbeydorney defence was completely on top with Ronan Donovan, Jamesie O’Connor and Jedd Maunsell outstanding.

Abbeydorney pushed on and added 0-5 from Mike O’Leary with three points and one each from Mikey Clifford and Niall O’Mahoney as Abbeydorney led 2-7 to 0-6 at half time.

Maunsell and Jack Sheehan added points as Cian Hussey came in and pointed for St Brendans but they were in big trouble as rampant Abbeydorney turned the screw. ] O’Leary, Maunsell and Slattery added minors, and then in the 47th minute it was game over when man of the match Oisin Maunsell, slipped his marker and scored his sides third goal, to leave the score 3-12 to 0-8 and there was no way back for the Ardfert side.

Abbeydorney finished with a flourish with four points while St Brendans finished with a Seamus O’Halloran goal but it was Abbeydorney’s day.

Scorers for Abbeydorney: O Maunsell (2-4), M O’Leary (0-6, 5fs, 1’65), M Slattery (1-2), J Sheehan (0-2), M Clifford and N O’Mahoney (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Brendan's: F Egan (0-5, 4fs), S O’Halloran (1-0), N O’Driscoll, C Hussey and L OG O’Connor (0-2 each) D Dineen (0-1).

ABBEYDORNEY: J Fealy; R O hAinifein, S Egan, J Maunsell; D Hogan, R Donovan, J O’Connor; D Egan, D O’Connell; M O’Leary, M Clifford, J Sheehan; M Slattery, O Maunsell, N O’Mahoney Subs: 

Subs: K Sheehan for D O’Connell, half-time, A Maunsell for D Hogan, 44, B O’Leary for M Slattery, 54, J Hannon for D Egan, 56, C O’Sullivan for N O’Mahony, 60.

ST BRENDAN'S: D Delaney; G Raggett, E Leen, K Wolff; H Lenihan, D Griffin, N O’Driscoll; O Ferris, G O’Riordan; S Brosnan, L Og O’Connor, E O’Flaherty; E Ferris, G Sheehan, F Egan.

Subs: C Hussey for E O’Flaherty, half-time, D Dineen (0-1) for K Wolff, 37, S O’Halloran for G Sheehan, 37, S Leen for G Raggett, 44, J Egan for E Ferris, 51.

Referee: J O’Halloran (Limerick)