Kilcormac-Killoughey forced to dig deep by brave Carrig-Riverstown/Crinke

KILCORMAC-Killoughey's class and quality eventually shone through as they retained their U-20 Hurling Championship with a very hard earned win over a wound up Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle (CRC) at Banagher on Saturday afternoon.

Molloy Environmental Systems U-20 Hurling Championship final

Kilcormac-Killoughey 3-12

Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle 0-16

The favourites were forced to dig deep and showed that they could win a battle too as they were pushed to the wire by the combined outfit.

Played at a damp, blustery Banagher, Kilcormac-Killoughey could have been caught very easily here as CRC missed a couple of chances that could have made it really interesting in the closing few minutes.

CRC can be really proud of the way they played as they emptied the tank, worked their socks off and made K-K to work so hard for their win. K-K, however, also possessed those attributes of work rate and determination and at the end of the day, their bit of quality shone through. It wasn't a vintage K-K performance but it is hard to produce that in November. They were guilty of taking wrong options on a couple of occasions with Daniel Hand and Ter Guinan going for goals in each half instead of taking tap over points but overall K-K were the better side and deserved to win.

Goals were the difference between the teams here as Kilcormac-Killoughey broke through for three quality ones while CRC never really threatened to breach a very strong defence and solid goalkeeper Morgan Bennett – they did loft a few dangeroous balls into the K-K square and a goal can always emerge in such heavy conditions at this time of year but a CRC goal would have been in that fortunate type rather than manufactured category.

K-K did just enough to win what was a genuinely entertaining, fiercely fought, physical game with a lot of very good hurling in an appetising mix. With an upset never off the table, even when K-K opened up a seven point gap at the three quarter way mark, it commanded complete attention the whole way and it provided a fitting conclusion to the Offaly club season.

Both sides had tried to get this game postponed during the week as they have big Leinster club championship games coming up next weekend but as you would expect, it had to go ahead. There was never any suggestion of any player holding anything back or trying to avoid injury as they played at full intensity, pulled back from nothing and went to the limit.

K-K held a slender one point lead at half time and once they got 3-9 to 0-11 clear 13 minutes into the second half, they had just enough of a cushion to get home.

Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle really carried the game to the favourites in the first half and were in a very good position at half time when they only trailed by 1-7 to 0-9 and a slight wind advantage to come.

CRC did exactly what they needed to do, hitting the ground running with a fierce intensity and quickly forcing Kilcormac-Killoughey onto the back foot.

They had to do that to have any chance of winning and their motivation levels were sky high from the throw in. They were excellent early on, running at pace at K-K and they stormed into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after four minutes.

K-K settled down after this and began to fight hard but found it hard to create chances against a tenancious CRC defence. The losers were 0-5 to 0-3 ahead after eleven minutes but K-K found a run of form, scoring 1-2 without reply in the next eight minutes.

The goal was a very good finish by Alex Kavanagh in the 19th minute after great approach work by Charlie Mitchell to put them 1-5 to 0-5 ahead. CRC did really well after this, digging deep and scoring four of the last six points, three of them Lee Hogan frees, to leave only a point in it at the break.

Two second half goals for Kilcormac-Killoughey ultimately separated the sides and they werre top quality ones. Team captain Charlie Mitchell broke through for an excellent goal in the 32nd minute to give K-K a 2-8 to 0-10 lead. Mitchell was also instrumental in the third goal in the 40th minute, breaking forward at pace and off loading to Adam Screeney who finished with the confidence and expertise we have come to expect from this talented young man.

With a 3-9 to 0-11 lead, it looked all over but CRC did terrifically well to get back into it. They battled with fierce determination and got five points on the trot, three frees and ones from play by Joe Hoctor and Cathal King, to bring the gap back to two points, 0-16 to 3-9 and less than ten minutes to go.

K-K were seriously worried and CRC had a couple of chances to narrow the gap even further but the winners broke for a quality Adam Screeney point in the 53rd minute. Alex Kavanagh and Screeney (free) added points to put K-K five up and leave CRC chasing goals. Goalie Liam Hoare – it is great to see him back in action and playing so well after his health battle – went for goal from a 21 metre free and they dropped another couple of balls in but at this stage, they were really chasing miracles and a relieved K-K held on.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey): It is a very good sign of a game when you have several contenders for man of the match on both sides. For CRC, Patrick Bergin, Caelum Larkin, Joe Hoctor, Cathal King and Lee Hogan were all outstanding. James Mahon, Oisin Kilmartin and Brecon Kavanagh were magnificent in the Kilcormac-Killoughey defence. Colin Spain put in a terrific shift at midfield, Daniel Hand had a fine game in the attack with Alex Kavanagh having very good moments and Adam Screeney once again showing his quality and the incredible work rate he possesses on a day when Caelum Larkin stuck to him like glue.

The selection, however, is Kilcormac-Killoughey captain, Charlie Mitchell. On a day when every ball was ferociously fought for, he also demonstrated great qualities of work rate and also oozed quality in open play. His contribution to K-K's win was profound and he had a leading hand in all three goals, scoring the middle one and breaking clear, running at full speed at the CRC defence to set up the other two, as well as firing over a point.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Adam Screeney 1-8 (6f and 1`'65'), Charlie Mitchell and Alex Kavanagh 1-1 each, Daniel Hand 0-2.

Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle: Lee Hogan 0-6 (4f), Cathal King 0-5 (2f and 1 '65), Joe Hoctor, Conor Hanamy, Cathal Erritty (f), Peter King and Conor McDowdall 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Morgan Bennett; Diarmuid Bracken, James Mahon, Charlie Bracken; Oisin Kilmartin, Brecon Kavanagh, Oisin Guinan; Colin Spain, Ter Guinan; Dan Coughlan, Charlie Mitchell, Leigh Kavanagh; Alex Kavanagh, Daniel Hand, Adam Screeney. Subs – Mark Mulrooney for Diarmuid Bracken (HT), Richard Bracken for Coughlan (HT), Harry Sweeney for Guinan (51m)

CARRIG-RIVERSTOWN/CRINKLE: Liam Hoare; Kian McDowdall, Patrick Bergin, Caelum Larkin; Canice Stevenson, Joe Hoctor, Sean Connaughton; Cathal King, Conor Hanamy; Cathal Erritty, Peter King, Paul Heather; Conor McDowdall, Lee Hogan, Conor Franks. Subs – Diarmuid Brennan for Heather (44m), Eoin King for Connaughton (48m), Timmy Carey for Franks (51m), Brody Larkin for McDowdall (54m),

Referee – Adam Kinahan (Clodiagh Gaels).

REFEREE WATCH

Adam Kinahan is one of the most competent referees in the county and had an excellent game. He was in control, got nearly everything right – some CRC supporters did become a bit vocal about him late on but they had no justifiable issue as everything balanced out, he was scruplessly impartial as he tried to get the balance right between calling fouls and allowing play to run. He was also a busy man as there was a real edge to this game and by showing cards regularly, he kept players in order.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The point Adam Screeney scored in the 53rd minute was a pivotal moment. Screeney brilliantly made space and arrowed over a beauty at a stage when K-K were desperate for a score. CRC had scored five in a row to bring the gap back to two and a shock was looming large. Screeney's point not only put three between them, it took the wind out of CRC's sails, K-K followed up with two more and the deal was done.

VENUE WATCH

With the Shannon filling fields all around Banagher, the pitch was in very good condition. It was remarkably solid and as usual St Rynagh's hosted the fixture to perfection.

WHAT'S NEXT

That concludes the year for both these teams though several players have big adult Leinster club games to look forward to next weekend.

STATISTICS

Wides: K-K - 5 (3 in first half); Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle –8 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 2 (Leigh Kavanagh and Daniel Hand); CRC – 5 (Kian McDowdall, Conor Hanamy, Peter King, Sean Connaughton and Diarmuid Brennan).

Red cards: 0.