South Kerry Hurling League: Austin Stacks 3-14: Duagh 2-7.
Even though we had a ten points winning margin at the end this was by far our most competitive game this season. Duagh brought a strong team to Connolly Park on this Wednesday evening (18th July) for our third round (of four) of the South Kerry League and put it up to us both skillfully and physically when they went ahead by 1-2 to no score after eight minutes. But once we settled we matched them in both those categories and went in at half time with a three points lead (2-6 to 2-3).
Paul Daly continued from where he left off last week, scoring 1-5 in that first half, with our second goal coming from a spectacular effort by Peter O’Regan. Our two other points of this half were equally as spectacular from Ronan Gilsenan and Eoghan McKivergan.
The second half was less than two minutes old when Cillian O’Riordan fed Paul Daly and Paul placed his shot to the keeper’s right and into the corner of the net. Paul and William Brick then added a point each from play. Duagh, however, continued to compete and with 15 minutes remaining there was still only four points between the sides (3-8 to 2-7). But they scored no more in that final quarter while our boys, showing the benefits of Michael O’Leary’s training, went on to put over six unanswered points and came off the pitch almost as fresh as when they started.
Not for the first time Andrew Morrissey deserves special mention. Earlier in the evening Andrew travelled to Ballymac with our B Footballers to play in the first round of the Junior Town League which we won by 1-11 to 1-9. When that was over he then came back to Connolly Park and played for most the second half with our Hurlers, contributing in no small way to the victory. Super stuff Andrew.
Team (13 a side): John Connelly, Kevin O’Leary, No Full Back, Johnny Downey, David Walsh, Eoghan McKivergan (0-2), Andrew Foley, Ciarán Breen, Cillian O’Riordan, Ronan Gilsenan (0-3), Paul Daly (2-7 (three frees), Thomas Meehan, William Brick (0-1), No Full Forward, Peter O’Regan (1-1).
Sub used: Andrew Morrissey (34m).
We now travel to Abbeydorney on next Wednesday evening (25th July) to play our final Co. League Div 2A game . Next up will be the 4th and final round of the South Kerry Hurling League competition – a trip to Duagh on either the 8th or 10th Aug (tbc) and this could be equally if not more competitive than this Wednesday evening’s game.