KILMOYLEY 2-18 CAUSEWAY 0-8, Austin Stacks park 19th October 2008
Kilmoyley captured its 21st Senior hurling championship title in comprehensive style with an emphatic 2-18 to 0-8 victory over Causeway and in capturing its fifth title in seven years has earned the accolade as one of the all time great Kery club teams. It was the highest number of scores by a winning team ever and the second highest winning margin in a county final since 1944 when Crotta scored 9-5 againt Kilgarvan. This certainly seemed a very unlikely possibility earlier that morning when the forecast gales and rain blew across North Kerry. But thankfully for the players and supporters it turned out to be a wonderful day, even if a gusty breeze was evident at times. In some ways it ways a redemption for the 2007 county final loss to Lixnaw, and it was just reward for a team and management that put a huge effort in throughout the year especially for manager and Clare legend Anthony Daly who travelled a serious number of miles all year. Who is to say that this bunch of players won't go on in 2009 to become the first team in Kerry to win six titles in a decade.
Kilmoyley started with the same team that began the semi final, and showed a total of four new players from the 2007 final, with Seanie Murnane and James Godley introduced to the full back line, with Shaun Young and Padraig O'Sullivan starting in the full forward line. But perhaps more importantly, two significant positional changes saw former full back Padraig Regan start at full forward while Maurice Murnane slotted in at wing back. In many people's eyes, Kilmoyley went into the final as hot favourites, but following last year's county final defeat, many others questioned Kilmoyley's hurling ability if their physicality was tested, and also to win with the favourite's tag. And despite the one sided final scoreline, these questions could still have been asked until five minutes before the break, when a Shane Brick 21 was blasted to the net to give Kilmoyley a nine point lead. This was a hugely important score in the game and came at a time when Causeway tried to eek their way back into the contest.
Kilmoyley played with the fluctuating breeze in the first half and opened the scoring in the second minute when Shane Brick slotted over the first of his ten points from a 90 metre free to settle his side, but a Causeway free minutes later had the sides level again. There seemed little danger when Maurice Murnane lined up a Kilmoyley free after eight minutes inside his own 45 metre line. But, on the second attempt he unleashed a bomb that went all the way to the Causeway net, thanks in no small way to the presence of full forward Padraig Regan. Once again Causeway showed their battling qualities with another point in the next minute, but Kilmoyley tightened their grip on the game once again with their first point from play through Micheal Regan after twelve minutes while Man of the match Shaun Young added his first and second points in quick succession to stretch Kilmoyley's lead. Shane Brick added the best score of the game next. Not because it came from a distance of 90 metres, but it was setup by the defence when it looked certain that Causeway were to score. These points in particular were indicative of Kilmoyley's training this year, with brilliant first touches and quick striking from difficult positions, set up by players chasing in packs for every morsel of possession.
Kilmoyley led 1-5 to 0-2 at this stage but once again Causeway showed the qualities that earned them the right to reach the county final when, in the space of five minutes they added the next three points with five minutes of the half remaining. At this stage the game was up for grabs, and it was Kilmoyley who showed the desire and detrmination to win. A pointed Shane Brick free settled Kilmoyley again, and when another Brick free a minute later fell short for the Causeway keeper, the danger seemed to be gone. But the Kilmoyley forwards did not give up the chase and he was forced to catch the ball three times just outside the 21 metre line. Cue Shane Brick. Having missed much of the year through injury, the Kerry public had little chance of seeing his powerful frees. And so it was the case for the Causeway defenders who didn't see this one either, as he unleashed another thunderbolt that hit the roof of the net and send the Kilmoyley faithful into raptures. It was a crucial score that put the Causeway team on the backfoot, so much that they conceded another two points before the break, one another Brick free while Young added his third (a beauty over his shoulder) from play. Despite this great lift and a nine point lead, Kilmoyley had still to face the wind.
If Causeway were to have any chance of eeking their way back into the game, the first few minutes of the scond half were crucial in reducing the gap. But immediately from the throw in, Shaun Young won posession and added his fourth point to instead stretch Kilmoyley's lead to ten points. This changed to eleven a minute later when Shane Brick added another pointed free and effectively end the game as a contest. There was no way at this stage that the Kilmoyley defence were going to concede four goals, and indeed all Causeway did score for the remainder of the game was three points, only four in total from play. Unfortunately for the neutral supporters, the game ended disappointingly as the game lost its shape and at times discipline completely. But the Kilmoyley supporters were not complaining, even if the field was closed for celebrations, due to the upcoming football club semifinal double header. KIlmoyley finished with two further Shane Brick frees while captain Tom Murnane added another from play.
It would not be right to compare this Kilmoyley performance with that of Kilkenny in this year's All-Ireland final, but certainly there were some parallels between the two games - Kilmoyley's record score, a complete winning team performance (even if it was far from perfect), and overwhelming the opposition throughout the field. Strangely enough, if Kilmoyley scored the 2-6 they got against Lixnaw in losing last year's final, this time round they would have won by four points - what a difference a year makes.
Well done to all the squad of thirty players who put in a huge effort for the past three months in particular, notably training at 7am at Banna beach. To the manager Anthony Daly who was so disappointed himself after last year, that he returned in 2008 despite many difficulties to give a huge commitment to the club and is testament to the Clare legend's reputation. To All-Ireland medal winner Clare's Fergal Hegarty who was introduced as the "bad cop" at training to increase the player's fitness another level, a massive thank you must be said, who like Daly would surely have better things to do than train a gang of hurlers in north Kerry. But it now shows the light in which Kerry hurling is now seen, and one would hope that other Kerry clubs would take this on board for next year, to improve the standard of hurling in the county, which in 2008 was disappointing. WEll done to selector Maurice and Brendan McElligott who have also put in a huge effort all year with the team. To physio Maura, the players say a paryicular thank you for your uplifting presence, while Maurice Fitzgerald gets a special thanks for his great work with the players and behind the scenes. Chairman Sean Murnane must also take a huge amount of credit for raising and maintaining the profile of the club. Kilmoyley now has 21 titles, joint top on the all time honours list, while the sportsfield and alley would be a credit to any club in the country, never mind one in a parish of just over one hundred dwellings. Who is to say Kilmoyley won't be back in 2009!
KILMOYLEY TEAM:
JOHN BRENDAN O'HALLORAN, SEANIE MURNANE, JAMES GODLEY, IAN BRICK, COLIN HARRIS, JAMES MCCARTHY, MAURICE MURNANE (1-0f), EOIN SHEEHY, TOM MURNANE(0-1), BILLY BRICK, MICHEAL REGAN (0-3), SHANE BRICK (1-10, 1-8f), PADRAIG O'SULLIVAN, PADRAIG REGAN, SHAUN YOUNG (0-4)
SUBS:SEAN GRIFFIN for J GODLEY(inj), JOE MURNANE for PO'SULLIVAN, PAUL MCCARTHY for M REGAN, PATRICK FLAHERTY for P REGAN, BRENDAN HARRIS for E SHEEHY
KILMOYLEY 0-10 ABBEYDORNEY 1-10, Ballyheigue 1st November 2008
The minors will be disappointed that their performance in the final against Abbeydorney in Ballyheigue fell short of what was required and expected. A repeat of their semi-final performance against Lixnaw would have been enough to secure back to back championship victories, but on the day, Abbeydorney's tenacious play and ability to take their scoring opportunities was ultimately the reason for victory. Kilmoyley's first touch and ability to strike under pressure should have been better, but as has often been the case at minor level, it is only on the day you see how a team will perform. Despite this, Kilmoyley had enough posession throughout the game to win, but a lack of a cutting edge up front, a number of missed scoring chances (ten wides in total) plus a top class performance by Abbeydorney's centre back PJ Keane meant Kilmoyley's bid to be the first team since 1994 to win the Senior/ minor championship double was not to be.
The Kilmoyley management made a few changes to its starting team, most notably Sean Dowling starting at full back, John B O'Halloran moving to full forward, Gene O'Connor from Dingle making his debut at midfield while Tim O'Brien was introduced at corner forward for his first start of the championship. The game was played in dry but blustery conditions played before a large crowd with John Hennessy putting in his usual effort as referee. Kilmoyley played with the advantage of the breeze which blew diagonally across the field but Abbeydorney opened the scoring and it took Kilmoyley almost quarter of an hour to reply with a wonderful sideline cut from Conor Fitzell. Abbeydorney pointed again but Paul Geaney equalised shortly after. The sides were level for a third time a few minutes later but then John B pointed his second free to edge Kilmoyley in front. Kilmoyley were well on top at this stage but a number of poor wides kept the minimum between the sides. With five minutes remaining in the half a long ball into the Kilmoyley square was batted by 'keeper Joe McElligott and the Abbeydorney corner forward reacted quickest to rattle the Kilmoyley net and give Abbeydorney the lead once more. This was the decisive score of the game, and the momentum had now swung in favour of the boys in black and amber. Kilmoyley added two points before the break but conceded another to go in at the break in arrears by 1-4 to 0-6.
For the second half John B switched from Full forward where he waas ineffective to full back with Conor Fitzell pushing in to full forward for Kilmoyley, and they made a great start with two points from play, one from Luke Fitzell and another from Geaney to edge Kilmoyley in front once more. But Abbeydorney replied with a great score out near the sideline, but Timothy O'Brien responded with a great effort of his own to restore Kilmoyley's lead after twelve minutes. But this was to be Kilmoyley's last score until injury time, by which time the result was as good as decided. Abbeydorney took control of the game at this stage with Keane and O'Leary outstanding for them. Kilmoyley brought 'keeper Joe Mc out to full forward wher Conor Fitzell had been ineffective, but this move too proved ineffective as Kilmoyley's challenge faded. In the end, Abbeydorney deserved their win but Kilmoyley will know that it was a case of what might have been. It was great to see three Dingle boys lining out for Kilmoyley. Geaney was the Kerry minor football captain this year and despite his lack of hurling training he has a natural hurling ability, which he will hopefully maintain over the coming years, along with Darragh O'Sullivan who was solid at centre back through the campaign for Kilmoyley.
Final score Abbeydorney 1-10 Kilmoyley 0-10.
Kilmoyley team: Joe McElligott, Tommy Maunsell, Sean Dowling, John Paul O'Mahony, Ray Barrett, Darragh O'Sullivan, Sean Godley, Michael Griffin, Gene O'Connor, Luke Fitzell (0-1), Paul Geaney (0-2), Conor Fitzell (0-2), Edmund Griffin (0-1), John Brendan O'Halloran (0-3, 3f), Timothy O'Brien (0-1) subs Vincent Savage for C Fitzell
KILMOYLEY 0-7 BLARNEY 3-9, Kilmoyley 2nd November 2008
There was a definite sense of deja vu about this Munster Intermediate clash between Kilmoyley and Blarney in Kilmoyley on Sunday. It may have been the fact that in 2004 Kilmoyley played their last Munster championship game at the same venue; it may have been the sense of expectation of glory for Kilmoyley to become the first senior club to win a munster championship game; it may have been the way in which the whole event was wonderfully organised by the club and its volunteers; but most of all it was a feeling that Kilmoyley had left this game with a sense of what might have been - the same as the day before for our minors in their loss to Abbeydorney in the championship final, and the loss to Lixnaw in the 2007 county hurling final. While Kilmoyley can have no complaints about the defeat itself - Blarney were certainly the better team on show, they will wonder about small incidents - what if Shane Brick had not been injured and what if we hadn't conceded that soft early goal. Games can certainly swing on minor events and Blarney seemed to have the momentum at important stages of the game. But when Kilmoyley were within a goal of Blarney just after half time, they failed to score for the final 28 minutes of the game, and ultimately this was to be their downfall.
The Kilmoyley team and officials had watched some of the video of the Blarney's championship win in Cork and everyone agreed that this was a great opportunity for a famous win. But Kilmoyley had not played a game of the same intensity since the 2007 county final - thirteen months previously, and on reflection there was too much expected of Kilmoyley to play to that level. Much had been spoken of Blarney's tough and solid defence which was the strength of its team, and it was hoped to keep their scoring to its usual level of 1-10. If this was achieved Kilmoyley felt they were in with a chance of the win. Kilmoyley started without the injured Ian Brick who had a broken bone in his hand from the county final, and Shane Brick played despite carrying a rib injury. It was evident throughout the game, that it was hampering his striking and his normally reliable free taking and he had been singled out by Blarney for close marking.
Kilmoyley played with a slight breeze playing towards Lerrig, but as has been the case before, settled slowly into the game and allowed the visitors dictate. A harsh free on full back James Godley gave Blarney the opening score, but Kilmoyley replied with a free shortly after. There was a major setback for Kilmoyley after five minutes when 'keeper JB O'Halloran dropped a long ball and ended up in the back of the net off Seanie Murnane's shin. This lapse in concentration was a big blow to Kilmoyley and meant they were playing catch-up for the remainder of the game. O'Halloran had lined out for the minors the day before in their final defeat to Abbeydorney, and this possibly affected the normally reliable 6'2" giant from lerrig who had an excellent year despite breaking a finger. Kilmoyley tried to get back into the game but had four wides in a row which did not help their cause, especially when Blarney stretched their lead again with a pointed free. But Kilmoyley's best period of the game was to follow as they added three points from play through Micheal Regan, Maurice Murnane and a peach from Eoin Sheehy to narrow the deficit. It was obvious at this stage that the winners of the game would not have to play beautiful flowing hurling because of the soft underfoot conditions. Blarney were chasing every ball in packs and Kilmoyley found it difficult to gain clean posession to allow them the opportunity of scoring. Our defence was playing particularly well at this stage also even if there was far more room for their forwards to move in. But it was from midfield forward that Kilmoyley struggled to gain or hold posession, and the Blarney defence found it much easier to clear their lines. The pressure eventually told on Kilmoyley's defence when a poor clearance was snapped up by their midfielder who found his fullforward who skipped past a couple of challenges to rattle Kilmoyley's net and leave the home side five points in arrears and facing a much tougher mountain to climb. Two closing points from Shane Brick helped Kilmoyley's cause but Blarney added their own point to leave the halftime score 2-4 to 0-6 in favour of the men in red.
Despite such a poor first half performance Kilmoyley had much to be optimistic about. For a start, despite playing poorly they were only four points behind, and they would surely improve their performance for the second half. Surely! They did start the half well with another point after two minutes. They were then awarded a free just outside the 21 metre line but Brick's effort was batted away. Blarney then went upfield to get a score of their own and added another brilliant score minutes later. Blarney's Mark McCarthy was winning the world of ball at this stage. The Cork minor of two years earlier ran at Kilmoyley's defence creating havoc. For Kilmoyley, the defence was playing well as a unit, with Colin Harris outstanding at wing back, gaining numerous amounts of posession, but unfortunately too often he found his clearances coming back in his general direction as Blarney's defence was even in greater command, even if Micheal Regan was winning his battle with Cork Intermediate player James hughes at centre back. As a contest the game filtered out to its inevitable conclusion. A number of Kilmoyley subs were introduced to little effect and it was Blarney who finished with a flourish after another dfensive mistake cost Kilmoyley a third goal. A final pointed free a minute from time ended the scoring at 3-9 to 0-7.
In the end it was a disappointing display from Kilmoyley, following a great run in the county championship, but it has once again proved that despite all the excitement and enthusiasm for hurling in Kerry, the standard of our hurling falls well below what we should be aimimg for. It should no longer be the case that the winner of the Kerry championship should be content with winning that title only - last year's result was very disappointing. But the standard of our club hurling is so poor throughout the year that the step up to this level of competition is too great at the moment. A greater emphasis must be placed on competitive effort from the North Kerry league at the start of the year to the championship in October. It is fair to say that most of the North Kerry and County league games are doing nothing to improve Kerry's hurling - there is too much emphasis on negative play. But there's always next year! Isn't there? Kilmoyley team: John Bo'Halloran, Seanie Murnane, James Godley, Sean Griffin, Colin Harris, James McCarthy, Maurice Murnane (0-1), Eoin Sheehy(0-1), Tom Murnane capt., Billy Brick, Micheal Regan (0-1), Shane Brick (0-4, 3f), Padraig O'Sullivan, Padraig Regan, Shaun Young (0-1) subs Conor Stokes for P.O'Sullivan, Paul McCarthy for E Sheehy, Brendan Harris for P Regan, Ardian Royle for S Young, Patrick Flaherty for A Royle(inj)
Referee - Jason O'Mahony (Limerick) Thanks to all our Sponsors and supporters !!