Kilmoyley's determination wins them title
COUNTY U21 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
KILMOYLEY 1-9 KENMARE 0-9, AUSTIN STACKS 3rd Dec 2011
Kilmoyley won the County U-21 Hurling Championship when they proved too strong for a gallant Kenmare District side, at Austin Stack Park on Saturday evening. It was a game where once again the pace and scoring power of minor star Daniel Collins proved to be the main difference between the sides and this augurs well for senior hurling in the club, and it probably means that Kilmoyley are one of the teams to keep an eye out for next year as contenders line up to knock Ballyduff off their pedestal.
Kilmoyley just about deserved to win it and they used the wind to their advantage in the opening half in a game where every score was going to be important because it was never going to be a high scoring affair in heavy conditions. The game was probably won in the opening quarter when Kilmoyley raced 1-4 to 0-0 in front and hard as though they tried Kenmare just could not peg them back. However credit Kenmare who despite trailing 1-5 to 0-2 at the interval, really upped the tempo of their game in the second half and closed the gap to a goal but some solid defending by Kilmoyley ensured that the trophy staying where it was.
Kilmoyley started well with a brace of Daniel Collins points and then in the 7th minute came the crucial score when Sean Godley placed Dougie Fitzell and he tapped in beyond the keeper.
Then John Brendan O'Halloran better known as a goalkeeper, displayed his versatility when scoring a free from the full forward position and another point from the quicksilver Collins, saw Kilmoyley lead 1-4 to 0-0 at the end of the opening quarter as Kenmare appeared sluggish early on.
Eventually the Duncan brothers James and Shane combined to post Kenmare's first score in the 17th minute, but it was tough going on the players as defences were on top. Luke Fitzell added just one second quarter point for Kilmoyley while Glen Egan responded for Kenmare to leave the half time score at Kilmoyley 1-5 to Kenmare 0-2.
Kenmare dominated proceedings around the middle of the field in the third quarter, as they forced Kilmoyley onto the back foot, and three pointed frees from James Duncan narrowed the gap. But the switching of O'Halloran to midfield waws the winning of the game for Kilmoyley as he won vital posession from his own puckout, and easing the pressure on his defence. Collins too lifted the siege and scored Kilmoyley's opener in the second half but James Duncan from a free soon reduced the deficit to three points once more. Then crucially a John Brendan O'Halloran free and another beauty from Daniel Collins stretched Kilmoyley's lead to five and they looked home and hosed.
However Kenmare are made of stern stuff and they fought back in the final quarter. Duncan had another point but O'Halloran countered with a free and then Kilmoyley lost the influential Conor Fitzell through injury.
James Duncan from another free closed the gap but three wides in injury time proved costly and despite a Shane Duncan effort that narrowed the gap to three, Kenmare were never going to get the goal they needed. Kilmoyley who hurled well had looked well coached were celebrating yet another trophy, but Kenmare lost nothing in defeat. The Acorn Life man of match was Daniel Collins.
Kimoyley's defence was excellent throughout, with their young full back line in particular shining. So much so that keeper Joe McElligott had no shot to make during the game. In their two games in the championship Kilmoyley conceded just 1-14, which is great credit to their defensive effort. Well done to manager Brendan McElligott for his dedication with this group of players, and to selectors Maurice Fitzgerald and Paddy O'Sullivan for their commitment also. And to Ian Brick, Shane Brick and Padraig Regan who assisted in training the side.
Joe McElligott; David Ryan, Coleman Savage, John Paul Mahony; Ray Barrett, Tommy Maunsell, John Godley; Seán Dowling, Seán Godley; Dougie Fitzell(1 - 0), Conor Fitzell, Luke Fitzell(0 - 1); Daniel Collins(0 - 5), John Brendan O'Halloran(0 - 3f), Vincent Savage,
SUBS: Florence McCarthy for S Godley (50mins); Seán Nolan for Conor Fitzell (inj) (56mins)
Referee John Hennessy
Superb team performance from Kilmoyley
COUNTY U21 CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI
KILMOYLEY 1-13 BALLYDUFF 1-5, ABBEYDORNEY 9th Nov 2011
Kilmoyley's U21s produced a superb display under lights on Wednesday evening in the semi final of the county championship against Ballyduff to win by 1-13 to 1-5. They now advance to the final against Kenmare/ Kilgarvan on a date to be decided. Kilmoyley played with the breeze in the first half, but it was Ballyduff who settled early, dominating posession. Kilmoyley's indiscipline didn't help their cause either, but thankfully Ballyduff wasted most of their chances. John B O'Halloran began to win posession at full forward and slotted over an early free, but this was quickly cancelled at the other end. Kilmoyley's full back line was under severe pressure but they repeatedly cleared their lines to good effect and found willing team mates to carry the ball further. Very often, posession ended in the hands of John B who made the most of his chances with some great points. One of those clearances broke to the same player who finished to the net to give his side a five point lead after ten minutes.
Ballyduff's forwards began to move more freely and opened Kilmoyley's defence on a few occassions, scoring 2 pointed frees and a goal from play. But Kilmoyley's defence settled again and closed down the space on their opponents to great effect and setup scoring chances for their forwards, most of which were converted by O'Halloran, Luke Fitzell and Daniel Collins. By half time Kilmoyley led by 1-9 to 1-3.
Facing a strengthening breeze after the break, Kilmoyley knew they faced a tough task. But they scored first with a pointed free to stretch their lead. All the players were putting in a great effort to maintain that lead, and at times they combined very well under pressure to keep posession. Daniel Collins used his pace to great effect winning the ball and a number of frees, as well as finding a teammate. But with an extra man in defence, Ballyduff were able to clear most of the danger. But Kilmoyley's defence was also dominating and looked in little danger of conceding the vital goal that could have brought Ballyduff back into the game. With ten minutes remaining, Kilmoyley held a six point lead and when Ballyduff's wing back was red carded for a dangerous pull on young Collins, the game looked to be settled. But a defensive lapse gave Ballyduff their best chance from a 21 metre free, but was brilliantly saved by young John Godley, who kept senior star Pat Joe Connolly quiet throughout the game. Vincent Svage scored a good point late on for the winners and a final John B free sealed the win for Kilmoyley.
Joe McElligott, David Ryan, Colman Savage, Ray Barrett, Tommy Maunsell, John Godley, Sean Godley, Sean Dowling, Dougie Fitzell, Conor Fitzell, Luke Fitzell, Vincent Savage, John B O'Halloran, Daniel Collins. sub Florence McCarthy
Garveys SuperValu County Senior Hurling Championship - quarterfinal
Late Lixnaw Rally finishes Kilmoyley's challenge
Garveys SuperValu County Senior Hurling Championship - quarterfinal
KILMOYLEY 2-12 LIXNAW 2-14, Austin Stack park 24th July 2011
It was a case of almost, but not quite enough for Kilmoyley as they were sent crashing out of this years County Senior Hurling Championship in a thriller at the Austin Stack Park.
Kilmoyley had looked the more likely side in the opening half, leading 1-7 to 0-3 after seventeen minutes, with Sean Maunsell scoring a 14th minute goal and Shane Brick, converting three frees, though the Kilmoyley sharpshooter was clearly hampered by a hand injury.
This was a game in which Lixnaw were slow to settle and the loss of Trevor McKenna as early as the 3rd minute really did not help matters. However Maurice Corridan, who was struggling himself with an injury, came in to shadow Kilmoyley's danger man Shane Brick and the fact that Brick failed to register a score can be attributed in part to Corridan, and also to that strapped hand which clearly was not right. But Lixnaw's entire defence were superb as veteran Eamon Fitzmaurice cleared an amount of ball along with his midfield partner. Adrian Royle and Sean Maunsell were the pick of the attack, with Royle winning good ball but wasting valuable posession unnecessarily at times.
When Kilmoyley reflect on this loss, they will feel that when they led 1-12 to 1-9 with ten minutes left, they failed to kick on, and instead they seemed to adopt an defensive mode instead.
However a 23rd minute goal from the diminutive James Flaherty, breathed life into Lixnaw who then only trailed 1-9 to 1-6 at the interval. Lixnaw thanks to some superb defending put the shackles on Kilmoyley in the second as John Griffin and James Flaherty kept their side in touch.
Then with Kilmoyley dropping Daniel Collins back as an extra defender, they invited Lixnaw to attack and when Griffin now hurling superbly, pointed, James Flaherty followed two frees with the equalizer from play in the 58th minute.
Then, with extra time looking inevitable, Flaherty showed his class in the 61st minute when he crashed a Brendan Brosnan centre to the net at the second attempt, and then quick points from Flaherty and Kevin Power , ensured Lixnaw were in the semis, despite a last second Adrian Royle goal for Kilmoyley.
They will now face county champions Ballyduff in the semi finals, in what is a repeat of last years decider.
Lixnaw
Kilmoyley scorers:
S Maunsell 1-2, A Royle 1-1, S Brick 0-4 frees, D Collins 0-2, M Murnane, A McCarthy and L Fitzelle 0-1 each
Teams:
Kilmoyley
Aidan McCabe, Tommy Maunsell, Sean Dowling, Dougie Fitzell, James Godley, Tom Murnane, Maurice Murnane, James McCarthy, Padraig O'Sullivan, Daniel Collins, Shane Brick, Adrian Royle, Andy McCarthy, Micheal Regan, Sean Maunsell
Subs: Luke Fitzelle for M Regan (42), Pat Flaherty for P O'Sullivan (51), Conor Fitzell for S Brick (60)
Lixnaw :
M Stackpoole, D McCarthy, P Corridan, C Fitzmaurice, P Lyons, T McKenna, R Galvin, E Fitzmaurice, F Fitzmaurice, J Griffin, E Galvin, B Brosnan, R Heffernan , S Power, J Flaherty.
Subs: M Corridan for T McKenna (inj 3), Cillian Fitzmaurice for R Heffernan (20), K Power for E Galvin (41), R Thornton for B Brosnan (55)
Referee: John Healy (Clare)
The Garveys SuperValu SHC Round 2
Weakened Kilmoyley side always second best
COUNTY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND
KILMOYLEY 0-12 BALLYDUFF 0-16, Austin Stack park 14th August 2011
County champions Ballyduff booked their place in the semi final's of this years Garveys SuperValu County Senior Hurling Championship, when their heavyweight clash with 2009 champions Kilmoyley, turned out to be more like a middleweight contest at the Austin Stack Park, Tralee on Saturday evening.
The game lacked the ferocious intensity of a knock out game, between the two top sides in the county over the last decade, with Kilmoyley lining out without their injured star Shane Brick, while Ballyduff were without their injured minor star Padraig Boyle. Kilmoyley began well as they raced 0-3 to 0-1 in front, thanks to points from young Daniel Collins, and two Andy McCarthy frees. Mickey Boyle opened Ballyduff's account from his full-forward berth while Padraig O'Grady picked up an early yellow.
However it was clear from a very early stage that this was not knockout as the game lacked the intensity and pace of a semi final or final, and one wondered was there some shadow boxing going on!
Liam Boyle who had a good game at wing back found his brother Mikey with a long delivery in the 12th, and James Godley was forced to foul, which saw Bobby O'Sullivan close the gap and then he levelled from another free in the 14th minute. Godley was forced to leave the pitch just after following a nasty collision to deplete Kilmoyley's resources even further. This saw veteran Padraig Regan being introduced with youngster Sean Dowling moving to full back.
Daniel Collins restored Kilmoyley's lead with a fine effort from play but they also shot a succession of wides which ultimately probably cost them victory. In fact Kilmoyley shot eight first half wides with Adrian Royle being the chief culprit.
John Paul Leahy levelled again in the 17th minute after a Mikey Boyle assist but Andy McCarthy had Kilmoyley back in front by the 20th minute. Ballyduff then enjoyed a five minute spell of domination, reeling off three points on the trot from Mikey Boyle and two Bobby O'Sullivan frees, with Gary O'Brien now at the edge of the square.
Kilmoyley fought back to actually lead deep in injury time, thanks to points from Luke Fitzell, Sean Maunsell, and Andy McCarthy but when Sean Dowling dragged Gary O'Brien down, Bobby O'Sullivan levelled at 0-8 each as the sides retired for half time.
An early 10 minute second half surge saw Ballyduff open a 5 point lead, and Kilmoyley never recovered from this as they faced a slight wind. In fact, Kilmoyley took 25 minutes of the second half to register a score, but when they did they reeled off three points in three minutes to reduce the margin to just two points. It was the slight warning needed to wake the champions from their slumbers and Ballyduff reeled off three points to ease to a four point win. Kilmoyley can thank two youngsters, Andy McCarthy and Daniel Collins for most of their scores, but they did miss some late frees. Kilmoyley are now in the quarters and face Lixnaw.
Teams:
Kilmoyley:
Aidan McCabe, Tommy Maunsell, James Godley, Ian Brick, Pat Deenihan, Tom Murnane, Sean Dowling, James McCarthy, Padraig O'Sullivan (0-1), Sean Maunsell (0-1), Daniel Collins (0-2), Adrian Royle Andy McCarthy (0-7,6f), Micheál Regan, Luke Fitzell (0-1) Subs: Padraig Regan for Godley, Brendan Harris for Royle
Ballyduff:
PJ O'Gorman, Colm Boyle, Padraig Harrington, David O'Grady, Jason Bowler, Paud Costello, Liam Boyle, Ally O'Connor, Padraig O'Grady, Gary O'Brien (0-2), Aidan Boyle, Barry O'Grady (0-1), John Paul Leahy (0-1), Mikey Boyle (0-2), Bobby O''Sullivan (0-8,7f, 1 ‘65) Sub: Pat Joe Connolly (0-2) for Leahy, David Goulding for Ally O'Connor
Ref: David Copps (Cork)
Poor Crotta side no match for Kilmoyley
COUNTY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
KILMOYLEY 2-20 CROTTA O'NEILLS 1-8, Austin Stack park 24th July 2011
Exactly twelve months to the day on from their championship opener in 2010, KIlmoyley gave their best championship performance in years, albeit against very poor opposition on the day. Having won the 2010 county league and beaten Kilmoyley twice already in 2011, Crotta were expected to give Kilmoyley a stern test, but the weight of expectation weighed heavily on their shoulders as they had no answer to Kilmoyley's hunger.
Strong Defensive display secures win
COUNTY INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
KILMOYLEY 1-6 LADYS WALK 0-8 Thursday 28th July 2011, Austin Stack Park
SEE PHOTOSThis will not go down in the annals of Kerry hurling folklore as one of the great finals played in the county, but it will not matter to the Kilmoyley players or their supporters, who enjoyed their first county Intermediate title since 2003. Both sides were allowed special dispensation to allow players on the original panel to play, regardless of whether they had played in the senior championship the previous weekend. Kilmoyley were forced to make one change to their starting line up with Sean Maunsell dropping to the bench due to injury. Ladys Walk played with a slight breeze and opened the scoring in the third minute with a 21 metre free after both sides had early wides. Maurice Murnane landed a great point from 65 metres out two minutes later to level the scoring. Both sides struggles to get into any sort of rythm at this stage with a umber of soft frees interrupting play. Ladys Walk had three wides before they moved into the lead with a point in the tenth minute. Both sides again swapped wides before the Ballyduff men added to their tally with another point.
Kilmoyley's forwards were struggling to retain any sort of posession, and their defence as a result was under severe pressure. But with Micheal Regan dominating in an unfamiliar fullback role, Ladys Walk could not take all their chances. It was brother Seamus in goals that brought off a fine save after twenty minutes to keep Kilmoyley in touch. The game seemed to open up at this point with more free flowing hurling. Kilmoyley's wide count increased with another from free, while at the other end another pointed free was added. Pat Flaherty was beginning to take control on the halk forward line for the winners, and his efforts were rewarded to give Kilmoyley their second and final point of the half. This was followed a minute later by an Eric O'Connor point for the "Walkers", who finished the half with another three wides. Kilmoyley were fortunate to still be in the game, but thanks to their defence they now had a chance on a scoreline of 0-5 to 0-2.
Following a lengthy half time break, Kilmoyley came out with guns blazing as Pat Flaherty pointed inside the opening minute. But they were dealt a severe blow within sixty seconds, as corner forward Andy McCarthy received a second yellow card and walked to the line. Rather than lose their way, Kilmoyley stepped up a gear and were within a point as Sean Dowling slotted over a nice point after three minutes. There were a number of injury stoppages in the next few mintes to disrupt the game once again, and this unsettled the sides as they failed to score for another ten minutes. In the meantime, Kilmoyley introduced Jason Fealy for Tommy Maunsell and the new man had a wide shortly after his introduction. Eric O'Connor then notched his second point to increase his sides lead, but then came the games crucial score. Micheal Regan won a free for Kilmoyley in an attempt to clear his lines for the umpteenth time. The resulting free landed just short of the walkers goals where the tall figure of Padraig Regan swung his hurley, connected and rattled the net with a fine strike to put Kilmoyley in front by the minimum. This was the best period of play during the game as both sides gave it everything with a quarter remaining. Back came Ladys Walk with a point from play to level the game, and Kilmoyley were unlucky with another wide following a good run by Pat Flaherty. With the game now in the melting pot, there was a sense of urgency about the play. Kilmoyley's defence was excellent at this stage, quenching attack after attack. Unfortunately the clearances were generally landing in a Ballyduff man's posession, but with Flaherty exerting his physical presence up front Kilmoyley won a free in the 23rd minute which was converted by Brendan Harris to edge his side in front. Sean Maunsell was then introduced as a late sub for Kilmoyley to influence the game. Then, with five minutes remaining John McCarthy scored his second point and Ladys Walk drew level. There was lots of space available around the park as bodies began to tire, but it was that man Flaherty who once again stepped up to in the 27th minute to slot over another point to move Kilmoyley back into the lead. In a frantic last few minutes, the Kilmoyley players gave it everything chasing, blocking, hooking and tackling and in the end their efforts were rewarded. There were jubilant scenes as ref John Mike Fitzgerald blew the whistle and up stepped captain Pat Deenihan to collect the Cup from county board chairman Jerome Conway.
Well done to all involved especially selectors Gerald Carroll, Mike Flaherty, Kevin O'Sullivan and TJ Maunsell. The win is a great boost for the club which has struggled with numbers throughout the year.
Kilmoyley Team and panel: Seamus Regan, Dave Slattery, Micheal Regan, Coleman Savage, Brendan Harris (0-1f), Pat Deenihan, Gavin O'Connor, Sean Dowling (0-1), Tommy Maunsell, Sean Godley, Maurice Murnane (0-1), Patrick Flaherty (0-3), Andy McCarthy, Padraig Regan (1-0), Conor Fitzell. subs Sean Maunsell, Edward Fitzgerald, Jason Fealy, Aidan McCabe, Michael Meehan, Vincent Savage, Gerald Carroll, Sean Flaherty, James Murphy, Joe McElligott, TJ Maunsell.
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