Dominant Kilcormac-Killoughey retain title as Clodiagh Gaels fail to hit double figures for second year

ON a horrible day for hurling, Kilcormac-Killoughey were impressive in an almost understated way as they retained their Senior “B” Hurling Championship title with a second consecutive final win over Clodiagh Gaels in Birr on Saturday afternoon.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship final

Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-13

Clodiagh Gaels 0-9

It was never a day for expansive, open hurling or spectacular scores but Kilcormac-Killoughey played very well to win with a considerable degree of comfort. They were very solid, very strong throughout the field and they can be very pleased with the way they played. It was far from a classic but the conditions with driving wind down to the town goal and spilling rain were responsible for this. K-K were the better team by a distance and were worth every bit of their seven point winning margin.

It is a bitter pill to swallow for Clodiagh Gaels. Last year, K-K had a stronger team but once again, Clodiagh Gaels failed to perform. They only managed eight points in last year's final, nine here and you simply can't win finals with that type of return. Not hitting double digits is inexcusable and not only that, but they never really created chances or opened up their opponents – three points from play was nowhere near good enough, even in these conditions.

They competed very well for the first fifteen minutes when playing against the strong wind but never looked like winning the game from then on. Clodiagh Gaels were in bother when trailing by 0-10 to 0-5 at half time – the wind meant that they still had a chance but five points was always likely to be a winning lead and there was not one minute in the second half when Kilcormac-Killoughey looked like losing it.

Winning two titles back to back in this grade represents a serious achievement for Kilcormac-Killoughey, a tribute to the depth in strength they have and the work they have done at underage level.

Like Drumcullen against the wind in the first game, Clodiagh Gaels hit the ground with great intent and battled for everything early on. They took the lead with a Joey Keenaghan point inside the first minute and the sides were level four times in the first fourteen minutes, when they tied for the last time, 0-4 each.

K-K got two clear with points from Shane Guinan and a Lochlann Kavanagh free. The Killeigh-Killurin side cut it to the minimum with a Liam Langton free in the 18^th minute. They would have been very happy with that deficit at that stage but by half time, the outlook had darkened considerably for them.

K-K did hit too many wides in the first half, 10 in all, and that was a source of concern for them. Most of these came early on but their shooting improved coming up to half time. The three points Shane Guinan, Thomas Geraghty and Conor Quinn ('65') pucked in the space of a minute with five to go to the break opened up a five point gap while the two frees Langton missed just before the break were real blows to their prospects.

While five points could be pulled back with the wind, it was clear that Clodiagh Gaels needed something special to happen and they never went close to that in the second half. They got the gap back to four points twice in the opening seven minutes but disaster struck them with a 44^th minute K-K goal. It summed up Clodiagh Gaels' day as Ruari Dunne failed to gather possession on his half back line, Cathal Kilmartin raced forward and his delivery from distance went straight to the net as Dan Currams tried to get his stick with it.

With a 1-11 to 0-7 deficit, Clodiagh Gaels' need for something special had turned into a requirement for a miracle. That never looked like happening as they could only manage two Liam Langton frees in the closing ten minutes. Conor Quinn got two at the other end for the winners and their dominance was summed up by the sight of Shane Guinan having a private moment of celebration, fist pumping after they won a free, even though there was still a couple of minutes of injury time to be played.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Shane Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey): In conditions like this, work rate was king and Shane Guinan summed up all that was so good about Kilcormac-Killoughey. He got two important first half points but it was his tackling, the unseen work that earns him the nod. Guinan won a lot of dirty ball, fought fiercely for everything and laid off simple passes, which was what this day called for.

Mark Mulrooney was a close contender, putting in a great shift at midfield while Peter Geraghty also showed his vast experience. As a unit, K-K won because they had so many players who did what was expected of them.

Clodiagh Gaels couldn't say the same. Dylan Hyland won some very good ball on their full back line, Joey Keenaghan went very well for much of the first half and Clint Horan worked hard in the centre of defence but overall, Clodiagh Gaels didn't play well and have no complaints at the defeat.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Conor Quinn 0-5 (4f and 1 '65'), Cathal Kilmartin 1-0, Shane Guinan, Peter Geraghty and Thomas Geraghty 0-2 each, Mark Mulrooney and Lochlann Kavanagh (f) 0-1 each.

Clodiagh Gaels: Liam Langton 0-6 (6f), Joey Keenaghan, Cathal Brady and Conor Langton 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Shane Mulrooney, Shane Melia (Captain), Charlie Bracken, Harry Sweeney; Kilian Leonard, Karl Guinan, Cathal Kilmartin; Mark Mulrooney, Peter Geraghty; Shane Guinan, JK Martin, Conor Quinn; Lochlann Kavanagh, Dan Currams, Thomas Geraghty Subs – James Gorman for Kavanagh (46m), Dylan Hand for Currams (59m), James Geraghty for Leonard (60m), Alan Spain for Thomas Geraghty (63m),

CLODIAGH GAELS: Kevin Kinahan; Dylan Hyland, Mark Kelly, Aaron Flanagan; Joey Keenaghan, Clint Horan (Captain), Eoin Dunne; Ben O'Brien, Sean Brady; Ruari Dunne, Liam Langton, Cathal Curran; Cathal Brady, Pat Lyons, Conor Langton. Subs – David Buckley for Curran (28m), Peter Walsh for Eoin Dunne (35m), Diarmuid Walsh for Ben O'Brien (54m),

Referee – Kieran Dooley (Drumcullen).

REFEREE WATCH

It wasn't an easy game for Kieran Dooley to referee. Conditions were terrible and if you pulled everything, the game would have been destroyed. He tried to get the balance right and his priority had to be controlling it and making sure it didn't get away from him. He did this and had a solid game. He should have shown Mark Mulrooney a first half yellow for throwing Liam Langton to the ground and there were a few debatable calls now and again but there were no big issues.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cathal Kilmartin's goal gave K-K a 1-11 to 0-7 lead and Clodiagh Gaels were never going to pull that back. It was a real wet day goal but it was a disaster for Clodiagh Gaels.

VENUE WATCH

These two finals created a huge occasion in Birr. A windy day helped the pitch despite the rain and there were plenty of stewards with several County Board officials on hand to help the regulars from the host club.

WHAT'S NEXT

Clodiagh Gaels go into the Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship as second teams are not allowed compete at that level.

STATISTICS

Wides: Clodiagh Gaels - 8 (3 in first half); Kilcormac-Killoughey – 13 (10 in first half).

Yellow cards: Clodiagh Gaels – 2 (Conor Langton and David Buckley); Kilcormac-Killoughey – 2 (Conor Quinn and Thomas Geraghty).

Red cards: 0.