Kilcormac/Killoughey 2-16 St Rynagh’s 1-16
Kilcormac/Killoughey had to withstand a last quarter onslaught from reigning Champions St Rynagh’s, as they reduced an 11 points lead to two, before eventually capturing their 4th Senior Hurling title. This was a hard fought teak though encounter played in difficulty conditions, in front of 6,117 supporters at Bord Na Móna O’Connor Pk this afternoon
K/K had first use of the strong wind and James Gorman opened the scoring for them after just 55 seconds. Ryangh’s responded quickly with a Stephen Quirke pointed free. In the third minute Peter Healion edged K/K in front and they were never subsequently headed. There was just a point between the sides at the end of the first quarter. However, when, man of the match, Ciarán Slevin ghosted in for the game’s opening goal on 16 minutes, K/K moved up a gear. A second goal followed from Thomas Geraghty within two minutes and five further points, to just two for Rynagh’s, left K/K 2-10 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
The opening exchanges of the second half were evenly contested with 11 points still between the sides, 2-13 to 0-8, at the end of the third quarter. Ryangh’s then hit three unanswered points but the title still looked to be heading back to the Kilcormac Killoughey parish with eight between them on 50 minutes. The game then exploded into life when substitute Joseph O’Connor burst through for a goal. Stephen Leonard steadied the ship to put six between them again. However, four St Rynagh’s points between the 53rd and 57th minutes had the margin down to two and the comeback looked as though it might bear fruit. Dan Currams hit a fantastic point from under the stand to put three between them again. Quirke and Slevin then swapped points, before one last Rynagh’s attack saw Garry Conneely’s goal bound effort saved by Conor Slevin and K/K were Champions
Kilcormac/Killoughey: Conor Slevin, Killian Leonard, Ger Healion, Kevin Grogan, Enda Grogan 0-1, Damien Kilmartin, Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely 0-1f, Ciarán Slevin 1-7 (0-5f), James Gorman 0-1, Conor Mahon, Peter Geraghty, Stephen Leonard 0-1, Peter Healion (Capt) 0-1, Thomas Geraghty 1-1 Subs: Dan Currams 0-3 for P Geraghty (18min), Brian Leonard for P Healion (52min), Oisín Mahon for E Grogan (56min)
St Rynagh’s: Conor Clancy, Daniel Maloney, Dermot Shortt, Niall Wynne, Conor Hernon, Aidan Treacy 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 65’), Ben Conneely, Gary Kelly, Pat Camon, Ger Scales 0-1, Garry Conneely, Matthew Maloney, Stephen Quirke 0-6 (0-5f), Sean Dolan (Capt) 0-3, Stephen Wynne Subs: Joseph O’Connor 1-0 for Scales (37min), Ronan Hughes 0-1 for M Maloney (38min)
Ref: Richie Fitzsimons (Birr)
By Offaly PRO Sun 1st Oct
