St Brendans and Causeway draw in SHC

St Brendans 2-18 Causeway 3-15 (after extra-time)

EXTRA-TIME failed to separate these two teams in their first round game in the County Senior Hurling Championship last Saturday in the Austin Stack Park, and on the basis of the exchanges it was probably a fair result in a contest that produced some great passages of hurling and some superb scores. A game of fluctuating fortunes with the balance of supremacy being exchanged at different stages in proceedings.

Causeway, initially, were the more accomplished combination and with Colum Harty prominent and productive for them they were 1-2 to 0-1 in front after nine minutes with Stephen Murphy’s goal being the result of a quite opportunist finish, after the St Brendans defence had failed to deal with a low delivery from a free. Certainly Causeway looked to be the more lively and resourceful outfit up until that particular juncture.

However, with David Griffin and Seamus Skinner exerting a grip in midfield St Brendans responded, even if Causeway retained a 1-4 to 0-4 advantage after 20 minutes. However a goal which had been threatening, materialised in the twenty seventh minute when the unmarked Cian Hussey applied a finish from close range to afford his side a marginal 1-6 to 1-5 interval lead.

That lead was overhauled within two minutes of the restart, when Keith Carmody converted his side’s second goal, after Colum Harty had created the opportunity for him. It meant that the pendulum had, again, swung firmly back in favour of Causeway, but, it was a lead which was short lived, with the outstanding Cian Hussey fetching superbly and finishing clinically for his own and his side’s second goal five minutes later. It afforded St Brendans a 2-10 to 2-6 lead, which they maintained to the end of the third quarter.

However, with such as Jason Leahy, Thomas Casey and Colum Harty offering admirable leadership Causeway maintained their challenge and momentum, but with Seamus Skinner extremely prominent St Brendans looked to have done enough to progress, leading 2-12 to 2-9 as the encounter drifted into added time with Causeway having been reduced to fourteen players at this juncture, and having sent a penalty attempt wide in the 55th minute.

However, a goal squeezed home in a goalmouth melee by impressive substitute Stephen Goggin meant that extra time was required to decide the issue. Causeway quickly established a two point lead on the restart and,

St Brendans were level again courtesy of two fine scores from Cian Hussey and David Griffin.

Keith Carmody looked to have secured the winner for Causeway, but the response from St Brendans was typical of the cut and thrust of the encounter with Padraig O’Mahony levelling matters for the sixth and final time. Paul McGrath did have one final chance from a free to snatch a late victory for Causeway, but rather untypically he was narrowly wide at the near post. It concluded a contest which had a lot of the fervour one associates with Championship encounters, and, was noteworthy for the tremendous character and endeavour of both sides. Certainly, on the basis of their respective performances in this particular game, both will be strong challengers for the title at the season’s end. CAUSEWAY: Tadgh Flynn, Mark Murphy, Jason Diggins, Bryan Murphy, Jason Leahy (0-2), Thomas Casey, Tommy Barrett, Muiris Delaney, Stephen Murphy (1-0), Paul McGrath (0-4, 2f), Colum Harty (0-3), Anthony Fealy (0-2), Keith Carmody (1-1), Richard Casey, Brandon Barrett (01). Subs: Billy Lyons for M Delaney, Sean Leahy for R Casey Stephen Goggins (1-2) for K Carmody, JM Dooley for A Fealey, Eamonn Fitzgerald for T Casey.

ST BRENDANS: Darren Delaney, Rory Horgan (0-1), Jerry Wallace, Fionan Horgan, Kevin Hannafin, Darren Dineen, Kevin Orpen, David Griffin (0-2), Seamus Skinner, Tim Hannifin, Tom Moloney, Kevin Skinner (0-1), Cian Hussey (2-6), Eric Leen (0-1), John Egan (0-6, 3f). Subs: Padraig Mahony (0-1) for T Moloney, Daniel Finnegan for E Leen, Nicky O Sullivan for T Hannifin, Tom Moloney for K Skinner.

REFEREE: Joe Larkin (Cork)

Photo by Domnick Walsh Tim Hannafin, St Brendan’s (blue), and Thomas Casey, Causeway, during the County Senior Hurling Championship at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

Photo by Domnick Walsh were 3-13 to 2-15 in front at the end of the first period. Increased to two by a Stephen Goggin point, Seamus Skinner, St Brendan’s, and Brandon Barrett, Causeway, during the County Senior Hurling Championship First Round match at Austin Stack Park,...