The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Football focus can help Balyduff win north derby against Beale
COUNTY JFC SEMI-FINAL Ballyduff v Beale Coolard, Ballydonoghue Saturday, April 21 at 6.30pm
SEPARATED only by The Cashen, the meeting of fellow North Kerry and Shannon Rangers sides Ballyduff and Beale promises a lot in Ballydonoghue this Saturday evening.
It’s one that is a small bit in limbo for Beale though with the straight red cards for Declan Bambury and Paul Horgan arising out of the incidents that marred their victory over Duagh last Saturday evening. At the time of writing, we still don’t know if both players will be officially suspended or if Beale might lodge an appeal of any proposed suspensions, but injuries to a number of other players create further problems for them according to their manager Ian Blake.
“Shane Hanrahan is definitely out for us while I would rate Dan Ellis as having about a sixty percent chance of playing,” the Beale manager told The Kerryman on Tuesday. “Tom Joy is an injury concern as well but we were very happy with how deep the players dug to get the win over Duagh and stood up when they had to be counted.
“The walkover we got from Ballylongford was a setback after being defeated well by Firies in the County League the week before we probably needed a competitive game at the time. While I would say our win against Tuosist wasn’t the greatest ever, everything came together for us against Duagh,” the Beale manager said.
Blake is of the view that the condensed nature of the format suits Ballyduff with their dual commitments and his opposite number John Paul Leahy tends to agree.
“It’s great to have the Kerry hurlers around for these few weeks and know they will be around as well if we go all the way. I must acknowledge Fintan O’Connor the Kerry hurling manager who has been very obliging in allowing the players train once a week with us alongside playing the matches.
“Overall I think the reason we have improved in football is the fact we conceded no walkover in the County League last year. It kept fellas interested to the point that when it came to the North Kerry Championship we had the perfect situation with the hurlers back in, and while we didn’t cover ourselves in glory in losing the Final to Ballydonoghue it was an important stepping stone for us,”Leahy said.
With no injury concerns you feel this is the ideal scenario for Ballyduff with their opponents own personnel difficulties. The Boyle brothers and Jack Goulding have shown their football abilities in recent weeks as wins over Renard and Valentia meant a loss to Moyvane in their last game mattered little as they had already qualified.
If Beale are to making their first club Final at county level since 2008 they need a repeat of last Saturday in Blake’s view.
“We have to show the same level of intensity we did to beat Duagh if we are to have any chance. I feel the advantage is with Ballyduff for their own momentum as much as our own difficulties going in.”
Leahy, meanwhile, respects the challenge Beale are likely to bring. “We certainly aren’t going to take them lightly especially when they have Jeremy King, James McMahon and Sean Dee in their ranks along with some of their younger players. We’re delighted to be here but you only get recognition for achievements like it when you go on to win afterwards.”
Whether Beale’s potential loss of Bambury and Horgan proves to be a factor is probably too early to say but you sense this is a massive opportunity for a Hurling stronghold like Ballyduff to make a marquee Football Final in the county.
Verdict: Ballyduff