Dominant Kilcormac-Killoughey blitz Shinrone to land Offaly SHC title

CHAMPIONS: Conor Slevin and Cathal Kelly lift the cup for Kilcormac-Kiloughey. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Ashley Cahill

OFFALY SHC FINAL

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY 3-26 SHINRONE 3-8

In the lead up to this afternoon’s Offaly senior hurling final at St. Brendan’s Park, Kilcormac-Killoughey manager Shane Hand admitted that his side’s record of three county final defeats since their last win in 2017 was “absolutely a thing”, and that they were very conscious of the need to put that right in their rematch with Shinrone, who turned them over 12 months ago.

In that game, Kilcormac-Killoughey started well but failed to build on their advantage, giving first-time finalists Shinrone a window of opportunity to shed their maiden-final nerves and go on to record a seven-point win.

This afternoon they also blitzed Shinrone early on, knocking over five points in the first six minutes, but they never stopped from then on in what was a devastating performance from start to finish, but particularly in the first 45 minutes.

In every facet of play, Shane Hand’s side were dominant; crisp in their touch, abrasive and physical when they needed to be, and precise in their decision making and execution.

County U-20 stars Adam Screeney and Charlie Mitchell lined out in the two corners but it was in the half-forward line in particular where they made hay early on, with former county senior star Conor Mahon at his imposing best at centre forward, while Jack Screeney also chipped in with some excellent points.

Damien Kilmartin’s physical power and Colin Spain’s relentless industry gave them a foothold at midfield, while Shinrone – under the tutelage of Roscrea native and former K-K player Trevor Fletcher – were starved of possession.

Short puckouts were ravenously devoured, while they couldn’t find a way to win any of their own long restarts either, with Kilcormac-Killoughey in sensational form at half-back.

With five minutes to play before half-time the score was 0-12 to 0-5 and Shinrone were on life support, only still in the hunt because of a couple of excellent saves from goalkeeper Eamonn Cleary.

However that all changed in the last few minutes before half-time, when Kilcormac-Killoughey scored 1-5 and put themselves well and truly out of sight.

Kilcormac-Kiloughey squad and supporters celebrate with the cup.

Brecon Kavanagh won a turnover ball at the back and set up Cathal Kiely for a long clearance, and full forward James Gorman used his aerial ability and strength to hold off his man and field the ball on the edge of the small square, before sweeping it past Cleary from close range.

Screeney, Mitchell and Mahon all had points added within 90 seconds of that score, and not even the most ardent Shinrone fans would have felt that the 15-point interval lead was retrievable.

What they mightn’t have imagined was that things would get much worse, as Kilcormac-Killoughey would continue in the same vein for the third quarter, pushing the lead out to 24 (3-22 to 0-7) by the 46th minute.

Charlie Mitchell put his name on both goals, the first a slick low finish and the second tinged with no small amount of luck, as he got a touch on a long delivery and saw the sliotar ricochet off post and crossbar before traversing the goal-line.

Dara Maher, who was unflinching in his persistence and defiance even as Kilcormac-Killoughey plundered scores, was rewarded for his spirit with two goals from late frees, while Jason Sampson also found the net as Shinrone avoided the ignominy of suffering a record margin county final defeat.

But even as that was happening, Thomas Geraghty, Charlie Mitchell and Jack Screeney tagged on late scores to ensure that the newly-crowned Offaly champions will march into the Leinster club championship and a meeting with Naomh Éanna of Wexford in four weeks’ time with no small amount of momentum behind them.

Scorers for Kilcormac-Killoughey: C Mitchell (1-4), A Screeney (0-7, 4f, 1 65), C Mahon (0-6), J Screeney (0-3), J Gorman (1-0), Cathal Kiely (1-1), Cillian Kiely (0-2, 2f), D Kilmartin, B Kavanagh, T Geraghty (0-1 each).

Scorers for Shinrone: D Maher (2-1, 2-1f), D Morkan (0-3, 3f), J Sampson (1-0), D Cleary (0-2), K Sampson, L Watkins (0-1 each).

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: C Slevin; O Mahon, B Kavanagh, T Spain; J Quinn, Cillian Kiely, E Grogan; C Spain, D Kilmartin; J Screeney, C Mahon, Cathal Kiely; A Screeney, J Gorman, C Mitchell.

Subs: P Geraghty for Gorman (44), G Healion for C Mahon (50), T Geraghty for Cathal Kiely (52), K Leonard for J Screeney (58), S Guinan for Kilmartin (58).

SHINRONE: E Cleary; D Crean, D O'Meara, D Landy; M Cleary, C Doughan, D Maher; D Cleary, L Watkins; K Sampson, D Morkan, J Sampson; S Cleary, A Cleary, P Cleary.

Subs: D Doughan for D Cleary (41), C Cleary for P Cleary (41), J Cleary for Watkins (47), JP Cleary for Morkan (47), D Murray for S Cleary (53).

Referee: B Gavin (Clara).