The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)

Lixnaw have a bit more room to improve

Timmy Sheehan takes a look back at least weekend’s breath-taking county senior hurling final and considers what it might mean for this weekend’s replay

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IT was always on the cards that a draw might well transpire given the number of times that the game was level and, indeed, delicately poised.

At the end of such a result there’s always a feeling, of maybe, a bit of anti climax. The reaction of the supporters is muted, with the players having nothing really to celebrate or, indeed, be disappoint­ed about.

There was a bit of reaction I suppose to the amount of added time, but it was half hearted, because really when encounters finish all square a pretty subdued mood almost inevitably prevails.

Nobody knows initially when the replay will be, so it’s very much a glass half full or half empty depending on how one views the situation. Of the two teams Lixnaw will probably be more relieved to get a second bite of the cherry.

Shane Conway’s sideline stroke was essentiall­y their get out of jail card and it wasn’t an easy opportunit­y by any stretch of the imaginatio­n even for some of the marquee performers such as the likes of Joe Canning.

Doubly so given the circumstan­ces, because the result of his effort was going to be the difference between victory and defeat, the margin which was going to decide where the championsh­ip crown would rest for twelve months.

And this is just a teenager starting out on a career, which promises many more highlights and memorable moments, but he is a special talent a player who has really fulfilled his potential ever since he burst on the scene as a seventeen -year old. Like Pádraig Boyle at the other end he almost inevitably delivers, especially on the big occasions.

Lixnaw got the better start, Conway’s goal after PJ Gorman had initially denied him with a superb save from close range afforded them an early advantage. However, Pádraig Boyle was simply unplayable at the other end in a variety of situations, whether it was high or low, diagonal or otherwise. Quite simply, he had all of the skill set to capitalise from all angles and distances.

Maybe, Lixnaw deliberate­d a little bit too long in terms of addressing the situation, but then was there any player capable of curtailing Ballyduff’s master craftsman?

Darragh Shanahan if fully fit would have been assigned the task and it was inevitable that he would eventually be introduced from the bench. It stemmed the tide, to an extent, but it was partly as a result of the supply lines being curtailed.

John Griffin was proving to be extremely industriou­s and effective in all quarters of the pitch, but possession overall wasn’t fully transferre­d onto the scoreboard with Ballyduff’s rearguard

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