Favourites Kilcormac-Killoughey on high alert for tough challenge in U-20 HC final

WHILE they are warm favourites, Kilcormac-Killoughey will be on high alert for a real tough challenge when they meet Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle in the U-20 Hurling Championship final next Saturday in Banagher.

This final will wind the curtain down on Offaly's own programme of fixtures for 2023 and it is a game to look forward to.

Kilcormac-Killoughey will fully respect Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle, what they have to offer and the hurling they can play. They will plan accordingly and won't be taking anything for granted.

It has been a very good year for the Carrig-Riverstown club. They won the Offaly Intermediate |Hurling Championship title and have been going very well in the Leinster Junior Hurling Championship. Those games will have boosted the confidence of their U-20s and they will give it a really good shot on Saturday.

It is not a surprise that these two clubs are competing in the final and Kilcormac-Killoughey have been favourites since before a ball was pucked.

The championship had a new format this year with groups to provide extra games. Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle topped group 2 with full points.

They got a walkover from Belmont in their first game, beat Coolderry by 3-16 to 0-9 and showed their quality with a good 5-18 to 0-21 win over a decent Shinrone/Ballyskenach-Killavilla outfit in their last game. They came through a very tough battle in the semi-final, beating a good St Rynagh's by 0-16 to 1-12 and that game should stand to them.

Kilcormac-Killoughey have had a predictably easy package to the final. Drawn in a three team group 4, Kinnitty-Lusmagh opted out of fielding against them and they ran riot against Drumcullen-Seir Kieran, 7-31 to 1-13. They didn't get much of a test against Na Fianna in the semi-final, winning by 5-23 to 1-6.

They will be expecting much tougher opposition from Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle but it will still be a huge shock if they don't win.

Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle's two key players are Cathal King and Joe Hoctor, both of whom performed very well as Offaly went to the All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final in 2023. Goalkeeper Liam Hoare and Caelem Larkin played in the devastating 2022 All-Ireland minor hurling final defeat by Tipperary and they will be key players in defence. They have a lot of very solid hurlers, fast skilful ones and the border side will be focused on hitting the ground running with a fierce intent, hitting Kilcormac-Killoughey with everything they have and trying to upset them.

Kilcormac-Killoughey, however, have a frightening array of talent. James Mahon, Brecon Kavanagh, Ter Guinan, Colin Spain, Charlie Mitchell and Adam Screeney all started in the All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final defeat by Cork earlier this year. Mahon, twins Brecon and Leigh Kavanagh, Guinan, Daniel Hand, Screeney and Mark Mulrooney all played in that minor defeat by Tipperary and they will all be key players as Offaly try to get across the line at U-20 level in the next two years.

Brecon Kavanagh and Screeney were big additions to Kilcormac-Killoughey as they won the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship title in 2023 and others have graduated to the team since. Of the above mentioned players, James Mahon, Ter Guinan, Leigh Kavanagh and Daniel Hand were outstanding as Kilcormac-Killoughey won the Senior “B” Hurling Championship.

Leigh Kavanagh, Ter Guinan and James Mahon made their club senior debuts in last Sunday's extremely impressive Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship win over Wexford's Naomh Eanna on Sunday last and Daniel Hand has to be very close to getting his chance.

It is a very exciting time for Kilcormac-Killoughey hurling and they have a terrific array of really good young talent. The attitude of these young players has been exemplary to date as they match their talent with a huge work rate and despite the ease with which they can win games, there is no obvious signs of arrogance or over confidence.

It is a daunting proposition for Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle and their aim will be to stay as competitive as possible for as long as they can, to see where this brings them. The dream is to be alive and competitive inside the closing quarter, to see what Kilcormac-Killoughey will be made of if it is a dogfight.

Either way, Kilcormac-Killoughey have just too many quality players to make a coherent case for an upset here. The likelihood is that Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle will come out with all guns blazing and will be in the game for a while, maybe even into the second half but that K-K will be able to pull clear at some stage.

Verdict – Kilcormac-Killoughey.