Kilcormac/Killoughey reign supreme again to retain minor hurling title

EJ Access Solutions Offaly Minor Hurling Championship Final

KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY 2-23

BIRR 1-12

KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY won their seventh Offaly minor hurling title in eight years when they overcame a game Birr side in an entertaining final played at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr on Saturday.

The winners took complete control of the game in the second half as Birr's challenge began to fade and they played some delightful hurling, picking off some great scores as they stormed to a much deserved victory.

For much of the first half there was little to separate the sides and they were level on five occasions but a goal from a penalty four minutes before the break gave Kilcormac/Killoughey a bit of a cushion and they went in leading at half time by five points, 1-10 to 0-8.

Birr cut the lead to four points twice early in the second half but Kilcormac/Killoughey were beginning to dominate proceedings in the middle third and began to tot up the scores. Birr had a goal chance in the 39^th minute which would have got them back to within three points but Morgan Feenane's effort flew right across the face of the goals and Kilcormac/Killoughey then hit five points without reply in six minutes to take a stranglehold on the game. A second goal with 10 minutes left left them cruising and although Birr did get a late consolation goal, that is all it was and Kilcormac/Killoughey were comfortable 14 point winners in the end.

Overall Kilcormac/Killoughey were the better balanced team and were strong all over the field. They moved the ball well from defence into attack and they carried a more potent forward line who were clinical in picking off their scores. They displayed some lovely team work and were content to pick off their points rather than take too much out of the ball.

Birr battled gamely, particularly in the first half, but they had to work harder to get their scores. They didn't carry the same all round threat in attack as Kilcormac/Killoughey and with just a two man full forward line, as they deployed an extra man in defence, too often aimless ball went into empty space in the forward line with no Birr man near it. They showed great courage and determination in fighting for everything but in the second half they found it more difficult to contain Kilcormac/Killoughey, who came in waves, and Birr just had no answer. They only managed four points, three from placed balls, before their goal in injury time in the second half.

READ NEXT: Rhode rally late for deserved win in real dogfight of a final

In contrast Kilcormac/Killoughey showed great attacking ability with nine different players getting on the scoresheet from play for them. They were stronger physically than Birr and that began to pay off more as the game went on. They played lovely hurling throughout and showed there is no let up in the supply lines of talent in Kilcormac/Killoughey. A number of their players were picking up their second county title in a matter of weeks as they helped the under 20 side defeat CRCC in the final two weeks previously.

Brian Guinan was colossal at centre back and contributed four points from play from there, Jack O'Donoghue and Luke Bracken also did very well in defence. Oisin Carroll and Joe Quinn won a lot of ball around the middle of the field while in attack Odhran Fletcher led the way in the scoring stakes with Macdara Mitchell and Jack Dunican also providing strong support.

Birr never gave up and Darragh Carty, Sean Turley and Barry Bennett fought hard in defence, Tom O'Dwyer put in a good effort in the middle of the field and James Carroll and Edward Carty were best in attack.

Birr made a decent start and James Carroll pointed two frees inside the first three minutes to get them off the mark. Kilcormac/Killoughey's first point came from an Odhran Fletcher free and they had a chance of a goal when a sideline cut from Odhran Fletcher hit the post and came down in the square but Aaron Screeney just failed to gather. Odhran Fletcher pointed a free from inside his own half and a '65' to put Kilcormac/Killoughey in front for the first time but Birr levelled after 11 minutes when Campbell Naughton got the game's first point from play and from the puck out James Carroll won the ball and pointed.

Odhran Fletcher levelled from a free but James Carroll scored a good point from 45m for Birr. James Dunican quickly levelled and Macdara Mitchell added another to leave Kilcormac/Killoughey a point ahead midway through the half.

READ NEXT: Significant overhaul of Offaly SFC proposed with strong and weak group for 2026

The sides were level for the fifth time when Edward Carty showed great control when taking a pass from Rian Quinn and he pointed but Kilcormac/Killoughey began to turn the screw. Odhran Fletcher, Brian Guinan and Joe Quinn all hit points from play and then after 26 minutes Kilcormac/Killoughey won a penalty when Aaron Screeney was fouled, although some felt he had taken too many steps. Ryan Lagace got a stick to Odhran Fletcher's penalty but couldn't keep it out. James Carroll pointed two more for Birr, one a free, with Brian Guinan getting on the mark for Kilcormac/Killoughey as they led by 1-10 to 0-8 at half time.

Edward Carty had a Birr point inside the first minute of the second half and Odhran Fletcher replied from a free. James Carroll pointed another Birr free but Sean Gill and Macdara Mitchell, after a lovely Odhran Fletcher pass, pushed Kilcormac/Killoughey six clear.

Birr's best chance of a goal came nine minutes into the half when Morgan Feenane raced in from the right hand side but from a very difficult angle his shot flew right across the face of the goals. Michael Kelly, Macdara Mitchell and Brian Guinan quickly added points as Kilcormac/Killoughey began to put daylight between the sides. Odhran Fletcher pointed from a free and from play before James Carroll got Birr's first point in 14 minutes.

With 10 minutes left Kilcormac/Killoughey registered their second goal. Odhran Fletcher's long free dropped into the goalmouth and Aaron Screeney bundled the ball to the net. James Carroll pointed another Birr free but Odhran Fletcher (free), Jack Dunican and Brian Guinan all added points for Kilcormac/Killoughey. Odhran Fletcher pointed a free from midfield before Birr got a goal a minute into injury time when Ruairi Pilkington's shot from 20m found its way to the net. Kilcormac/Killoughey had the last say with sub Cian Dillon pointing.

READ NEXT: Relieved Tullamore rescue fortunate draw as Shamrocks let golden chance slip in junior “B” classic

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY: James McLoughlin; Sean Cleary, Jack O'Donoghue, Luke Bracken; Sean Gill, Brian Guinan, James Lynch; Oisin Carroll, Joe Quinn; Michael Kelly, Jack Dunican, Macdara Mitchell; Fiachra Carroll, Odhran Fletcher, Aaron Screeney. Subs. Eamon Molloy (for Fiachra Carroll, 47 mins), Oisin McKeon, Cian Dillon (for Joe Quinn, 53 mins), Ruairi Kilmartin (for Jack Dunican, 58 mins), Jack Mitchell (for Aaron Screeney, 58 mins).

BIRR: Ryan Lagace; Oscar Boyd, Darragh Carty, Sean Turley; Ruairi Mooney, Barry Bennett, Rian Quinn; Michael Kelly, Tom O'Dwyer; James Carroll, Conor Kelly, Campbell Naughton; Ruairi Pilkington, Moran Feenane, Edward Carty. Subs.Robert Landy (for Conor Kelly, 35 mins), Leo Shannon (for Campbell Naughton, 51 mins), Oran Coughlan (for Morgan Feenane, 57 mins), Barry Tierney (for Tom O'Dwyer, 60 mins), Callum Dwyer (for Ruairi Mooney, 60 mins).

REFEREE: Matthew Farrell (Tullamore).

MAN OF THE MATCH

The main contenders were all on the Kilcormac/Killoughey team. Birr captain James Carroll deserves mention for scoring nine of his side's points, but on the Kilcormac side Brian Guinan, with four points for centre back was the main challenger to my man of the match Odhran Fletcher. He scored 1-10 of his side's total, 1-8 from placed balls, but it was his involvement as well in the general play that is worthy of recognition in a fine all round display.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

As Kilcormac/Killoughey began to take control in the second half, their 13^th point in the 36^th minute was a thing of beauty. Odhran Fletcher came out to meet a long ball but it was his sweet offload to the onrunning Macdara Mitchell that set the wing forward away and he floated the ball between the posts for a delightful score.

REFEREE WATCH

Matthew Farrell handled the game well throughout. An early yellow card set down a marker for the players that nothing untoward would be tolerated. One person on each bench also received a yellow card in the second half. Liaised well with his sideline officials and umpires in the second half to rule that a point that had initially been awarded was actually wide.

WHAT’S NEXT

Kilcormac/Killoughey claimed their seventh minor title in eight years as their domination at this level continues. Birr with a side featuring a good number of under 16s will look to the future hoping they can return again in search of this title next year.

VENUE WATCH

On a lovely day for hurling, the St Brendan's Park pitch was in fine condition for this game. It was part of a double header with the Under 16 B final and the Birr club had plenty of stewards on duty to cater for everything and all arrangements were in good order.

STATISTICS

Wides; Kilcormac/Killoughey 8 (4 in first half) Birr 7 (5 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Kilcormac/Killoughey 2 (Jack O'Donoghue, Oisin Carroll) Birr 3 (Darragh Carty, James Carroll, Leo Shannon)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac/Killoughey; Odhran Fletcher (1-10, 1-0 penalty, 0-7 frees, 0-1 '65'), Brian Guinan (0-4), Macdara Mitchell (0-3), Aaron Screeney (1-0), Jack Dunican (0-2), Joe Quinn, Sean Gill, Michael Kelly, Cian Dillon (0-1 each).

Birr; James Carroll (0-9, 0-6 frees), Ruairi Pilkington (1-0), Edward Carty (0-2), Campbell Naughton (0-1).

READ NEXT: Offaly-made thriller to air on RTE2 television on Monday night