Don’t rule out another final stalemate

Timmy Sheehan isn’t ruling out the possibility of another draw in the final of the county senior hurling championship

SO many imponderables going into this particular final that predicting the result certainly isn’t the easiest of tasks.

Lixnaw were earmarked as potential winners from very early on, while Ballyduff although never written off didn’t inspire that much confidence as they struggled in all of their opening three games before booking a spot at the penultimate stage of the competition by virtue of a last gasp win over Causeway thanks to Gary O’Brien.

Like in life, nothing is ever certain or guaranteed in sport, but, the odds along with the general consensus suggested that a Lixnaw-Kilmoyley final would ultimately transpire, and, at halftime in the second semi-final in the Austin Stack Park two weeks ago that particular prediction looked to be pretty bullet-proof given the level and quality of Ballyduff’s disappointing first half performance.

However, throughout the history of hurling in Kerry Ballyduff have been looked upon as a team that are never beaten until the final whistle. For upwards of sixty years they have carried the title of championship specialists and at the end of this particular game, there was every reason to believe that they are fully capable of carrying those tags somewhat lightly on their shoulders.

There’s a belief and a confidence inbuilt from decades of success, even if one couldn’t be faulted for having some doubts when they were outclassed by Lixnaw in round two, and, were on the brink of exiting the competition against Causeway.

They needed a spark, an injection of inspiration and when Jack Goulding and Daniel O’Carroll stepped down on home soil after their summer stint in the States the landscape had changed somewhat. The shape and strength of the squad was further supplemented with the selection in the starting fifteen of young Jack O’Sullivan for the semi-final.

On paper at least Ballyduff looked as if they were in with a real chance of defying the odds against Kilmoyley. It took until the second half for them to throw off the shackles and explode into life, with the three “newcomers” contributing six points from play between them.

Inspired by the sheer brilliance of Pádraig Boyle Ballyduff tore the form book to shreds and provided the script for another chapter in their illustrious history. But, the question which will be posed is that does thirty minutes of admittedly hurling of the very highest quality install a team as favourites for the championship crown.

Lixnaw, by contrast, coasted into a semi-final spot with two pretty emphatic wins over Ballyheigue and Ballyduff with performances which owed much to their pace, movement, link play and clinical finishing.

Certainly they looked like a well-oiled machine rich in confidence and one which had put a lot into their preparation such was their first touch and sweet striking.

The team to beat therefore at that particular juncture, but a 10-week break seemed to break their momentum and looking somewhat disjointed and indifferent they were struggling for periods in their semi-final against a St Brendans side who brought real intensity to proceedings.

The sending off was a real turning point, but credit Lixnaw for utilising fully the extra man, a role played to perfection by Brendan Brosnan. With St Brendans further reduced to thirteen, they still pushed forward in numbers in an effort to salvage the situation and, indeed, Lixnaw were in the latter stages hanging on to a precarious two point lead.

So, in Lixnaw’s case, does one poor display rank them as outsiders for this weekend’s decider. Such has been the topsy turvy nature of both sides’ campaigns that, there’s question marks hanging over both camps coming into the game.

Ballyduff for the first time this season have had time to prepare together as a full squad and with both Gary O’Brien and Paul O’Carroll being introduced to very good effect in the semi-final they now have more options, and, have a few decisions to make selection wise.

Lixnaw suffered with injuries when they played St Brendans with Colin Sheehy being unable to start, Jeremy McKenna also, before being introduced as a second half substitute and Michael Conway was clearly restricted with a knee injury in the first half before making a notable contribution in the second with three excellent points.

So, Lixnaw also have selection dilemmas and will need to be free of any injuries and back at full strength for a final in which Shane Conway and Padraig Boyle are likely to be crucial and influential figures at opposite ends with their returns from placed balls being significant statistics to date in the campaign.

Lixnaw have scored more goals, but Ballyduff have conceded less with PJ Gorman keeping three clean sheets in their four games. So, there’s a case to be made for both, not least the fact that they have both won the competition in the recent past.

Ballyduff have beaten Lixnaw in six finals, but such records will count for very little, if anything at all, come Sunday afternoon with the Austin Stack Park expected to accommodate one of the biggest attendances at a final in years.

In a game of inches, it’s likely that not much if anything will separate the sides at the end of the day. If forced to choose it might be Ballyduff who will shade it, given that, with everybody back on board they have the momentum of the semi-final win which can be carried into the final.

Lixnaw, by contrast, have suffered a dip in form at just the wrong time in the season, but it might well be temporary and the test which they were subjected to in the semi-final might well be the platform and the springboard to lift them back up to the level of their form in the initial rounds of the competition.

It’s well to consider that it took a replay to decide three of the last four finals and one would be unwise to rule out a similar type scenario unfolding at the end of this particular contest.

In a game of inches, it’s likely that not much if anything will separate the sides at the end of the day