Kilcormac-Killoughey edge closer to semi-final in battle of big guns

KILCORMAC-Killoughey took a big and important step forward when they had a deserved win over St Rynagh's in the Senior Hurling Championship at Birr on Saturday afternoon.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 4

Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-17

St Rynagh's 0-15

It wasn't a flawless performance and they perhaps should have won a bit more comfortably but they were the better team on the day and while St Rynagh's battled fierce hard, they never truly looked like getting the result.

With a closing round against Birr to come, K-K are now within touching distance of the semi-finals and a point in that game will secure that. They didn't fire on all cylinders here but they were strong, very steady and are clearly moving in the right direction – they were largely dominant in the second half and without fully pulling away, had a strangehold on the game down the straight.

There are plenty of tough battles ahead, loads of pitfalls and there are question marks hanging over them but the impression that K-K are the team to beat is unavoidable. They are marginal championship favourites at this junction and certainly have the potential to get better. They weren't fully clinical here, they had a few poor wides (9 in the second half) and they also made mistakes that you can't afford in knockout hurling but they are going well, doing all that can be asked of them,

St Rynagh's could still have a bug say in the destination of honours but the jury remains out on them. Like K-K, they may not have went flat out here but they were swimming against the tide almost the whole day, leading briefly for a couple of minutes at the start and trailing from the eight minute to the final whistle.

It was a good tough, no holds barred tussle with both players fully committed and the entertainment levels were high.

Kilcormac-Killoughey went in happy at half time, leading by 1-7 to 0-9 after playing against a swirling wind that blew up to gale levels for a couple of minutes at the start before settling down.

There wasn't much between the teams in general play but K-K's attack were the more clinical, converting most of their chances while St Rynagh's hit eight wides, a few of them from scoreable positions.

Eoin Woods fired St Rynagh's into an early lead from a free but K-K got the next three and had their noses in front to the interval. It was 0-6 to 0-5 when K-K got an excellent goal. Conor Mahon laid off very efficiently to Jack Screeney, who raced at a retreating Rynagh's backline and finished superbly to the net.

Conor Mahon added a point for a 1-7 to 0-5 lead and Rynagh's were in bother but they got crucial late scores with Woods (free), Joey O'Connor (two) and Matthew Maloney bringing it back to a one point game at the break.

K-K hit the ground running in the second half with three quick points from James Gorman, Adam Screeney (free) and Conor Mahon for a 1-10 to 0-9 lead and Gorman missed a good goal chance in the 33rd minute – Gorman, who played very well before going off injured, did well to win the ball and raced into space but then lost his composure as a goal emerged onto the cards, hitting a tame wide.

St Rynagh's got the next three points, two of them Eoin Woods' free to bring it back to a point, 1-10 to 0-12 after 45 minutes. There was still a point in it, 1-11 to 0-13 when Adam Screeney's free made it a two point game in the 49th minute. He added another one moments later and while St Rynagh's replied with a score from sub Shane Rigney, they now needed a goal.

They never threatened to get through a dogged K-K defence and with the winning post in sight, they pulled clear. Three points, the final one a super Cillian Kiely score from distance, gave them a five point lead as it went into injury time and that gap was still there at the final whistle.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cathal Kiely (Kilcormac-Killoughey): Charlie Mitchell and Colin Spain were very lively in the K-K defence and Jack Screeney had some good moments but most of the contenders were from midfield back. Cillian Kiely was a rock at centre half back while Jordan Quinn and Brecon Kavanagh were also immense in defence – Kavanagh made a couple of super interceptions when St Rynagh's were posing questions in the first half. Damien Kilmartin did a lot of very good things in midfield and the choice is his partner, Cathal Kiely. The younger of the Kiely brothers really stood up to be counted in the second half as he put in hard yards, won difficult ball and used it well. He did have a couple of moments where his discipline threatened to go but he ran the game for a 20 minute spell in the second half. Matthew Maloney and Joey O'Connor were St Rynagh's best players.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Adam Screeney 0-6 (5f), Charlie Mitchell 0-3, Jack Screeney 1-0, Cillian Kiely, Cathal Kiely, Conor Mahon and James Gorman 0-2 each.

St Rynagh's: Eoin Woods 0-6 (5f), Joey O'Connor 0-3, Matthew Maloney, Jerome Flannery, Gary Conneely, Aidan Treacy, Shane Rigney and Aaron Kenny 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanaghm, Oisin Mahon, Tom Spain; Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan; Cathal Kiely, Damien Kilmartin; Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Charlie Mitchell; Colin Spain, James Gorman, Adam Screeney. Subs – Ger Healion for Gorman, inj. (37m).

ST RYNAGH'S: Conor Clancy; Stephen Wynne, Pat Camon, Simon Og Lyons; Brian Rigney, Matthew Maloney, Conor Hernon; Ben Conneely, Sean Dolan; Joey O'Connor, Jerome Flannery, Gary Conneely; Luke O'Connor, Aidan Treacy, Eoin Woods. Subs -Shane Rigney for Flannery (39m), Aaron Kenny for Brian Rigney (41m), Paul Quirke for Gary Conneely (46m).

Referee – Shane Guinan (Drumcullen).

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Guinan was fair and very consistent. There were no major issues, though the odd slap with the hurl was missed or went unpunished. He did show cards and the players knew where the line was.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Jack Screeney's 20th minute goal was an excellent score and apart from that, it gave K-K a crucial foothold against the wind.

VENUE WATCH

A good dry, windy day on Saturday helped firm up the St Brendan's Park pitch (there was a very heavy shower just after the start) and as usual, Birr hosted the game very well.

WHAT'S NEXT

K-K play Birr in the last round while St Rynagh's meet Kinnitty.

STATISTICS

Wides: K-K - 13 (4 in first half); St Rynagh's – 9 (8 in first half).

Yellow cards: K-K – 1 (Jack Screeney); St Rynagh's – 2 (Aidan Treacy and Brian Rigney).

Red cards: 0.