NORTH KERRY LEAGUE. Asdee 2-6 Ballyduff 1-9.
Asdee and Ballyduff served up a very competitive encounter in Round one of the North Kerry League Division 2 at Ballyduff on Sunday last and when the final whistle sounded the teams couldn’t be seperated and I suppose even though both teams kicked some terrible wides a draw was probably a fair result. Asdee got off to a great start and inside the opening 8mts they led 1-2 without reply; Mike Breen taking advantage of some slack marking in the Ballyduff rearguard with a slick goal and points coming from Mike Breen and John Doran.
The home team kicked 2 wides before Sean Brown kicked a mighty effort to make up for his earlier miss from a free. This was followed quickly by a Ballyduff goal when Padraig Slattery had the simple task of finding the net after a defensive blunder by the visiting defence. The remainder of the half was end to end as both teams gave it their all. Barry O Grady and David Goulding for Ballyduff while John Doran and Kieran Kelly replied for Asdee and at the interval it was Asdee 1-4 Ballyduff 1-3.
On resumption the introduction of Mikie Boyle seemed to inspire Ballyduff to new heights and even though in fairness he was fairly well held he was always a threat on the ball and with his first touch he was on target with the lead point for his side in the 8th minute after Sean Costello had earlier put the sides on level terms. Mike Breen tied up the game once again but Barry O Grady and John Paul Leahy put the home side ahead by two points after 11th minutes and at this stage it looked as if the home team would drive on but Asdee dug deep and when Darragh Keane had the net bulging in the 15th minute it was game on again and a badly needed boast for Asdee.
Charlie Dalton put the visitors ahead by two; 2-6 to 1-7 as we approached the closing stages; but you write off Ballyduff at your peril and Barry O Grady narrowed the gap to a one point game followed by long range effort from Mikie Boyle. Both sides had a few opportunities of snatching it at the end but defences on both sides held firm.