By: Mary Dunne
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final
Kilcormac/Killoughey: 1-34
St Rynagh’s: 2-23
It was a real case of sometimes you only get one chance to “slay the dragon” and that was exactly the case on Saturday evening last as St Rynagh’s fell to a mighty extra time KK display, to see the reigning champions get over the line with eight points to spare.
Played in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore, this was a humdinger of a battle from start to finish, but it was KK who showed their pure class and utter resilience to seal the deal and their drive for four a in a row is well and truly still on track.
It was a cracking game and one that will be remembered for all the right reasons. It epitomised everything that is good about hurling and while it is always hard to see a loser in such a high scoring affair, it was KK who showed why they are worthy reigning champions once again.
For St Rynagh’s it will be a very hard pill to swallow over the next few days. They have made exceptional inroads this year and they were very close to pulling it off in normal time, but in extra time they can have no qualms about the outcome.
Following the draws for the semi finals, both of the Senior Hurling clashes were ones that we were all eagerly awaiting, with this year’s championship one of the harder ones to call for the past number of years.
On Saturday we had the meeting of the reigning County Champions Kilcormac/Killoughey who were aiming to get their fifth final in a row as their drive for four on the trot continued, while for St Rynagh’s they were bidding to get back into the County Final for the first time since their last win in 2021.
KK who had lost their opening round game to Coolderry, found themselves fighting tooth and nail to get out of the group and like a good seasoned wine, the more the championship went on the more they came into the own.
St Rynagh’s came into Saturday’s meeting on foot of a very impressive group campaign, but had to come through the quarter finals after getting pipped at the post on the final group game day for the semi final spot.
This clash was always going to be about the supply of ball and who got it in first. St Rynagh’s as we all know have very pacey forwards at times on Saturday they certainly showed that, but with KK very tight at the back they did start to shut them down.
But it was likewise at the other end and with All Star nominee Ben Conneely on top form in the full back line for St Rynagh’s he kept things very tight at the back.
Saturday saw the welcomed return of Adam Screeney to the fold. The KK and Offaly star had been out injured up the game today and it was his first time to feature and he certainly was a massive boost for KK.
As expected it was a close, tight affair played at tremendous speed and it was a game that was going to be won and lost on very fine margins.
It was the reigning champions who started brightly and by the fourth minute thanks to a brace of scores from Conor Slevin with a massive long range free and a follow up score from Conor Mahon, KK were 0-2 to no score to the good with four minutes played.
St Rynagh’s while they were slow enough to start, when they got into their groove they had the best possible outcome for their return with Darragh Scully finding the net on their first attack and St Rynagh’s led 1-0 and to 0-2.
Adam Screeney with his first of the game drew the side’s level on the 8th minute, but with two on bounce from Eoin Woods and Aaron Molloy St Rynagh’s were back in front 1-2 to 0-3 a minute later.
Peter Geraghty and Colin Spain responded to draw the sides level, but with a fine score from the middle of the park thanks to Evan Houlihan St Rynagh’s had their noses in front 1-3 to 0-5 with fifteen played.
Thomas Geraghty drew the side’s level and the deadlock was still on the cards by the 18th minute when Aaron Molloy despite having a glorious chance to stitch the games second goal and Thomas Geraghty again traded scores.
St Rynagh’s were starting however to win a lot of the ball in the middle sector and with three scores in quick succession from Luke O’Connor, Eoin Woods and a massive score from Pat Camon, the goal separated the sides 1-7 to 0-7 with twenty three on the clock.
Conor Mahon hit over a much needed score for KK on the puck out, but Darragh Scully was hot on his heels, before Adam Screeney and Eoin Woods traded further scores.
It was KK who ended the half very well and with late scores from Daniel Hand and Adam Screeney, they left one between the sides at the break, 1-9 to 0-11 and a game all to play for.
The game was certainly there for the taking for either side and on the restart thanks to a free from Eoin Woods, St Rynagh’s were two clear 1-10 to 0-11.
Then we had a brilliant purple patch from KK. For the next ten odd minutes they played some brilliant hurling and it wasn’t long until it showed on the scoreboard.
Three scores on the bounce from Adam Screeney all frees, gave them the lead and then with thirty nine on the clock a high ball in from Ter Guinan, should have been controlled by Conor Clancy, but he batted it right into the path of Daniel Hand who made no mistake in crashing it to the net. KK now four clear 1-14 to 1-10.
This game was far from over and far from out of the grasp of St Rynagh’s and they certainly pushed hard to get back into it and it was real nip and tuck from there as the scores were traded and swapped on each end.
KK were punished time and time again for fouling and Eoin Woods duly scored and from the 40th minute to 53rd when the sides were level at 1-17 each.
In that spell of play St Rynagh’s outscored KK by seven points to three, with their scores coming from Eoin Woods (6) and a sideline deflection from Shane Rigney, while for KK’s came courtesy of Jack Screeney within seconds of coming on, Leigh Kavanagh and Daniel Hand.
The game was now well and truly in the melting pot and with fifty six on the clock Aidan Treacy gave St Rynagh’s the lead but with Adam Screeney on point at the other end the sides were level again with three minutes of normal time to play.
Ciaran Daly and a massive long range free from Conor Slevin still had the side’s level and then KK broke with Brian Guinan finding Adam Screeney who hit KK one in front 1-20 to 1-19 with sixty two played.
It looked set that they had sealed it, but there was still one more attack and with a late free from Eoin Woods the sides were level again and we headed to extra time. The scores at full time reading 1-20 each.
Maybe feeling a little relieved it was KK who came out with massive intentions at the start of extra time and before we knew it they had four scores on the board thanks to Thomas Geraghty, Brian Guinan and two from Adam Screeney to bring the scores to 1-24 to 1-20.
Eoin Woods gave St Rynagh’s a massive lifeline on the 6th minute when he stitched home a 21 yard free and with gap was back to one 1-24 to 2-20 and the game was back in the melting pot.
Adam Screeney showed his pure class and skill and with two more from the flighty corner forward, he kept KK ticking over, but with two more score before the break thanks to Daniel Healy and Gary Conneely, the lead was back to one again 1-26 to 2-22.
KK were exceptional in the second ten minutes and hit over a staggering eight points thanks to Adam Screeney (4), James Mahon, Alex Kavanagh, Brian Guinan and Daniel in comparison to their opponents one from Paul Quirke and it was KK who ran out winners with eight to spare. The final scores reading 1-34 to 2-23.
The Scorers
Kilcormac/Killoughey: Adam Screeney 0-16 (0-10 Frees), Daniel Hand 1-3, Thomas Geraghty 0-3, Conor Mahon 0-2, Conor Slevin 0-2 (Frees), Brian Guinan 0-2, Alex Kavanagh 0-1, Colin Spain 0-1, Peter Geraghty 0-1, Jack Screeney 0-1, Leigh Kavanagh 0-1, James Mahon 0-1.
St Rynagh’s: Eoin Woods 1-11 (1-9 Frees), Darragh Scully 1-1, Aaron Molloy 0-2, Evan Houlihan 0-1, Luke O’Connor 0-1, Pat Camon 0-1, Shane Rigney 0-1 (sideline), Aidan Treacy 0-1, Ciaran Daly 0-1, Daniel Healy 0-1, Gary Conneely 0-1 (Free), Paul Quirke 0-1.
The Teams
Kilcormac/Killoughey: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanagh, Tom Spain, James Mahon; Ter Guinan, Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan; Colin Spain, Damien Kilmartin; Daniel Hand, Conor Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh; Thomas Geraghty, Peter Geraghty, Adam Screeney.
Subs: Jack Screeney for Cillian Kiely (40 mins), Brian Guinan for Damien Kilmartin (inj. 44 mins), Alex Kavanagh for Peter Geraghty (44 mins), Oisin Mahon for Leigh Kavanagh (61 mins), Peter Geraghty for Oisin Mahon (76 mins – ET), Mark Mulrooney for Adam Screeney (81 mins – ET), Lochlann Kavanagh for Colin Spain (82 mins – ET).
St Rynagh’s: Conor Clancy; Matthew Maloney, Ben Conneely, Dominic Healy; Pat Camon, Joey O’Connor (Capt.), Gary Conneely; Stephen Quirke, Evan Houlihan; Shane Rigney, Ronan Hughes, Eoin Woods; Darragh Scully, Luke O’Connor, Aaron Molloy.
Subs: Aidan Treacy for Aaron Molloy (44 mins), Ciaran Daly for Ronan Hughes (54 mins), Paul Quirke for Luke O’Connor (60 mins), Luke O’Connor for Evan Houlihan (62 mins – ET), Daniel Healy for Joey O’Connor (64 mins – ET), Jerome Flannery for Darragh Scully (Half Time – ET).
Referee: Shane Guinan (Drumcullen).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 3rd Oct
