St Rynagh’s and Kilcormac/Killoughey will meet in this year’s Molloy Environmental Offaly Senior Hurling Final on October 1st. Both sides recorded one point victories in today’s semi-finals played at a very windy Bord Na Móna O’Connor Pk in front of a crowd of 3,342. This now sets up a repeat of the 2012 and 2014 County Finals, both of which were won by K/K.
Kilcormac/Killoughey 0-12 Belmont 0-11
K/K had to call on all their experience to see off the challenge of Belmont in the opening encounter, and it was a Thomas Geraghty point in the 58 minute that sealed victory. Belmont, who were appearing in their first ever semi-final, will rue their nine second half wides. K/K played with the wind in the opening half and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after just seven minutes, James Gorman with two of the points. However, Belmont soon settled and by the 22nd minute there was just the minimum between the sides 0-5 to 0-4. However, by half time K/K had stretched their lead to three 0-9 to 0-6, but with the wind to come in the second half Belmont would have been quite happy.
Cillian Kiely had the opening point of the second half after just 20 seconds, but the next three scores all fell to Belmont as they narrowed the gap to the minimum by the 40th minute 0-10 to 0-9. At this stage it looked like Belmont might push on and make history, but a combination of some poor shooting and tenacious defending by K/K kept them at bay. They did level matters in the 57th minute thanks to a Damien Egan free, before Geraghty hit over the winner a minute later. Belmont did have two opportunities to take the game to a replay but both efforts were wide of the target and so K/K qualified for their first final since2014 and their 6th in 11 years.
K/K: Conor Slevin, Killian Leonard, Ger Healion, Kevin Grogan, Cathal Mahon, Damien Kilmartin, Jordan Quinn, Ciarán Slevin 0-2 (f), Cillian Kiely 0-3 (0-1f, 0-1 65’), Conor Mahon 0-1, James Gorman 0-3, Peter Geraghty 0-1, Stephen Leonard 0-1, Peter Healion, Thomas Geraghty 0-1 Subs: Enda Grogan for Cathal Mahon (23min), James Geraghty for Ciarán Slevin (60min)
Belmont: Barry Egan, Shane Nally, David Kenny, Ciarán Cahill, Kieran McManus, Mark Egan, James Nally, Damien Egan 0-3 (f), Joe Maher 0-2, David Cox, David Kelly 0-2, Oisín Kelly 0-1, Colin Egan, Leon Fox 0-3 (f) Subs: Jack Egan for James Nally, Alan Egan for Maher,
Ref: Brian Gavin (Clara)
St Rynagh’s 0-14 Seir Kieran 1-10
In the second semi-final St Rynagh’s called on their experience of having won the title last year to grab a late winner against a Seir Kieran side bidding to reach the final for the first time since 2000. It was mid-fielder Pat Camon who popped up to shoot the winner in the 59th minute, the only time in the game in which St Rynagh’s led.
Seir Kieran played with the aid of the wind in the opening half and looked in control as they raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after just 12 minutes. However, the Champions of 2016 soon got to grips with the game and by the 25th minute the sides were level at 0-6 each. Joe Bergin edged Seir Kieran back in front with a free, before blasting to the net from a penalty after Kevin Dunne was fouled. Bergin closed the first half scoring with a pointed free to leave his side 1-8 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
On the resumption Seir Kieran picked up where they had left off and by the 38th minute had stretched their lead to six 1-10 to 0-7. However, they were not to score for the remainder of the game and St Rynagh’s took control. Still it looked as though the Seir Kieran side might hold as St Rynagh’s hit eight second half wides. Stephen Quirke level proceedings with a free on 57 minutes and then Joe Bergin had an opportunity to edge Seir Kieran back in front, but his 55 metre free went wide of the target and a minute later Pat Camon’s point sent Rynagh’s to their 4th final in a row.
St Rynagh’s: Conor Clancy, Daniel Maloney, Dermot Shortt, Niall Wynne, Conor Hernon, Aidan Treacy, Ben Conneely, Gary Kelly 0-2, Pat Camon 0-1, Paul Quirke 0-2, Gary Conneely, Ronan Hughes 0-1, Stephen Quirke 0-8 (0-7f), Sean Dolan, Stephen Wynne Subs: Ger Scales for G Conneely (43min), Darragh Tierney for Hughes (47min), Matthew Maloney for P Quirke (52min)
Seir Kieran: Eoin Coughlan, Christopher Connors, Brian Mulrooney, Packie Mulrooney, Michael Gilligan 0-1, Eanna Murphy, Kevin Murray, Dermot Mooney, Kevin Dunne, Barry Kealy, Joe Bergin 1-6 (1-0p, 0-5f), Adrian Hynes 0-3, Tom Carroll, James Mulrooney, Billy Connors Subs: Barry Bergin for B Connors (48min)
Ref: Richie Fitzsimons (Birr)
By Offaly PRO Sun 10th Sep
