Another successful step in a great year for Kilcormac/Killoughey manager

DECLAN Laffan has had a hectic year. He was part of the backroom team that helped Tipperary regain the Liam MacCarthy Cup in July and now in his first year in charge, he has guided Kilcormac/Killoughey to the Offaly county title.

And the year is not over yet as they now face into a Leinster Club campaign with a trip to face the Kilkenny champions pencilled in for November 9.

The Loughmore/Castleiney clubman previously guided Laois champions Clough/Ballacolla to a Leinster final, only to come up against Ballyhale Shamrocks in their pomp. He could get another crack at them if they defeat O'Loughlin Gaels in next Sunday's Kilkenny final.

At half time in last Sunday's final Kilcormac/Killoughey looked well on the way to victory but Shinrone stormed back in the second half and got the gap down to a single point at one stage.

“At half time you probably felt we'd be hoping to kick on and maybe keep them at arm's length. They changed the way they were playing. They went very direct, causing us problems and working off breaks. They brought on Ciaran Cleary and he caused all kinds of trouble. Having said that, we still won by seven, we recovered, there was a point in it I think with five minutes of normal to go, maybe four. We got the next two points to go three up and then we got the goal and the point to finish it out. So it showed the character and what we have in the dressing room at the same time to get there at the end,” Declan said.

That late goal came from Charlie Mitchell who finished with 1-5 in total and the manager was full of praise for his corner forward.

“He was probably the standout performer all day. There's no point saying he wasn't. He was very unfortunate with another chance coming in. Around the time they hit the crossbar, I think we came straight up and it looked like we could have had one. It could have been put to bed maybe five or six minutes earlier, but it wasn't. But look, we saw it out, so we'll keep it going.”

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Kilcormac/Killoughey had gone a long time without a score in the final quarter as Shinrone whittled the lead down to one before Conor Slevin pointed a long range free to settle them down again.

“Yeah and that was a huge free just behind his own 65 into that breeze. It was a huge score. It quelled their momentum a little bit. I'm not going to say it (killed it) completely. It was an important strike and he hit two more monsters in the first half as well. But look, them scores are huge in games like this. They're decided on tight margins.”

Kilcormac/Killoughey played great hurling in the first half when 10 different players got on the scoresheet for them.

“Thomas Spain even snuck up for a point here just before half-time. But look, maybe in the first half they were all going over. Second half, not so much. We were getting blocked down and hooks and harries and we hadn't the same time on the ball. I suppose on the line we probably felt we were kind of doing a little bit of messing with it. Maybe we should have been popping the easy score. Maybe it looked a little bit at times we were trying to force a goal chance while, you know, just keep the scoreboard clipping when you're out in front like that and keep the distance in it.”

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He agreed that their second quarter display was as good as they've played since he took over.

“I would think so, yeah. Look, I thought that first half as a whole, that's what you're chasing every day. We're all realistic to know you're not going to get that. If you can turn it on at the important stages of the season, that's what you need."

It has been a hectic year for him with his involvement with Tipperary and Kilcormac/Killoughey but he said he took it in his stride.

“I don't overthink it. I just get on with it, look, let every day be what it is and we won't get bogged down and stuff and win or lose, you just have to get up and go again.”

Now they face that trip to face the Kilkenny champions.

“It's going to be a tough challenge, but look, that's the draw and if you want to be competing at the top table, they are teams you have to be trying to challenge and turn over and look, we'll go away, we'll enjoy tonight and the next day or two and we'll get back to preparations later on in the week and we'll see how it takes us.”

The experience of getting to a Leinster final last year will be an incentive to drive on this year.

“Absolutely, they're a terrific bunch of players. They want to try and get to the top, no different to players in any county, so we'll just get in preparation and we'll have a look at who comes out of Kilkenny next week and we'll take it from there,” Declan added.