Kilcormac-Killoughey claim third Offaly title in a row with hard-fought victory over Shinrone
Brecon Kavanagh of Kilcormac-Killoughey celebrates with a supporter after their side's victory in the Offaly County Senior Club Hurling Championship final. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
In the first half it was a clinic and in the second half it was a contest – but despite Shinrone’s best efforts to reel in a double-figure deficit for the second time in three knockout games, Kilcormac-Killoughey were still crowned Offaly SHC champions for the third time in a row this afternoon.
The final score was deceptive as the lead was a single point before Adam Screeney shot his only two points from play and Charlie Mitchell crowned his excellent performance with a perfectly placed shot for a goal right at the death.
However, for all the caveats and asterisks that might be attached to this performance when measured by the type of yardstick used to assess Na Fianna, Ballygunner, St. Thomas’ and the other All-Ireland contenders, the quality that K-K produced in the second quarter justified the Offaly club’s inclusion in that conversation.
Killian Sampson and Adam Landy shot two excellent points each as Shinrone started well to lead by 0-5 to 0-4 after an excellent 12-minute spell of hurling to open the game. The Tipperary-border club had no answer however once Kilcormac-Killoughey moved through the gears. Mitchell was precise and ruthless when he got chances, Adam Screeney was largely bottled up but he still showed a gorgeous touch to set up Colin Spain for a score, one of five points from play from the Kilcormac-Killoughey midfield.
Meanwhile Jordan Quinn was imperious at the heart of a rock-solid K-K full back line that held their direct Shinrone opponents to just one shot – a Jason Sampson wide – in the opening 30 minutes.
Mitchell scored from the right wing to make it 0-18 to 0-7 two minutes into the second half, but for the next 20 minutes Shinrone scratched and clawed their way back into contention, leaving it finely poised at 0-20 to 2-13 going into the final stretch. Peter Cleary bolstered the defence where Killian Sampson and Darragh Landy were excellent, Ciarán Cleary came off the bench to impose his towering frame on K-K at the other end and goals from Eoin Bailey O’Brien and Seán Cleary blew the game wide open.
Just when it looked like they were either going to stumble over the line or else be reeled in, Kilcormac-Killoughey found another gear, wrapping their third Seán Robbins Cup in a row, and their seventh in the last 14 attempts in Offaly while putting Ballyhale Shamrocks and O’Loughlin Gaels on notice that a formidable opponent will be coming their way in the first round of Leinster action next month.
C Mitchell 1-5, A Screeney 0-4 (0-2f), D Kilmartin 0-3, C Slevin 0-3f, D Hand 0-2, C Spain 0-2, C Kiely 0-1, E Grogan 0-1, C Mahon 0-1, T Spain 0-1, A Kavanagh 0-1.
D Morkan 0-6f, A Landy 0-3, K Sampson 0-3, E Bailey O’Brien 1-0, S Cleary 1-0, E Cleary 0-1f, C Cleary 0-1.
C Slevin; J Mahon, J Quinn, T Spain; C Kiely, B Kavanagh, E Grogan; C Spain, D Kilmartin; J Screeney, C Mahon, D Hand; C Mitchell, J Gorman, A Screeney.
A Kavanagh for Gorman (39), L Kavanagh for Hand (47), T Guinan for Grogan (52), P Geraghty for Mahon (59), M Mulrooney for J Screeney (60+3)
E Cleary; D Crean, M Cleary, D Landy; D Doughan, K Sampson, D Maher; A Cleary, L Watkins; D Morkan, A Landy, DJ McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, J Sampson, E Bailey O’Brien.
Peter Cleary for Crean (half-time), C Cleary for Bailey O’Brien (37), S Cleary for Paul Cleary (37), D Cleary for A Cleary (52), G Maher for McLoughlin (59)
Adam Kinahan (Clodiagh Gaels).
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