Birr and St Rynagh’s will meet in the Offaly senior hurling final for the eighth time and first since 2001 following the victories over Kinnitty and Kilcormac/Killoughey respectively in front of 4,526 supporters in O’Connor Pk this afternoon. In that 2001 meeting Birr had a narrow 0-11 to 0-10 victory, Birr also won the finals of 1971 and 1999, while St Rynagh’s were victorious in the final meetings of 1974, 75, 90 and 93. Interestingly Birr lined out in that 2001 final with Brian Mullins at No1, Barry Whelahan No9 and Rory Hanniffy No12, all three wore the same jerseys today.
Birr 1-19 Kinnitty 0-16
After a keenly contested opening 20 minutes after which there was just a goal between the sides, Birr took control in the closing minutes of the half, outscoring Kinnitty six points to one to lead by eight at the break. Colm Coughlan had the game’s opening score when he pointed a free in the opening minute, but from the time Eoghan Cahill goaled in the 3rd minute Birr were never subsequently headed. At the end of the first quarter there was just a point between the sided 1-3 to 0-5. Birr then hit five unanswered points to lead 1-8 to 0-5, before Colm Coughlan stopped the rot with a pointed free. Three Eoghan Cahill pointed frees before the break left it 1-11 to 0-6 and the writing was on the wall for Kinnitty.
However, in fairness to Ger Coughlan’s charges they never gave up and thanks to the accuracy of Shane Kinsella and Colm Coughlan from frees, kept in touch but could never get through for the goal that would have ignited the game. Kinnitty did outscore Birr 0-10 to 0-8 in the second half, but never looked like really troubling Paddy Kirwans side, for whom Eoghan Cahill scored 1-11, as Birr advanced to their first final since 2013.
Birr: Brian Mullins, Michael Verney, Paul Cleary, Eoin Hayes, Brian Watkins, Dylan Hayden, Sean Ryan 0-1, Barry Harding, Barry Whelahan, Colm Mulrooney 0-1, Conor O’Callaghan, Rory Hanniffy 0-1, Stephen Lonergan, Emmett Nolan 0-3, Eoghan Cahill 1-11 (0-9f) Subs: Brendan Murphy 0-2 for Lonergan, Paddy Mullins for Mulrooney, Craig Shortt for O’Callaghan
Kinnitty: Kevin O’Connor, Keith Bergin, Paddy Rigney, Patrick Delaney, Brian Coughlan, James Dempsey, Willie Molloy, Bryan Donnelly, Matthew McRedmond, Shane Kinsella 0-4, Liam Bergin 0-1, Aodhán Kealey, Eoghan Callaghan 0-1, Colm Coughlan 0-9 (0-8f), Odhrán Kealey Subs: Christopher Leonard for K Bergin, John Molloy 0-1 for Liam Bergin, Stephen Molloy for M McRedmond
Ref: Brian Gavin
St Rynagh’s 1-11 Kilcormac/Killoughey 0-12
In the second semi-final St Rynagh’s were bidding to reach their fourth final in five years, while K/K champions of 2012-14 were attempting to get back to county final day after losing last year’s semi to Rynagh’s. The first was full of tension as both sides were guilty of making basic mistakes and giving away primary possession. St Rynagh’s got off to a flier and led by 0-4 to 0-0 after just six minutes. K/K slowly clawed their way back into the game and thanks to the accuracy of Ciarán Slevin from frees were just two down 0-5 to 0-3 after twenty minutes. Ciaran Slevin was then off target from two scoreable frees and Rynagh’s wrestled back the imitative to go in 0-7 to 0-4 ahead at the break.
The hurling in the second half improved considerably and in particular K/K upped their game and in the opening 17 minutes of the half hit 0-8 without reply from St Rynagh’s. Even more amazingly K/K failed to score for the remainder of the game as St Rynagh’s suddenly sprung to life hitting 1-4, the goal coming in the 53rd minute from Stephen Quirke, after Conor Hernon’s initial effort was well saved by Conor Slevin. K/K did have one last chance to snatch victory but Clancy saved at the expense of a 65’ and the Slevin lofted effort was subsequently cleared as Francis Forde’s side clinched their fourth final appearance in five years.
St Rynagh’s: Conor Clancy, Daniel Maloney, Dermot Shortt, Sean Kenny, Ben Conneely, Aidan Treacy 0-1, Pat Camon, Joseph O’Connor 0-1, Gary Kelly 0-1, Paul Quirke 0-1, Garry Conneely, Ronan Hughes, Niall Wynne, Sean Dolan 0-1, Matthew Maloney 0-3 (f) Subs: Conor Hernon for D Maloney, Stephen Quirke 1-2 for Hughes, Stephen Wynne for Camon, Ger Scales 0-1 for P Quirke
Kilcormac/Killoughey: Conor Slevin, Con Mahon, Brian Leonard, Alan McConville, Kevin Grogan, Peter Healion, Enda Grogan, Damian Kilmartin, Killian Leonard, Ciarán Slevin 0-5 (f), Dan Currams, Thomas Geraghty 0-1, Peter Geraghty 0-1, Conor Mahon, Cillian Kiely 0-2 (f) Subs: Oisín Mahon for K Grogan, James Gorman 0-2 for K Leonard
Ref: Shane Guinan
By Offaly PRO Sun 2nd Oct
