K-K Retain SHC Title After Engrossing Battle
Molloy Environmental Systems Offaly SHC Final
Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-16 Ballinamere 1-11 (match report from gaa.ie website)
A vintage Adam Screeney display saw Kilcormac-Killoughey break Ballinamere hearts in a gripping Offaly Senior Hurling Championship final in O’Connor Park on Sunday afternoon.
Tightly marked, Screeney still scored six of his ten points from play and could very easily have had a 1-12 or 2-12 haul as he very nearly scored a couple of goals.
His second half display was stunning as he got their last seven points, the final three coming from play to win the day.
While it was windy, it was by no means impossible to play in it. It was a generally cross field win, though favouring the team playing into the bottom goal and it asked different questions of the two teams and the many outstanding hurlers they had.
Kilcormac-Killoughey were against the wind in the first half, but played some very good hurling as they retained possession well. They settled quickly with Adam Screeney a bundle of energy in their attack early on.
The sides were level on five occasions in the opening 16 minutes before K-K upped a gear. Daniel Hand, Conor Spain and Coilin Spain floated over wonderful points for a 0-8 to 0-5 lead after 27 minutes.
Adam Screeney almost got in for a couple of goals in the first half and a major might well have killed Ballinamere off. Instead, the underdogs broke for a crucial injury time goal with Dan Bourke and Brian Duignan combining to set up Dan Ravenhill and make it all square, 1-5 to 0-8 at half time.
Ballinamere were excellent in the second half as they tore into K-K with everything and worked so hard as a unit. It almost brought them to a first win. They led by 1-10 to 0-11 after 45 minutes and Brian Duignan’s point gave them a 1-11 to 0-13 lead with just four minutes left.
A sensational win was within touching distance, but K-K and Screeney had other ideas as he got the last three points. Two of them came from fantastic catches and offloads by Conor Mahon and it was a highly relieved K-K side that greeted the final whistle as they knew this was one they got away with.
Scorers for Kilcormac-Killoughey: Adam Screeney 0-10 (4fs), Colin Spain 0-2, Conor Mahon, Ter Guinan, Daniel Hand and Charlie Mitchell 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballinamere: Brian Duignan 0-7 (5fs), Dan Ravenhill 1-0, Dan Bourke and Aaron Maher 0-2 each.
Kilcormac-Killoughey: Conor Slevin; Tom Spain, Oisin Mahon; James Mahon; Jordan Quinn, Brecon Kavanagh, Enda Grogan; Damien Kilmartin, Colin Spain; Leigh Kavanagh, Conor Mahon, Ter Guinan ; Daniel Hand; Charlie Mitchell; Adam Screeney.
Subs: Alex Kavanagh for Hand (41m), Jack Screeney for Grogan (45m), Peter Geraghty for Leigh Kavanagh (51m), Thomas Geraghty for Conor Mahon (63m).
Ballinamere: Mark Troy; Chris McDonald, Ciaran Burke, Eoin Boland; Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill, Sam Bourke; David Magner, Kevin McDermott; Dan Ravenill, Dan Bourke, Aaron Maher; Joe Maher, Brian Duignan, John Murphy.
Subs: Darragh Wyer for Joe Maher (55m), Mike O’Brien for Murphy (57m), James Scully for McDermott (62m),
Referee: Joey Deehan (Clara).
