THE winning margin ended up at seven points but that only touches on the tip of an extraordinary story as a mightily relieved Kilcormac-Killoughey powered home late on to capture their second Senior Hurling Championship three in a row in O’Connor Park on Sunday afternoon.
Molloy Precast Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship final
Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-24
Shinrone 2-14
0-17 to 0-7 ahead at half time after a stunningly brilliant second quarter, you couldn’t see any danger whatsoever for Kilcormac-Killoughey but Shinrone mounted a terrific, sensational second half fightback, almost pulling off an unbelievable win.
They had the gap back to a point with eight minutes left, they were still only a point behind with three minutes left as Kilcormac-Killoughey stared a calamitous defeat in the face. They were out on their feet, their usual composure well and truly gone as they engaged in some heart attack hurling and there was a great opportunity there for Shinrone.
They had chances to equalise and were desperately unlucky not to have got another goal in the 41st minute when a Jason Sampson rasper rattled off the cross-bar.
Shinrone had pulled back a ten point half time deficit in their quarter-final win over Coolderry but /the losers were heading into the red before the interval and ran out of steam in the second half. While K-K had a few elder statesmen, they always had the youth and the legs to stay going for the full sixty minutes and a late 1-3 saw them creep over the line, the goal coming in the 60th minute from the outstanding Charlie Mitchell.
It made for compelling viewing as the second half drama unfolded and it certainly rescued this game. K-K had been so brilliant, so ruthlessly efficient in the second quarter that it looked like the winning margin could go north of fifteen points and that they would surpass the 30 point barrier.
With the heavy morning rain clearing up, the sides engaged in a game of cat and mouse in the opening quarter. The hurling was nice but neither side was at full speed and the teams were level four times in the opening thirteen minutes.
Tied 0-5 each at that stage, Kilcormac-Killoughey clicked into top gear from here to the interval. They scarcely put a foot wrong and their conversion rate was close to flawless. They got their match-ups right with Cillian Kiely doing a good man marking job on DJ McLoughlin and they won almost all of the 50-50 battles in that second quarter.
They were relentless and ruthless as they outscored Shinrone by 0-12 to 0-2 before half time. The warning bells began to ring for Shinrone supporters when they got a run of three points to take a 0-8 to 0-5 lead before Adam Landy arrowed over a good 18th minute point. They got another three points on the trot before Donal Morkan got a 23rd minute free and finished the half off with six without reply – Damien Kilmartin (2), Conor Mahon, Colin Spain, Tom Spain and Adam Screeney (free).
The 31st minute point from Tom Spain was the moment when we felt K-K had it. A very tidy, steady corner back, he is not noted for his attacking excursions and clinical finishing but he took his score with the confidence of a forward. It all meant that K-K went in at the break with a ten point lead, thirteen points from play, a score from every line on the field and a huge five point haul from their midfield pairing of Colin Spain (2) and Damien Kilmartin (3).
Charlie Mitchell pushed the lead out to 11 three minutes into the second half and two minutes later Eoin Bailey-O’Brien got in for a goal, that didn’t appear that significant at the time – even though, Killian Sampson and Donal Morkan (free) followed up with quick points.
It was 0-19 to 1-10 after 40 minutes but Jason Sampson hit the crossbar then and it looked like the gap was just too much. However, unknown to us, the momentum had flipped. Bailey-O’Brien had been taken off immediately after his goal as Shinrone ran in subs and the switches worked. Ciaran Cleary and Sean Cleary snapped the K-K full back line out of their comfort zone as Shinrone began to play much more direct, throwing caution to the wind.
Even though Alex Kavanagh settled K-K with their 20th point in the 42nd minute, it was now their supporters who were frowning. The error count crept higher and we witnessed the most unusual of things – Adam Screeney having a couple of fresh air swipes, the second with a goal chance, the ball not sticking to him in the way it usually does. Passes were misplaced, possession over turned, chances missed with Charlie Mitchell and Daniel Hand having poor wides.
When K-K defenders Jordan Quinn and Brecon Kavanagh committed a very sloppy foul in the 47th minute on Jason Sampson while mopping up the type of ball that is normally bread and butter for them, colliding with each other in the process, we began to feel for the first time that maybe Shinrone could pull this out of the fire.
Donal Morkan tapped over the free and Shinrone got in for 1-1 in the next few minutes. Again, the K-K defence were deficient as Sean Cleary got their second goal in the 49th minute, having the time to blast home the second chance after mishitting the first attempt. Ciaran Cleary’s point made it 2-13 to 0-20 in the 53rd minute and Shinrone now had all the momentum.
Jason Sampson was wide with an equalising chance and Conor Slevin eased K-K’s frayed nerves with a magnificent 55th minute free from around his own 65 metre line – we have seen him getting longer from more acute angles but with this type of pressure on, K-K so desperate, it was a serious score.
Charlie Mitchell hit the side netting with a difficult goal chance and Adam Landy’s point brought it down to a point, 2-14 to 0-21 with three minutes left. Just like that, the game changed again as K-K found their composure. Some of their hurling in the last few minutes was breathtaking as they showed they had both the heart and the attitude for battle. They performed really well under pressure and their key forwards stood up.
Charlie Mitchell got a brilliant point just after Landy’s score and Adam Screeney trumped it with a wonderful 58th minute strike – it was particularly worthy of note as Screeney had been in a form of the wars in the second half but still had the heart to win the ball, the confidence to take the shot on and the quality to convert it.
That put the gap at three, leaving Shinrone needing a goal but instead that went to the champions and Charlie Mitchell in the 60th minute – there was an easy point there for Mitchell as he flew in from the left but that thought never entered his mind and he blasted a fierce low drive to the net. Shinrone were gone with Eamon Cleary and Killian Sampson going for goals from 21 metre frees while Adam Screeney put the icing on the K-K cake with the final point just before full time.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey): Charlie Mitchell’s performance was absolutely pivotal to K-K surviving a major scare. He was excellent in the second quarter and brilliant late on as his scores helped them over the line. Full of running, showing for everything, he ensured a tough time for the Shinrone full back line.
Daniel Hand was a serious contender in the first half, scoring two points and having a few assists in a really good display – he had a wide just before he was taken off but it did look like he had been whipped a bit quick as he was having his best game of a very good season for him. Jordan Quinn, James Mahon, Cillian Kiely, Colin Spain and Damien Kilmartin were among the other K-K players who stood out from the pack in a mixed display.
Killian Sampson has had a fantastic year for Offaly and Shinrone and he got them going early on, getting two first half points while he also helped drive them back into the game in the second half. Dara Maher did a lot of good work in defence and Adam Landy was their best attacker on a day when too many of the starting forwards didn’t get going. Ciaran Cleary and Sean Cleary did very well off the bench but ultimately Shinrone lost because of their second quarter horrow show.
THE SCORERS
Kilcormac-Killoughey: Charlie Mitchell 1-5, Adam Screeney 0-4 (2f), Conor Slevin (3f) and Damien Kilmartin 0-3 each, Daniel Hand and Colin Spain 0-2 each, Tom Spain, Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan, Conor Mahon and Alex Kavanagh 0-1 each.
Shinrone: Donal Morkan 0-6 (6f), Eoin Bailey-O’Brien and Sean Cleary 1-0 each, Adam Landy and Killian Sampson 0-3 each, Eamonn Cleary (f) and Ciaran Cleary 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Tom Spain, Jordan Quinn James Mahon; Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan, Brecon Kavanagh; Damien Kilmartin, Colin Spain; Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Daniel Hand; Charlie Mitchell, James Gorman, Adam Screeney. Subs – Alex Kavanagh for Gorman (38m), Leigh Kavangh for Hand (45m), Ter Guinan for Grogan (52m), Peter Geraghty for Conor Mahon (58m), Mark Mulrooney for Jack Screeney (63m),
SHINRONE: Eamonn Cleary; Darren Crean, Michael Cleary, Darragh Landy; Dan Doughan, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher; Adrian Cleary, Luke Watkins; Adam Landy Donal Morkan, DJ McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, Jason Sampson, Eoin Bailey-O’Brien. Subs – Peter Cleary for Crean (HT), Ciaran Cleary for Bailey-O’Brien (36m), Sean Cleary for Paul Cleary (36m), Declan Cleary for Adrian Cleary (51m), Gearoid Maher for McLoughlin (59m),
Referee – Adam Kinahan, Clodiagh Gaels.
REFEREE WATCH
Adam Kinahan had a good game and was consistent. An early yellow card for Cillian Kiely was a bit harsh – Kiely stopped Jason Sampson in his tracks but just stood his ground. It was a free but Kiely could have been given the benefit of the doubt when it came to the card. Again, the referee was consistent as he showed Shinrone’s Dan Doughan one for a similar type tackle minutes later.
Shinrone did seem to win frees a bit easier at times in the second half but this can often happen in a game where a team is well behind and Kinahan did try and let it flow.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
The free that Conor Slevin got in the 55th minute and Charlie Mitchell’s excellent 57th minute point were fierce important. They both came after Shinrone had the gap down to a point and getting the next point was crucial to them winning.
VENUE WATCH
The forecast rain overnight and on Sunday morning was a source of worry for Offaly GAA officers all week, particularly with a minor football double bill there on Saturday. Fortunately, the weather on Saturday allowed the grass to be cut and the pitch to be left in tip top shape immediately after these games. It all looked very well and while the weather and the live coverage on TG4 impacted negatively on the crowd, it was very well hosted.
WHAT’S NEXT
Kilcormac-Killoughey go into the Leinster club championship against the Kilkenny champions.
STATISTICS
Wides: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 7 (3 in first half); Shinrone – 9 (4 in first half).
Yellow cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 3 (Cillian Kiely, James Mahon, Damien Kilmartin); Shinrone – 1 (Dan Doughan).
Red cards: 0
