The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Causeway make their point COUNTY SHC ROUND 2A
A STATEMENT of intent from Causeway whose odds of regaining the championship crown have shortened considerably after this particular performance and result in the Austin Stack Park last Sunday evening.
Sharper and more efficient in most facets of play Causeway were the superior outfit from an early stage in proceedings and the final scoreline fairly reflected their superiority with Lixnaw only really playing anywhere near their potential for a period midway through the second half.
However, the final result was essentially a foregone conclusion at the end of the first half with Causeway being ahead by eleven points at that particular juncture. Indeed, some of the spectators departed from the stadium at that stage and, while one expected a response from Lixnaw and they did improve somewhat in the second half, in the overall scheme of things Causeway were a lot superior and were never likely to surrender such a commanding scoring advantage.
Brandon Barrett and Shane Conway exchanged pointed frees inside the opening three minutes of play, but after the excellent Dan Goggin edged Causeway in front in the fifth minute they enjoyed a sustained period of superiority and were four points in front (0-5 to 0-1) after just ten minutes.
Bryan Murphy’s superb conversion from a sideline cut shortly afterwards consolidated their situation even further, added to by a Gavin Dooley goal in the fifteenth minute, when he was on hand to apply a pretty emphatic finish from close range, after being on the end of a long and probing delivery.
With Jason Diggins excelling at centre half back they led by seven points (1-6 to 0-2) at the end of the opening quarter and such was the
intensity and the number of players who committed themselves to tackles that Lixnaw were afforded very little time or space in which to operate.
Brandon Barrett’s unerring returns from placed balls kept the scoreboard ticking over for Causeway and with six different scorers having contributed they retired for the half time break comfortably in front (1-10 to 0-2).
One expected a reaction from Lixnaw in the second half, and, it materialised for a period, but it wasn’t sufficient enough to unsettle a Causeway combination who remained largely in control of proceedings.
Shane Conway’s returns from placed balls offered some hope and he did his utmost to revitalise his side’s challenge with some surging runs. However, he was operating too much from deep positions and when he ultimately reached the scoring zone his threat was limited with two, and, at times three players effecting a swarm tackle.
Lixnaw did reduce the deficit by the end of the third quarter (1-13 to 0-9), and indeed, just before Darragh Shanahan had converted an inspiring score, Jason Wallace had pointed in a goal scoring situation.
If he had raised a green flag it would have reduced the deficit to just five points going into the fourth and final quarter and maybe it just might have provided the springboard for Lixnaw to initiate a win, very much against all odds.
Certainly, a wake up call for Causeway, who picked up the pace of proceedings once again and finished with a flourish. Gavin Dooley, a constant threat throughout added further to his own scoring tally and when Dan Goggin reacted first to a rebound off the upright and steered the ball to the net from close range in the forty ninth minute any fading hopes of a Lixnaw revival had disappeared completely.
Thereafter, Causeway sealed the victory with control and confidence, and, while Shane Conway put a better gloss on the scoreboard with a few late scores the final scoreline reflected a pretty comprehensive win for Causeway who can now look forward to the penultimate stage of the competition with the belief that they are a match for all others left in the competition.
Lixnaw will probably have some players returning to strengthen their squad, but the level of their performance in this particular game suggests that they have a lot of work to do if they are to retain their interest in this year’s championship.
CAUSEWAY: Stephen Murphy, Mark Murphy, Muiris Delaney, Tommy Barrett, Billy Lyons, Jason Diggins Evan Murphy, Jason Leahy (0-1 free), Keith Carmody (0-1), Joseph Diggins, Bryan Murphy (0-2 0-1 sideline) Anthony Fealy, Gavin Dooley (1-2), Brandon Barrett (0-6 frees), Dan Goggin (1-3) Subs: Sean Leahy for M Murphy, Colum Harty for A Fealy LIXNAW: Martin Stackpoole, Darragh Mc Elligott, Stephen Power, Jonathan Silles, Gerard Stackpoole, Darragh Shanahan (0-1), Brendan Brosnan, John Griffin (0-1), Shane Mc Elligott, Raymond Galvin, Jeremy Mc Kenna, Colin Sheehy, Shane Conway (0-8 0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65’) Jason Wallace (0-1), Mike Conway (0-1) Subs: Pat Corridan for J Silles, Jamie Galvin for R Galvin, David Silles for D Mc Elligott, Robert Silles for J Wallace
REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)