Kerry SHC Group A: Crotta O’Neills 1-19 Causeway 0-13 With Shane Nolan rolling back the clock, Crotta O’Neills began the defence of their Kerry Senior Hurling Championship crown with a strong display against Causeway. The former Kerry hurler scored 0-14 of the 1-19 tally. However Causeway were without a number of key players including Jason Diggins and Muiris Delaney and then to add to their injury woes, they lost goal scorer in chief Gavin Dooley and Ger Leen and that reduced them to the bare bones.
Crotta were without last year’s captain Bill Keane and also brilliant defender Sean McGrath who picked up a foot injury during the week. But the Crotta O’Neills defence was well marshaled by their sweeper Rory Mahony who gave a Man of the Match display. Crotta started brightly with Shane Nolan converting two early frees inside five minutes.
Causeway created a goal chance in the ninth minute when Gavin Dooley combined with Dan Goggin, but Goggin’s effort was superbly saved by Adam O’Sullivan. A Keith Carmody free and a long range Tommy Casey point had the side’s level by the 12th minute and by the end of the quarter Crotta led 0-6 to 0-5 as Nolan converted a point either side of another Carmody effort. Colum Harty was next to have a shot saved by O’Sullivan, another brilliant save by the Crotta keeper thwarted Causeway and Joseph Diggins was denied on the rebound by stout Crotta defending.
Nolan pointed a close range free as Crotta went up the other end to keep the.