Tuesday 2nd May 2006 Credit Union Co. League Rd. 2 at Ardfert

Kilmoyley 1-9 Ardfert 2-6

The last times these two teams met in the County League at Ardfert Tom Godley played at full-back for Kilmoyley who went on to score 3-15 in their win. It was a different story this time round as Kilmoyley struggled to find scores, although the breeze and pitch conditions were not conducive to high scoring. A large crowd were in attendance and were served up with exciting hurling, even if it was far from good quality at times as players and officials seemed were more interested in abusing the referee and each other. (No wonder Kerry hurling isn't improving!).

Kilmoyley started without a number of the team that defeated the same opposition a few weeks earlier in the NK League, but would still have hoped to take full points. Darren Young had broken his thumb in the NHL Div 2 final a couple of days earlier, and will be missing for a period of time. Kilmoyley faced the strong breeze in the first half, playing to the village. St. Brendans were awarded a free immediately from the throw in which was pointed to open the scoring. Kilmoyley found it difficult to settle into the game and could not get any flow into their play, although Paul McCarthy was winning plenty of possession. The long grass meant that the ball was not travelling too far, and there were a number of "melees" with players hitting each other rather than the ball. One such incident resulted resulted in the dismissal of a St. Brendans player, the third such dismissal of a player against Kilmoyley this year. St. Brendans added another from play before Tom Murnane opened Kilmoyley's account with a good point from a free. St Brendans extended their lead after keeper Brendan Harris misread a long ball which went all the way to the net. Following the dismissal, Kilmoyley settled more into the game and sean Maunsell added a point from play following a defensive errror. When Tom Murnane addded another pointed free it looked better for Kilmoyley but St. Brendans rallied again with a couple of points from play following defensive errors and added a well taken goal scored from a a ground pull thirty yards out into the top corner of the net. It was the final score of the half and left Kilmoyley with a lot of work to do as they trailed by 2-6 to 0-4.

Kilmoyley played more determined hurling on the re-start, but the forwards conceded numerous soft frees, which allowed the 'Brendans defence to clear their lines and relieve the pressure momentarily. The Kilmoyley defence on the other hand was well on top at this stage with the advantage of an extra man, so much so that they did not concede a score in the second half. The Kilmoyley play was very confined throughout the half rarely opening up, which allowed the 'Brendans defence spoil most Kilmoyley attacks. Tom Murnane did point a couple of frees and Sean Maunsell added another from play. Despite these scores, 'Brendans still held a comfortable five point lead, and seemed capable of restricting the Kilmoyley forward line to only a few more scores. But with a quarter of the game remaining Kilmoyley were awarded another free thirty metres out. More abuse was thrown at the ref and the ball was brought forard to the '21. Murnane again took charge and blazed ed the ball to the net, despite a packed goal line. Kilmoyley seemed certain to move on and take the game by the scruff of the neck, but it never materialised and with St. Brendans hassling and harrying all over the field, Kilmoyley found it difficult to score in the conditions. With play almost up, Kilmoyley pushed forward again but an attempted shot was blocked and knocked out for a '65. With time almost up, the pressure was on Tom Murnane who knew it was possibly the last chance to level matters. As cool as the breeze that blew at his back, he dropped the ball just over the 'Brendans net, much to the delight and relief of the Kilmoyley followers. The whistle was blown after the puckout and honours were shared. There's no doubt that had St. Brendans kept their discipline throughout the game the result of a few weeks earlier would certainly have been reversed. Kilmoyley will be glad to have got something out of this game, but the lack of spirit and enthusiasm in their play was disappointing.

Saturday 15th April 2006 Round 1 Credit Union County League (Lerrig)

Kilmoyley 1-14 Crotta 0-05

Kilmoyley opened its Credit Union County League campaign with a comfortable win over Crotta as the score suggests.

Following their surprise defeat to the same opposition a few weeks earlier, Kilmoyley were expecting a stiffer test. But Crotta lined out minus a few players from the previous game, and following the dismissal of one of their players after twenty minute, the enthusiasm was no longer in their play and Kilmoyley ran out comfortable winners.

Kilmoyley 4-4 Ballyduff 1-4

Kilmoyley enjoyed a memorable back-to-back Feile na nGael victory when they defeated Ballyduff on a scoreline of 4-4 to 1-4. However, the scoreline does not reflect how evenly balanced the two teams were, or the superb brand of hurling they served for the large attendance over forty minutes. While the weather stayed dry and the pitch was in good condition, a very strong breeze blew down the field towards the complex and this turned proceedings into a backs-and-forwards game. Credit though to both teams as they served up an exciting and entertaining game of hurling.

Kilmoyley played with the wind in the first half, and found it difficult adjusting to conditions and to break down a resolute Ballyduff defence early on. Sean Godley missed an early free before Timothy O'Brien scored from open play on three minutes. Ballyduff levelled matters a few minutes later, before Kilmoyley turned the game by scoring two goals inside a minute. Full-forward O'Brien collected a long delivery and smashed the ball to the net, while a second long delivery was misjudged by the Ballyduff keeper to give Kilmoyley a good early advantage. Credit to the Kilmoyley boys who did not rest on their lead and continued to pile on the pressure. But they had a number of wides over the next few minutes and as halftime approached were still only two scores to the good. But a late flourish saw Patrick Griffin and Timothy O'Brien add two good points to give Kilmoyley an eight point advantage.

In an unusual move, Ballyduff played their keeper at full forward for the second half and it reaped an immediate reward as they scored a point inside a minute. It was the turn of the Kilmoyley defence to feel the pressure now as they faced the strong breeze an wave after wave of attack. But they held out until the eight minute when Ballyduff added a point and then another soon after. Two minutes later Kilmoyley seemed to have overcome the worst when Sean Godley scored an excellent free from near the sideline. There were only a couple of minutes remaining when Ballyduff rattled the Kilmoyley net to leave a goal between the teams and the crowd responded in excitement by cheering on their teams. Ballyduff kept up the pressure but with Sean Nolan and Aiden Maunsell outstanding in the full back line their attacks yielded no more scores. But in their effort to get another score Ballyduff pushed too many players forward and Kilmoyley broke out of defence in classic counter-attacking play to seal the matter when a long Patrick Griffin ball was finished to the net by Daniel Collins. Kilmoyley won the resulting puck-out and has they had done in the first half they scored a second goal inside a minute when Collins scored his second of the game to add the icing on the cake. The final whistle blew and there were scenes of jubilant celebration from the Kilmoyley players and the supporters hailing the parish's latest heros on winning their first back-to-back titles since 1991. The trophy was presented to winning captain Sean Dowling by Coiste na nOg Chairman Johnny Brosnan who rightly heaped praise on both teams on an excellent display of hurling. All Kerry teams that competed in this year's Feile will go on to compete in the national finals.

Kilmoyley Team

Brendan Harris, Sean Griffin, Padraig Regan, Ian Brick, James McCarthy, Eoin Sheehy, Sean Murnane, Maurice Murnane, Paul McCarthy, Padraig O'Sullivan, Patrick Flaherty, Tom Murnane, Micheal Regan, Sean Maunsell, Joseph O'Sullivan.

subs: Niall Young for J O'Sullivan, J Godley for S Murnane (inj)

Kilmoyley Team

Brendan Harris, Sean Griffin, Padraig Regan, Ian Brick, Eoin Sheehy, James McCarthy, Sean Murnane, Darren Young, Paul McCarthy, Sean Fitzgerald, Shane Brick,Tom Murnane, Padraig O'Sullivan, Sean Maunsell, Micheal Regan.

Kilmoyley Team

Vincent Savage, Sean Nolan, Aiden Maunsell, Colman Savage, Tont Maunsell, Luke Fitzell, Sam Fitzell, Sean Dowling, Sean Godley 0-1, Daniel Collins 2-0, Gavin Murphy, Patrick Griffin 0-1, Dougie Fitzell, Timothy O'Brien 1-2, Johnnie Fisher

sub : Pierse Claffey for J Fisher