Thrilled Kinnitty retain top flight status as Seir Kieran go down again

A match that meant so much to both Kinnitty and Seir Kieran produced a fine encounter with plenty of drama and some fine scores right up until the very end, but it is Kinnitty who come away with the win and over the course of the 60 minutes, they deserve it.  

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship relegation play off

Kinnitty  2-19
Seir Kieran  2-16

Kinnitty started off the brighter as they rushed into a 1-3 to no score lead after just six minutes. Colm Coughlan landed three points with one fantastic point from play, and  a mistake at the back allowed wing-back Conor Hardiman the chance to intercept and fire the ball into the top left corner of the net to give Kinnitty the perfect start. 

Seir Kieran hit a number of poor wides early on and had to wait till the 10th minute to register their opening point through Adrian Hynes, before Colm Coughlan responded with a point from a free, before Conor Hardiman once again found himself in a dangerous position and once again buried the ball this time into the top right hand corner of the net, leaving Kinnitty nine points in front after 12 minutes. 

Colm Coughlan and Joseph Bergin exchanged frees, before some fine work out the back allowed centre back Danny Flanagan the time and space to launch the ball over from 60 yards out, leaving Seir Kieran with plenty of work to do. 

Seir Kieran started building some momentum and fired over the next four scores on the bounce, with three from Joseph Bergin frees and one from Pat Gilligan. Just six points separating the sides. 

The game was right in the balance as Seir Kieran brought the game back to just one point, as James Mulrooney sent over two fine scores, before Kevin Dunne’s perfectly timed ball in found the paw of Joseph Bergin and the veteran made no mistake in batting it into the net after 26 minutes played. 

Joseph Bergin and James Dempsey added further points with Colm Coughlan providing two more frees, along with James Mulrooney getting his third before the break to leave the score at 2-09 to 1-10 in favour of Kinnitty. 

Kinnitty came out the blocks firing much like the first half and secured three good opening points from James Dempsey, Colm Coughlan and Conor Hardiman, who was causing havoc in the forward line.  

Shortly afterwards on 36 minutes Seir Kieran were reduced to 14 men as a wild pull in the air from full forward Adrian Hynes left referee Joey Deehan no choice to give him his marching orders. 

Seir Kieran were starting to get frustrated as they began fouling when not necessary as it allowed Colm Coughlan to add three more frees, with James Mulrooney doing his best to keep Seir Kieran in it with his fourth of the afternoon. 

Colm Coughlan free taking was on point as Seir Kieran’s afternoon went from bad to worse with Christopher Connors receiving a second yellow card. 

Kinnitty were beginning to pull away as James Hardiman showed his strength and agility to power through midfield and fire over his first of the afternoon, leaving nine between them coming to the end.  

However, Seir Kieran kept fighting and produced a late goal as Joseph Bergin’s pass found Darragh Guinan and he found the top corner, but two points from Odhran Kealey helped Kinnitty over the line and secure their safety and a place in next season’s Senior A Championship. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

CONOR HARDMIAN (Kinnitty): Colm Coughlan was on fire with his free scoring, James Hardiman and Willie Molloy shone bright, and for Seir Kieran James Mulrooney and Joseph Bergin were trying their level best to keep them in it, but Conor Hardiman showed his class with two exceptional goals, and his overall build up and passing was brilliant throughout. 

THE SCORERS

Kinnitty: Colm Coughlan 0-12 (11frees); Conor Hardiman 2-1;  James Dempsey and Odhran Kealey 0-2; Danny Flanagan and James Hardiman 0-1 each .

Seir Kieran: Joseph Bergin 1-6 (5frees); James Mulrooney 0-8 (4frees); Darragh Guinan 1-0; Adrian Hynes and Pat Gilligan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

Kinnitty: Niall Corrigan; Willie Molloy; Colm Coughlan; Brian Coughlan; Paddy Delaney; Danny Flanagan; Conor Hardiman; James Hardiman; Conor Meaney; Jason Armstrong; Shane Kinsella; Cathal Robinson; Eoghan Callaghan; James Dempsey; Aodhan Kealey. Subs: Bryan Donnelly for Jason Armstrong (44m); Odhran Kealey for Callaghan (50m); Christopher Leonard for Dempsey (61m)– . 

Seir Kieran:.Joseph Connors; Christopher Connors; Sean Coughlan; Donal Coughlan; Kieran Connor; Conor Dooley; Barry Kealey; John Coughlan; Stephen Gilligan; Joseph Bergin; Pat Gilligan; James Mulrooney; Tom Dooley; Adrian Hynes; Kevin Dunne. Subs: - Luke Carey for Coughlan (41m); Eanna Murphy for Tom Dooley (44m); Gilligan (55m); Darragh Guinan for Dunne (56m)  .

Referee – Joey Deehan, Clara.

REFEREE WATCH

Joey Deehan refereed the game very professionally. The sending offs were the right calls and his decisions overall were good and he allowed the game to flow in a good manner. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH:

Conor Hardiman’s second goal gave Kinnitty a strong lead and pushed them on to win the game as his two goals ultimately were the deciding factor.  

VENUE WATCH: 

St Brendan’s Park hosted the two games very well. It was a difficult week with the weather but as usual Birr had plenty of stewards on hand and everything proceeded in an orderly8 manner. 

WHAT'S NEXT:

Both sides season’s are finished for 2023. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Kinnitty (6)  –  2in the first half, 4 in the second half 

Seir Kieran (10)– 6 in the first half, 4 in the second half 

Yellow cards: Kinnitty - Danny Flanagan (1) 

  Seir Kieran - Christopher Connors (second yellow) (2).

Black cards: Kinnitty -  (0)

Seir Kieran (0).

Red cards: Kinntty – (0)

Seir Kieran – Adrian Hynes, Christopher Connors (2).