Crotta should have too much for Ballyheigue

COUNTY SHC ROUND 1

Ballyheigue v Crotta O’Neills

Sunday, June 17 Austin Stack Park, 2pm

PROBABLY neither side would have been too disappointed when the other was drawn from the hat to face them.

Crotta O’Neills have made a habit of drawing the big guns in these early phase games over the years, so the chance to get their championship off to a positive start is to be welcomed and grabbed with both hands.

It’s a similar story for Ballyheigue. There might be a lot of buzz about the O’Neills at the moment, but their championship record in the last three of four seasons hasn’t been anything to write home about... in terms of results at least.

The Dromakee outfit have put in some good performances – and haven’t always got the rub of the green when it’s come to refereeing decisions – but wins have been thin enough on the ground. Ballyheigue will take some solace in that.

Unfortunately from their point of view Crotta’s fortunes do look to be improving. Players from their two successful back-to-back County Minor Championship victories are beginning to feed through.

Pádraig Cronin’s side have Kerry panellists in key parts of the pitch. At the back Seán Weir was Kerry’s most consistent defender, while up front they’ve got some real gems. No longer is Shane Nolan the go-to guy, now he’s got Barry Mahony and Jordan Conway for company.

Crotta are the top scoring side in the County Senior Hurling League, while Ballyheigue have conceded more than anybody else. Those two factors alone suggest that Ballyheigue will struggle to get that desperately sought after victory.

That said they’ve made an interesting appointment as manager – Brendan Mahony, father of Barry and manager of that successful Crotta minor squad. If anybody knows their strengths and weaknesses it’s Brendan.

It’d only be human nature if he wanted to get one over on his native club in a game such as this. Could it be enough to swing it his adopted club’s way? We tend to doubt it.

Ballyheigue are on the way back to competitiveness – great work is being done underage – but they’re nowhere near as far along in their revival as Crotta O’Neills are. We’d fancy Crotta to win and win reasonably well.

Crotta O’Neills

Verdict: