Kilcormac-Killoughey show good health in predictable win

IN a game that went almost exactly according to expectations, Kilcormac-Killoughey showed good health as they sent Tullamore crashing out of the Senior Hurling Championship in Tubber on Sunday afternoon.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 3

Kilcormac-Killoughey 2-30

Tullamore 0-20

While they only truly hit fifth gear in fits and starts, it was nonetheless an impressive display by Kilcormac-Killoughey and even when Tullamore were fighting with every bit of their fibre in the first half, their win had an air of inevitability.

It effectively booked K-K's place in the quarter- finals and it also ended Tullamore's prospects of making it out of the group – instead Tullamore face a relegation six pointer against Kinnitty in the next round with the loser destined for the play off against the bottom team in group 2.

K-K will be happy with the way they played. 2-30 is 2-30 and some of their score taking was a joy to behold. There is a long way to go but they look very well equipped to win the Sean Robbins Cup this year.

They have been boosted by the emergence out of minor ranks of Brecon Kavanagh and Adam Screeney, and more of these are waiting in the wings for their chance – their senior Bs are going very well to date and some of those players are well equipped to step up if K-K decide that it is worth sacrificing that title bid.

Cillian Kiely returned to action here after a long lay off with injury and was impressively dominant at centre half back while his younger brother Cathal was left off here but was clearly hungry to stake his claim when he came on just over ten minutes from time, striking over three flawless points.

They were a way slicker outfit than Tullamore and the result was not a surprise to anyone. As you would expect from a side fighting for their championship lives, Tullamore emptied their tank in the first half.

Displaying a terrific work rate, they tackled tenaciously and really put it up to the favourites. It looked onimous when they slipped 0-4 to 0-1 behind after five minutes but Tullamore played very well for a while after this. Their first three points came from their three brightest young talents, Cormac Egan, Cillian Martin and Niall Furlong and Shane Dooley's free levelled it up at 0-4 each after nine minutes.

Tullamore continued an all or nothing approach and the sides were tied on three further occasions in the first half. It was 0-8 each after 20 minutes, 0-10 to 0-9 after 23 minutes and Tullamore were performing at their maximum.

K-K's work rate when not in possession, particularly from their forwards, was not always what it should have been in the first half but then it all took a predictable turn. Tullamore couldn't and didn't keep up that level of intensity and by half tinme, everyone in Tubber knew exactly where the points were heading.

K-K got five points on the trot, three of them from a rampaging Conor Mahon and at half time, they led by 0-17 to 0-11. Both goalkeepers, Conor Slevin for K-K and Tullamore's Paul Kelly hit a few wayward puckouts in the first half but Slevin earned his keep with a fantastic point blank 25th minute save from Shane Dooley, who looked certain to goal.

The game was over within a minute of the restart. Diarmuid Egan got the first point for Tullamore but K-K's first goal arrived after 56 seconds – Colin Spain resisted the easy point, taking a fine goal for a 1-17 to 0-12 lead and with that, Tullamore heads began to drop.

K-K had hit the 20 point mark by the 38th minute and the only issue was would they reach thirty. They did that with a point from sub Thomas Geraghty in the 57th minute as Tullamore did their best to get consolation scores that may matter if them and Kinnitty draw and scoring difference decides who goes into the relegation play off.

K-K's second goal in the 44th minute took the breath away. Conor Mahon gave a great ball to James Gorman, who quickly transferred inside to Adam Screeney. Screeney's finish was out of the top drawer and even the large watching Tullamore support applauded. As you would expect, Screeney has taken to club senior hurling like a duck to water. He looked a tad nervous in his debut against Kinnitty but that was gone out of the window here as he scored 1-7, 1-1 from play and was a real livewire.

That goal made it 2-23 to 0-14 and Tullamore did well to keep going and reach 20 points themselves, when the game was well and truly gone from them.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Conor Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey): A handful of contenders, all in the green and gold of Kilcormac-Killoughey and the choice is one of their old hands, Conor Mahon. He had a flawless first half, scoring five points from centre half forward while he also got a super score early in the second half. Very effective as a link man, he had a few assists as well and was at his very best before taking a breather when the points were in the bag and then being called off in the 48th minute as K-K emptied their bench.

Honourable mention to Jordan Quinn, Enda Grogan, Damien Kilmartin, Jack Screeney and Charlie Mitchell who all prospered at different stages with a fit looking Grogan really impressing with his defensvive tenacity when Tullamore were competitive.

Shane Dooley was Tullamore's most influential player while James Houlihan also caught the eye.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Adam Screeney 1-7 (6f), Conor Mahon 0-6, Charlie Mitchell 0-4, Jack Screeney and Cathal Kiely 0-3 each, Colin Spain 1-0, Thomas Geraghty 0-2, Jordan Quinn, Damien Kilmartin, James Gorman, Lochlann Kavanagh and Cillian Kiely 0-1 each.

Tullamore: Shane Dooley 0-11 (9f), Niall Furlong and James Houlihan 0-2 each, Cormac Martin, Diarmuid Egan, Cormac Egan, Cillian Martin and Dan Fox 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanagh, Oisin Mahon, Tom Spain; Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan; Killian Leonard, Damien Kilmartin; Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Lochlann Kavanagh; Colin Spain, Charlie Mitchell, Adam Screeney. Subs – James Gorman for Lochlann Kavanagh (42m), Thomas Geraghty for Leonard (48m), Ger Healion for Kilmartin (48m), Cathal Kiely for Conor Mahon (48m), Shane Guinan for Spain (48m).

TULLAMORE: Paul Kelly; Jack Daly, Niall Houlihan, Kevin Waters; Aaron Leavy, Cormac Martin, Brian Hogan; James Houlihan, Diarmuid Egan (brother of Cormac); Niall Furlong, Cormac Egan, Cillian Martin; Dan Fox, Mike Fox, Shane Dooley. Subs – Diarmuid Egan for Cormac Egan (61m), Colm Woodlock for Mike Fox (61m).

Referee – Kieran Pat Kelly (St Rynagh's).

REFEREE WATCH

Kieran Pat Kelly refereed this with a smile on his face and had an excellent game. He communicated very well with players, explaining his decisions every time and he had an almost flawless display. There were a couple of first half points that looked wide with Jordan Quinn's score looking particularly suspect from the hill.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

A big turning point came in the 25th minute when Conor Slevin made a spectacular save from Shane Dooley. As often happens in these instances, K-K swept immediately into attack and Jack Screeney floated over a fantastic point from the left wing for a 0-13 to 0-9 lead. It was Tullamore's only real goal chance and they desperately needed it. A goal would not have altered the result but it would have kept them competitive for longer and disrupted K-K's momentum at a stage when they were turning the screw.

VENUE WATCH

Plenty of questions were asked when Tubber was named as the venue for this. It wouldn't be known as a hurling pitch and the questions were valid. The pitch could have been in bother if there had been heavy rain on Sunday and it was tighter than K-K in particular would have liked. As things turned out, however, it went very well for Tubber. Sunshine hardened up the pitch and there was a decent bounce of the ball. They hosted the fixture with typical professionalism, managing the large crowd very well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tullamore have their all important match with Kinnitty while Kilcormac-Killoughey face their first big test, playing St Rynagh's in round 4.

STATISTICS

Wides: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 11 (7 in first half); Tullamore – 9 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.