Ruthless Kilcormac-Killoughey saunter back to final as Coolderry's worse nightmare unfolds

THE game and outcome that everyone feared except Kilcormac-Killoughey people duly came to fruition as they holders played some champagne hurling on their way back to the Senior Hurling Championship final.

Molloy Precast And Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

Kilcormac-Killoughey 4-21

Coolderry 1-11

The final score of 4-21 to 1-11 shows exactly how much better they were than a beleaguered, out fought and outclassed Coolderry side. It was every bit as clearcut as that indicates and Kilcormac-Killoughey's watching final opponents, Ballinamere will be under no illusions about the scale of the challenge awaiting them.

Most observers reckoned that Kilcormac-Killoughey would win this handy enough but had hoped that it might take them into the second half to open daylight between the sides. Instead, K-K were well on the road to victory within minutes of the throw in and could start planning their final preparations by the quarter way stage.

It was a stunning, relentless, hugely impressive display by K-K and Coolderry just could not live with them. They had three subs introduced by the 25^th minute, Billy Burke's 10^th minute departure forced through injury while the sight of K-K calling their talisman Cillian Kiely ashore just ten minutes into the second half told an even bigger story – quite simply, Kiely won't be replaced in any mildly competitive game unless his leg is hanging off!

The quality of K-K's hurling took the breath away – their passing was fast and slick, movement superb and score taking out of the top drawer.

Coolderry have a terrific record of performing on big occasions and it had been hoped that their traditional belief and fighting qualities would keep them alive here into the second half but they were beaten early – those qualities may have been there but were not obvious and if they were, they were never going to be sufficient against a Kilcormac-Killoughey outfit in this form and this focused.

Kilcormac-Killoughey came flying out of the blocks and were clearly determined to kill this one off very early. They had four points on the board by the fifth minute and were 0-9 to 0-2 ahead when Charlie Mitchell got an 18^th minute goal, showing delightful skill to carve open losing defence and his shot was half blocked but still hit the net.

It was all over at that stage and K-K led by 1-14 to 0-5 at half time – All five of Coolderry's first half points came from Daniel Miller, three of them from frees.

Mitchell set Conor Mahon up for a 33^rd minute goal to make it 2-15 to 0-5 and they extended their advantage to 3-20 to 0-6 when Mitchell made the space to kick the ball to the net in the 45^th minute. Coolderry had drawn groans from the crowd with some poor wides before that but they did rally briefly after it, with Andrew Connolly rattling home a great goal a minute later and they added three points without reply to make it 3-20 to 1-9 with five minutes left.

K-K visibly eased off the throttle in the second quarter, emptying their bench and there is no doubt that they could have scored more if they wished. However, they did more than enough on the day and to be fair to Coolderry, who competed well against them in their final group game, they are not the first traditional force to be handed a lesson by K-K this year – the same fate befell St Rynagh's in the group and K-K on this form are very difficult to live with.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey): A choice between Daniel Hand and Charlie Mitchell, who were both on the top of their game in the K-K full back line. Hand has been a terrific addition to K-K this year and he took five quality points as well as spraying good passes around and showing a real hurling brain. Mitchell, however, is the choice. He scored 2-5 but also took the breath away with the quality of his hurling, his skill levels and ability to leave a man for dead.

Ter Guinan was excellent in defence in the early stages as they took control and overall, it was very close to a complete performance by Kilcormac-Killoughey.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Charlie Mitchell 2-5, Adam Screeney 0-8 (6f), Conor Mahon 2-0, Daniel Hand 0-5, Ter Guinan 0-2, Damien Kilmartin 0-1.

Coolderry: Daniel Miller 0-8 (5f), Andrew Connolly 1-0, Kevin Connolly 0-2, Shane Connolly 0-1.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Tom Spain, Oisin Mahon;,James Mahon;Brecon Kavanagh, Cillian Kiely, Ter Guinan; Damien Kilmartin, Colin Spain; Jordan Quinn, Conor Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh; Daniel Hand; Charlie Mitchell; Adam Screeney. Subs – Enda Grogan for Kiely (40m), Jack Screeney for Leigh Kavanagh (43m), Peter Geraghty for Kilmartin (45m). Alex Kavanagh for Adam Screeney (50m), Cathal Kiely for Guinan (56m),

COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Stephen Connolly, Billy Burke, Stephen Burke; Eoghan Parlon, David King, Conor Molloy; Cian Burke, William Malone; Ajay Cleary, Eoin Ryan, Shane Ryan; Kevin Connolly, Andrew Connolly, Daniel Miller. Subs – Conor Hogan for Billy Burke, inj. (11m), Gearoid McCormack for Shane Ryan (23m), Eoin Burke for Malone (25m), James Tooher for Cian Burke (43m), Shane Connolly for Parlon (53m),

Referee – Shane Guinan (Drumcullen).

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Guinan refereed it well. With k-K so dominant, it was an easy enough one to handle but the Drumcullen man was very efficient.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Charlie Mitchell's 18^th minute goal made it 1-9 to 0-2 and everyone in O'Connor Park knew at that stage what way this was going to go.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch held up very well which is great as it is scheduled to host four big football games next weekend. There was a large crowd at the two games, which was also great to see.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kilcormac-Killoughey play Ballinamere in the final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 8 (4 in first half); Coolderry – 9 (1 in 1^st half).

Yellow cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.