Kinnitty retain senior status with comfortable win over Lusmagh

For the third time in four years, Kinnitty have avoided the drop back to Senior B when they comfortably saw off the challenge of Lusmagh in this Offaly Senior Hurling Championship relegation final played at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Pk on Sunday last. Lusmagh will be disappointed at the return to Senior B, after just one year in the top flight, but can have no complaints about the outcome.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Relegation Final

Kinnitty 0-18

Lusmagh 0-12

While the standard of play may not have been out of the top drawer, the game was vigorously contested by both sides, and the first half saw the sides level on five occasions, before Kinnitty finished the half the stronger scoring the last three points to go in three ahead at the break 0-11 to 0-8.

The second half was dominated by Kinnitty as Lusmagh failed to register a score until the 42nd minute, by which stage Kinnitty had built up a seven point advantage. Lusmagh fought hard in the last quarter to bridge the gap, but some wayward shooting and a stout Kinnitty defence saw the margin never go below four points.

Kinnitty began the game the brighter and points from Aodhán Kealey and Danny Flanagan had them two up inside three minutes. Lusmagh opened their account in the 6th minute when Paul Kinsella converted a 20 metre free. The same player sent over a 65’ two minutes later to level matters. Four scoreless minute followed before Cathal Robinson sent over the first of his five points, from long range. Kinsella pointed his second free, and a great Darren Healy point from half way edged Lusmagh in front for the first time. Kinsella from a free doubled their advantage, before Kinnitty responded with points from Standish and Robinson to make it 0-5 each on 18 minutes.

Ruairc Fay and Eimhin Kelly, with a massive strike, then swapped points, before Kinnitty edged two in front again with points from Fay and Robinson. Again Lusmagh responded first Aaron Kelly pointed from 40 metres and then Kinsella sent over a beauty from 14 metres almost on the sideline, to leave the sides level at 0-8 each for the fifth and final time in the game. In the remaining four minutes of the half Standish pointed two frees and Robinson hit over another long range effort to leave the half time score Kinnitty 0-11 Lusmagh 0-8.

Within a minute of the restart Standish forced Alan Kelly into an excellent save, at the expense of a 65’, which Kinnitty failed to convert. However, the soon took control of proceedings and three in a row from Conor Hardiman, Fay and Robinson had them 0-14 to 0-5 ahead after just six minutes of the half. Standish put over one from play in the 41st minute, before Kinsella registered his side’s first score of the half with a pointed free. Kealey responded with a Kinnitty point to restore his sides seven point advantage.

When Kinsella converted two frees and Graham Lynch added one from play, the margin was just four with five minutes to play and despite Kinnitty’s superiority a Lusmagh goal would have made for a hectic finish. However, poor shooting from Lusmagh and solid defence from Kinnitty, ensured the goal was not going to materialise. Kinnitty, as they had done in the first half finished the stronger and points from Kealey and substitute Adam Carroll, saw the nine times County Champions retain their status for 2027.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cathal Robinson (Kinnitty): In a game where scores were not free flowing Cathal Robinson’s display at mid-field earned him the title of Man of the Match, he controlled a lot of the play between the two sixty fives and send over five points from play. Paddy Delaney was also outstanding at centre back and pushed Robinson close for Man of the Match, Kinnitty had other stand out players in Paddy Rigney, Paddy Dooley in defence, while Danny Flanagan, Kealey, Fay and Standish all contributed up front.

For Lusmagh, Rory Quinlan Ruairi Kelly and Eimhin Kelly battled hard in defence. Darren Healy and Graham Lynch worked tirelessly in mid-field, but up front they were lacking in penetration with the starting six forwards only scoring two points from play.

THE SCORERS

Kinnitty: Cathal Robinson 0-5, Noel Standish 0-4 (0-1f), Aodhan Kealey 0-4, Ruairc Fay 0-2, Danny Flanagan 0-1, Adam Carroll 0-1, Conor Hardiman 0-1

Lusmagh: Paul Kinsella 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65’), Eimhin Kelly, Darren Healy, Graham Lynch, Aaron Kelly

THE TEAMS

Kinnitty: Niall Corrigan, Brian Coughlan, Paddy Rigney, Paddy Dooley, William Molloy, Paddy Dooley, Michael Dooley, Conor Meaney, Cathal Robinson, Noel Standish, Aodhan Kealey, Ruairc Fay, Danny Flanagan, James Dempsey, Conor Hardiman (Capt). Subs: Jason Armstrong for Fay, Adam Carroll for Standish, Odhran Kealey for Dempsey (all 58th minute)

Lusmagh: Alan Kelly, Rory Quinlan, Ruairi Kelly, Daire Temple, Lorcan Troy, Eimhin Kelly, Eimheann Kelly, Darren Healy, Graham Lynch (Capt), Eoin Quinlan, Aaron Kelly, Morgan Glynn, Luke Bowe, Paul Kinsella, James Kelly Subs: David Kelly for Glynn (half-time), Shane Healy for Bowe (40 min), Fionn O’Meara for David Kelly (59 min)

Referee - Adam Kinahan, Clodiagh Gaels.

REFEREE WATCH

In what was a keenly contested game Adam Kinahan was in full control and while it was by no means a dirty game, he did dish out five yellow cards, four of which went to Kinnitty players. Overall there was no contentious decision in the game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

There was no real moment that affected the outcome of the game.

VENUE WATCH

There was a decent crowd in Grant Heating St Brendan’s Pk for this game and as Birr GAA hosted with their usual efficiency.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kinnitty retain their Senior status for 2027, while Lusmagh drop back to Senior B.

STATISTICS

Wides: Kinnitty 10 (five in each half) Lusmagh 14 (six in 1st half)

Yellow Cards: Kinnitty 4 (Cathal Robinson, Danny Flanagan, William Molloy, James Dempsey); Lusmagh 1 (Aaron Kelly).

Red Cards: None