Kerry SHC Final: Ballyduff captain Jack O'Sullivan says ‘we'd love to bridge that gap'
Kerryman
It was pretty much forgotten in the aftermath of Abbeydorney lifting the Neilus Flynn Cup for the first time in 50 years last August, but Jack O'Sullivan actually had a very decent final for Ballyduff that afternoon. A tally of 1-2 from play on the day summed up his influence.
The 2025 championship has been a tough watch for the 25-year-old. Captain of his beloved club this season, he was laid low by a stomach muscle injury in the build-up to the competition, and hasn't pucked a ball. His will be a watching brief on county final Sunday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
15 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Meet the ‘honoured' Kerry Queen of Puck 2025
Kerryman August is set to be a very busy month for Robyn O'Shea. Just days after she will undertake her duties as the Queen of Puck she will also represent her county in the All-Ireland rowing championships. The 12-year girl from Cromane has been selected as the Queen of Puck this year – a honour she is only too delighted to undertake. "The festival has always been a big part of my life, I love going to it with my family. We go every year," she said. But this year will be extra special as Robyn places the crown on King Puck in a tradition dating back more than 400 years. Robyn is the daughter of James and Aisling O'Shea. She has two sisters Mia (14) and April (10) and is a student at Realt na Mara Cromane but is starting first year in the ISK this September. Every year local girls are invited to submit an essay on why they should be chosen and this year Robyn successfully made her pitch writing about her love of the festival and the importance of it to her and her family. She also had to be interviewed which she said was nerve-wrecking but worth it as she now has the great honour of being part of Puck Fair 2025. Next week she will be the centre of the festival along with her lady-in-waiting Chloe Falvey, Faye Flaherty Moriarty, Ella Foley and Kaia Ferris. Robyn says she is a little nervous but also looking forward to it. "It is a great honour, I am looking forward to it and every excited,' she said.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry SHC Final: Abbeydorney star man Michael O'Leary hails ‘unbelievable' defensive display
The attacking lynchpin was quick to identify the role the defence played in O'Dorney's first ever retention of the Neilus Flynn Cup Kerryman Michael O'Leary could have talked about the Abbeydorney forwards. After all, Oisín Maunsell struck five points from play in Sunday's county senior hurling final, and Michael Slattery added three more. The joint-captain contributed eleven points himself from placed balls.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Abbeydorney manager O'Halloran admits he is emotionally drained after back to back Kerry SHC titles
Clare native Francie O'Halloran has guided Abbeydorney to back to back SHC titles. It's no mean feat but it's taken its toll. and while delighted he also looked emotionally drained. 'We had a plan at the start of the year to get back here and see could we retain it and we did. But like everything else you have to work for it and I thought the boys to a man were outstanding'. Ballyduff asked some serious questions of Abbeydorney in the second half yet O'Halloran's charges stood up to the test. 'We knew that they were all going to be playing at some stage. We did have a plan if they started or did come on. To a man I thought our lads were outstanding. We had to play our own game and I thought we were immense in the first half. I thought we coughed up a goal and a couple of points. I think we had eight or nine wides at half time but we said at half time, we are not going to stop shooting. That is something we do in this team, shoot and reload and shoot again. Look I am just delighted for the boys.' He said. O'Halloran was pleased with Michael O'Leary's onfield leadership aswell as the contribution of the subs introduced. 'Michael was brilliant. He doesn't get half the frees he deserves. I thought our defence was excellent too when Ballyduff brought it back to two points on a couple of occasions. You would be thinking if they get a goal we could be in trouble but everybody stuck to their task and the subs that came on did brilliantly'. Abbeydorney emerged in the second half like men possessed but not before O'Halloran could relay some brutal honesty to his players. 'There were home truths in there too at half-time. I just said what I had to say, and I walked away, and said I could do no more. This thing is all player-led, since the two years I've been here, and I'm delighted. Two years, two county finals, two county wins.' So, that's it, job done for O'Halloran. The journey has been one for the books but even O'Halloran can admit it hasn't been plain sailing. Abbeydorney have paved the way for their own success with the simplest of methods: hard work. 'Last year we put in a savage four or five months, and we did the same again this year. We went through the trenches and really worked hard in February, March, April, to get ourselves right, in both years. You could throw anything at the lads, and they just want more and more. I couldn't be prouder of them, the 37 or 38 guys that togged there today, they were excellent.' 'I think I hit every ball out there. It's my last hurrah here, and we'll enjoy it. "I think Cian O'Neill summed it up nicely in his interview there on the Sunday Game last week. You come to training, and they're the coaches. The players are the coaches. They challenge me every night, drill after drill, game after game. 'The training we've been doing, the schedule we've been doing and it's off the charts in terms of a club set-up. To a man, they just buy into it. Recovery is the key, and I always say it. 'Move that ball as fast as you possibly can, and that has to start with the kids. We emphasise that a good bit when I do the coaching. "I'm just delighted for the bunch. We'll enjoy the next couple of days in Abbeydorney. 'We'll stay around now for a couple of days. I'm a tourist for the week.'
