Slevin and Kilcormac-Killoughey aiming for sixty minute performance

TWELVE months ago, Kilcormac-Killoughey's vastly experienced net-minder Conor Slevin was full of trepidation when he spoke ahead of the Senior Hurling Championship final against Shinrone.

They had been blown away by a ravenous Shinrone the previous year as they won their first ever title.

After making the breakthrough in 2012 and winning three in a row, Kilcormac-Killoughey had returned to take another title in 2017. They hit a wall then, losing finals in 2018 and 2020. They performed particularly poorly in the Covid delayed final defeat to St Rynagh's in 2020 and were expected to take Shinrone in 2022.

Shinrone, however, had generated great momentum that year and when they scented glory during the second half, K-K were powerless as they succumbed to a 0-26 to 2-13 defeat.

It meant there was massive pressure on everyone for the renewal last year and Conor Slevin, in goals when K-K won their first in 2012, knew exactly how high the stakes were. On the day, however, the new emerging K-K team reached for the stars as they won by 3-26 to 3-8 and this year they have been in super form as they returned to the final, facing Ballinamere on Sunday.

Slevin agreed that the mood is a different this year, a more normal type of final anxiety prevailing now.

“It probably is a bit different. Last year we were after losing the county final the year before and probably didn't perform the way we wanted to and we righted that wrong 12 months ago in the county final but that's all done now, it's a fresh year, different opposition than last year too so any time you get to a county final, you always go at the start of the year hoping to do that and hope the next few weeks go well, keep together training and hopefully get the win.”

Relief was the primary emotion after last year's final.

“It was a big relief really. We won in 2017 and lost the final in 2018 and lost another one during Covid and lost another one in 2022 to Shinrone so last year after losing three finals in a row it was a big one to win.”

He was surprised that they won so comprehensively last year.

“Shinrone probably didn't turn up on the day and we got a purple patch on them in the first half and it was always going to be hard for them to come back from that. The year before probably hurt us as well. They played very well the year before and we were very well prepared for that and we were ready for them because they were a very good team and we were making sure the same thing wasn't going to happen again.”

K-K have brought their performances to a different level again this year and Slevin was asked was that a fair comment.

“It looks like that through results and that. Over the last few years we probably haven't played 60 minutes in games every day you went out and this year I suppose we have done. One or two games there was a dip in the middle but we have been focusing on performances over the 60 minutes and really trying to make sure that we are going to get the performance over the 60 minutes and not just in patches through the games. The competition for places out here at the minute is very good. The Senior B team have won a county final again so we probably have 35-40 senior hurlers in the club and with the competition for places lads won't want to let up when they get their chance on the field.”

K-K's demolition jobs on St Rynagh's in the group and Coolderry in the semi-final were the two standout performances this year. In both games, K-K were absolutely ruthless, going out to bury them early on.

“I suppose so. That's probably the respect we have for those teams. We know that you have to keep the foot down if you get the chance because they are that good a team that if you let up on them at all and they get a run on you it is very hard stop them. We have seen that over the years with both Rynagh's and Coolderry. Coolderry in 2018 got down on top of us and never let up and Rynagh's did it for a few years around 2020. We have great respect for those teams but we knew we had to put the foot down against them.”

The spin off from those type of displays is that is heightens expectations about what K-K are capable of, creates the impression that they can't be beaten in Offaly. Is that a downside or a positive?

“Oh yeah, that's outside the camp but there's nothing we can do about that inside the camp, all we can do is go out and perform on the day and hope we win matches. Look, over the next few weeks we'll be keeping everyone's feet on the ground around here and our management team will be doing that and they have done it very well all year so far, so we'll be preparing as we did for any other county final and we'll be giving Ballinamere the respect they deserve because of how good a team they are and we'll be preparing for the next few weeks like that.”

Some people from outside the camp are talking about what K-K can do in Leinster and even further. Slevin agreed that they have to shut out this noise.

“That won't get into this camp or this dressing room. We won't be getting ahead of ourselves. Ballinamere will take their chance if we get ahead of ourselves and didn't turn up. We have the utmost respect for them and know how good a team they are. We have seen in their performances this year what they have done to teams that have been winning county finals over the last couple of years as well and the amount of good hurlers they have. They have seven, eight, nine ten lads that are hurling inter county hurling and have previously hurled inter county, so we know how good they are and we'll be giving them as much respect as we can.”

The big anomaly with this final is that K-K are hot favourites but Ballinamere had more players hurling senior for Offaly this year.

“They are all fantastic hurlers. We have a good few younger lads coming through, a lot of senior lads are getting on, over the 30 mark I suppose, and over the next few years we will be hoping that the club will be getting up there with the likes of Ballinamere with the amount they have playing for Offaly. In this county final there will be a lot of Offaly senior hurlers on the field.”

Slevin has watched Ballinamere's emergence over the last few years, their incremental improvement each year.

“They have improved a lot over the last five or six years and the crop of lads they have at the minute are after pushing them on there too. We can remember in 2002 when we got to our first ever county final, I was young enough myself, but I can remember the buzz around the place and that's going to be over there for the next two weeks. They will be looking forward to the big day as well and we will be giving them as much respect as we can.”

James Mahon, Ter Guinan, Leigh Kavanagh, Daniel Hand are established on the team this year after playing senior B last year.

“They are after coming on this year and proving that they are good enough. We all knew last year that it was going to be hard to make the team on account of larger volumes and after the Senior B last year as well, it showed how good they were and they came on this year and took their chance. But they know as well that they have to be performing because there are lads there waiting to get their opportunity. At training nights and playing matches amongst ourselves, they will have to give a performance to keep their place in the team.”

K-K have a huge pick at the moment, fielding four adult hurling teams this year.

“We are lucky at the minute, it is a great club the last number of years, and we are not going to complain about it and we are delighted the way it is, delighted the Senior Bs won again and they won last year too, but we'll only be hoping that we can push on hopefully get another win on Sunday.”

While everyone is talking about K-K's young stars, the performances of experienced stalwarts Slevin, Cillian Kiely, Damien Kilmartin and Conor Mahon have been pivotal. Slevin agreed they need the mix.

“You do. A number of lads came through and they are brilliant around the dressing room and they are a breath of fresh air, but the older lads are there as well and trying to keep everything on the same road. Damien Kilmartin probably doesn't get the recognition he deserves, he's probably the most valuable player on the team the last 15-20 years. He's an unbelievable man, the way he performs on the training pitch even and the way he minds himself. And the same with Conor Mahon, he minds himself very well and prepares himself right, so the older lads have been many years on the road and the younger lads are mad to get going.”

He has heard all the suggestions that K-K will dominate but also shuts that out.

“That's it. I heard about that last year that we would dominate but we only have the one county title. The only way you can dominate is by winning what's in front of you and we'll be taking that one game at a time and that game is on Sunday for us, so we'll be hoping to get over the line.”