GAA Hurling County finals wrap

Last years beaten All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling finalists Kilcormac-Killoughey captured back-to-back Offaly SHC titles at O'Connor Park this afternoon, while Na Piarsaigh, Kilmessan, Celbridge and Calry St. Joseph's also earned county silverware.

5,600 were in attendance in Tullamore this afternoon, as former All-Ireland Club champions Birr were put to the sword by a determined Kilcormac-Killoughey side who claimed the Offaly SHC title thanks to a 1-21 to 1-14 win.

Captain Ciaran Slevin scored 11 points in this game, with Daniel Currams late goal putting a firm gloss on this victory, in a game where the reigning Leinster champions never looked troubled.

Kilcormac-Killoughey began this game strongly and led by 0-13 to 0-5 as the teams entered the dressing rooms at half-time.

Birr cut the deficit to five points inside five minutes of the restart, but Kilcormac-Killoughey led by seven points as the game entered the final quarter, following a Trevor Fletcher score.

Second half substitute and former Offaly player Simon Whelehan brought the game to life following a 45th minute goal, to ensure a 0-17 to 1-10 score-line.

Kilcormac-Killoughey were resilient in the final quarter, holding Birr to just four points, with Man of the Match Currams netting a goal late on to ensure a seven-point win.

Na Piarsaigh captured their second Limerick Senior Hurling title in three years, following a 0-14 to 0-12 win over Adare at the Gaelic Grounds.

In a gripping encounter, the destination of the John Daly Cup was very much in doubt entering the final minutes, with no more than three points separating the sides in the second half.

A Declan Hannon free cut the gap to the minimum late on, but a Shane Dowling effort ensured an insurance point and victory for the city side.

Na Piarsaigh led by 0-5 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, with county players Kevin Downes and Dowling hugely impressive.

However, last year's beaten finalists stormed back before the interval, to cut the deficit to three points, as Na Piarsaigh led by 0-8 to 0-5.

Indeed, the sides would have been tied at the break, but for Hannon being denied after his penalty strike.

Kilmessan smashed Longwood's dream of a first Meath Senior Hurling title since 1936, as aided by second half goals from Stephen Clynch and Nicky Horan, they claimed a 2-16 to 0-11 win at Páirc Tailteann.

Kilmessan led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the break with Danny Maguire, Darren Reilly and Charlie Keena among their scorers.

Anthony Healy, Ryan Moore, and Eoin Lynch kept Longwood in touch, and they came within a point of the eventual winners by the end of the third quarter.

Healy's first point of the half, ensured a 0-10 to 0-9 score-line. However, Kilmessan kicked on with Clynch's goal ensuring a 1-11 to 0-9 lead.

Longwood worked hard, but Mark Brennan was in superb form between the posts for Kilmessan.

Kilmessan led by eight points with 60 minutes elapsed, but failed to stop with Horan netting his sides second goal late on to ensure an 11-point win.

Celbridge claimed their fifth Kildare SHC title since 2005, following a 0-23 to 2-11 win over Eire Óg Corra Choill.

Gerry Keegan scored seven points from play, while Billy White equalled his tally with one from play and six pointed frees in a game which was keenly contested throughout.

A goal from 40-year old Joe Dempsey helped Eire Óg Corra Choill to an early 2-1 to 0-4 lead, but Celbridge impressed to move 0-12 to 2-3 ahead at the interval, which included a run of six unanswered points.

The second half was more evenly contested, but the brilliance of Keegan and White ensured that Celbridge would take their sixth county title.

Calry St. Joseph's were goal hungry as they bagged a third Sligo SHC title in succession, following a comfortable 5-13 to 0-6 win over Coolera-Strandhill at Markievicz Park.

Despite playing against the wind in the opening half, St Joseph's powered to a 2-8 to 0-4 interval lead, with Kevin Gilmartin and Ronan Cox netting their goals.

Calry failed to ease up on the restart, with Cox bagging his second goal as they moved 3-10 to 0-4 ahead after 38 minutes.

Ciaran Brennan and Gary Cadden added back-to-back points to reduce the deficit to 13 points with 20 minutes remaining, but Coolera-Strandhill failed to score for the remainder of the game.

Gilmartin and David Collery added further goals for Calry St. Joseph's to ensure a 22-point win.