2006 Allianz National Hurling League

Kerry qualify for Div 2 Final from The Kingdom
KERRY 1-17 MAYO 1-16 23rd April'06 in Ennis

KERRY just about deserved to reach the NFL Division 2 final with a single point win over a luckless Mayo side in this entertaining semi final played before a handful of spectators at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday afternoon. Mayo gave as good as they got but it was the eight point haul from placed balls by Kerry sharpshooter Shane Brick that eventually saw Kerry through but if Mayo had the services of their under-21 footballer Keith Higgins, things might have been different.
Mayo were the more determined side in the opening half despite Kerry holding the scoring advantage and the only difference between the sides was a brilliant sixth minute goal by the lively John Egan. Kerry in fact raced into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead by the 15th minute and Mayo were struggling to get any worthwhile possession.
Points by Egan, Mike Slattery, John Griffin, and some excellent free taking by the imperious Shane Brick had Kerry in pole position but they could not maintain their challenge. Mayo however suddenly upped the tempo of their play as they took over around the middle where they collected every loose ball with Derek Walsh, Stephen Coyne and Stephen Broderick and suddenly it was game on. The free taking of Stephen Broderick and some excellent points from Pierce Higgins, Stephen Hunt and Stephen Coyne saw Mayo closed the gap. Kerry led 1-11 to 0-9 at half time but it was a lead that they hardly deserved based on the Mayo’s dominance in the final 20 minutes of the half.
Kerry resumed a fired up side but Mayo hurling with vigour and as the half went on the game was in the balance. The Kerry full back line saved the day with full back Michael Lucid being a colossus, clearing his lines with regularity but when Mayo struck for a goal in the 47th minute through Stephen Broderick, the gap was just two points and it could have gone anyway.
Aidan Boyle was a major factor at midfield in the second half and Kerry showed good fighting spirit but they tend to struggle at times during the game and are in need a forceful and commanding centre back who might anchor the defence. Brick pushed Kerry three points clear with just five minutes left but points from Stephen Broderick, Pierce Higgins and Paul Broderick had Mayo level as the game entered two minutes of injury time. It was then that Mike Boxer Slattery came up with the knock-out blow when her fired over the winning point on his back and Kerry luckily perhaps will now face Dublin next week-end in the final. However Gerry Molyneaux will be happy with the win and another big game as his side begins to reap the benefits of National coach Paudie Butler and there is the foundation for Kerry to rebuild but it may take time.
Kerry: P J O’Gorman, J Fitzgerald, M Lucid, M Quilter, K O’Sullivan, D Slattery, C Harris, A Boyle, J Griffin (0-1), S Brick (0-8 frees), A Cronin (0-1), D Young, J Egan (1-1), J M Dooley (0-2), M Slattery (0-4). Subs: D Dineen for Cronin, McCarthy for Slattery, E Sheehy for Dineen
Mayo: T Duffy, B Delaney, P Hunt, S Morley, D Walsh, P Barrett, G White, S Coyne (0-2), S Broderick (1-5, 0-4 frees), K Healy (0-1), D McDonnell, P Higgins (0-3), S Hunt (0-2), P Broderick (0-2), P McConn (0-1). Subs: G Corcoran for White, A Green-man for McConn. Referee: A Heagney (Clare).

Kerry unconvincing but top Group 2B 2nd April'06
Kerry 1-12 Kildare 0-9

Kerry were far from convincing in their final group game against Kildare, but they were lucky enough that they didn't have to be. They can thank their opponents for their own downfall as they hit a total of twenty wides throughout the game, many of which were easy chances. Kerry needed to win to give themselves every chance of topping their division and in the process avoiding having to play a quarter-final. While Westmeath defeated London by seven points it was not enough to dislodge the kingdom from top spotas they finished with a scoring difference of +13 to Westmeath’s +12.
Much like the footballers depending largely on Colm Cooper for scores, the hurlers rely far too heavily on Shane Brick to bail them out of trouble. He finished this game with nine points, three from play and the majority coming in a virtuoso second half exhibition of free-taking. Certainly, if Brick was taken out of the equation then Kerry would be in trouble.
Kerry started without Aidan Boyle from centre back and Michael Conway from wing forward and this certainly deprived Kerry of their defensive anchor and their most creative forward, but ahead of a League semi-final (not to mention the Christy Ring Cup) able replacements will surely have to be im place for such eventualities. For the majority of this game, the visitors dominated possession and territory, especially around the middle of the field as Kerry found it difficult to make headway. Early on, John Egan won possession easily on a few occassions and scored a good point from play, but the supply of ball to him quickly dried up.
Playing with a strong breeze in the first half, Kildare dominated possession and territory, but some terrible shooting saw them shoot 15 wides in the first half, and in many respects they were fortunate to be on level terms, 0-5 to 1-2, at the break. Brick gave Kerry an early lead, and despite Kildare winning midfield and creating a number of scoring chances a shocking inability to find the target stopped them building up what should have been at least a six-point lead at the break.Indeed, Aidan Cronin’s 18th minute goal fired Kerry into a four-point lead against the run of play, but Kildare did enjoy a brief spell of accuracy with points from Paudie Reidy and two from Billy White levelling matter at 0-5 to 1-2 at the interval.
Kildare showed plenty of graft and used the handpass to good effect around the middle of the park, and appeared more comfortable hurling into the teeth of the stiff wind, but the concession of frees played right into Kerry’s (and Brick’s) hands.Two huge frees (80 and 90 metres out) from Brick nudged Kerry back in front but Kildare were still just two points adrift with eight minutes remaining. A number of substitutions added just enough pep to Kerry to pressure Kildare into a few more needless fouls, and Brick duly punished them from plaxced balls – along with sweet scores from Paul McCarthy and Mike Slattery to leave Kerry deserving, if unconvincing winners.

Kerry: P J O’Gorman, J Fitzgerald, M Lucid, D Slattery, K O’Sullivan, I Brick, C Harris, J Griffin, A Keane, S Brick (0-9, 5f, 1 ‘65’), A Cronin (1-0), I McCarthy, J Egan (0-1), J M Dooley, M Slattery (0-1). Subs: P McCarthy (0-1) for I McCarthy, E Fitzgerald for A Cronin, D Moriarty for I Brick, K Hannafin for A Keane, P Cronin for K O’Sullivan.

Kerry hurlers make it two from two 27th Feb'06 Following their hard fought win over Mayo at Austin Stack park, the Kerry hurlers top Division 2B of the Allianz NHL and in the process have already qualified for the quarter-final stages of the competition. But they didn't have it all their own way, and despite scoring fifteen times to Mayo's seven, Kerry were made fight all the way. It sets them up nicely for the next game which is away to Westmeath in two weeks time, and this game could ultimately decide who tops the group.
Kerry made three changes from the London game with Kieran o'Sullivan, Darren Dineen and Denis Moriarty all starting. For the second game in a row, Kerry were slow to get into gear and Mayo capitalised, by scoring a goal in the opening five minutes as they played with a stiffish breeze . This eventuallykickstarted Kerry into action and there was never more than three points of a gap between the teams until the final stages. Mayo kept piling on the pressure but Kerry's defence kept most of their attacks at bay, but they did concede, and save a penalty - the Mayo fullforward creating many problems.Halftime score Mayo 1-4 Kerry 0-5.
After the restart Kerry were quick to draw level, but could not score the vital goal to put daylight between the teams. Shane Brick once again provided the scoring opportunities up front for Kerry, and proved to be the difference between the teams. In a final flurry of activity, with Kerry three points to the good Mayo were awarded a 21 metre free, which was saved and Kerry scored from the clearance to confirm their win. Mayo certainly have improved since last year and it's easy to see how they upset the odds against Kildare last week. Kerry meanwhile, will be pleased with their start, but know that a big improvement is required if they are to overcome last year's Christy Ring winners Westmeath in the next game. But with a number of players to come back into the panel over the coming weeks, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.Kerry scorers S Brick 0-5 (1f), M Conway 0-3, D Dineen 0-2, A Keane, K Hanafin, J M Dooley, D Young, E Fitzgerald 0-1. Team PJ o'Gorman (B'duff), John Fitzgerald (C'way), Michael Lucid (B'heigue), Ian Brick (Kilmoyley), Kieran o'Sullivan (B'heigue), David Slattery (B'duff), Colin Harris (Kilmoyley), Paul McCarthy (Kilmoyley), Andrew Keane (Crotta), Shane Brick (Kilmoyley), Denis Moriarty (St.Brendans), Darren Dineen (St.Brendans), Kieran Hanafin (O'Dorney), Mike conway capt. (Lixnaw), Darren Young (Kilmoyley).subs Aidan Cronin (St. Finbarrs) for D.Slattery, A.Boyle (B'duff) for P.McCarthy, JM Dooley (C'way) for D.Dineen, Sean Maunsell (Kilmoyley) for K. Hanafin

Kerry's 2003 campaign
Kerry's 2004 campaign

'06 NHL Table Div 2B