SBK deny K-K seven in a row with penalty shootout win after feast of fantastic hurling

NO praise is high enough for the young hurlers of Shinrone/Ballyskenach-Killavilla and Kilcormac-Killoughey who served up an absolute feast of hurling in a magnificently entertaining Offaly U20 Hurling Championship final replay at a spellbound St Brendan's Park, Birr on Saturday.

Molloy Environmental Systems U20 Hurling Championship final replay

Shinrone/Ballyskenach-Killavilla 3-25

Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-31

(SBK win 3-2 on penalties)

The drawn game a few weeks ago provided fantastic entertainment and somehow they trumped that here in a mighty contest that couldn't produce a winner after extra time and had to be decided on penalties.

It was a terrific advertisement for Offaly underage hurling, with a huge level of commitment by two sides who were full to the brim with character, didn't know when they were beaten and refused to go away.When it all ended just after 4pm, SBK were the new champions, denying Kilcormac-Killoughey seven in a row after a penalty shootout that summed up how this went – full of twists and turns with K-K having the early initiative before SBK wrestled it from their grasp.

Firstly to the penalty shootout:

K-K drew first blood with Odhran Fletcher converting and Gearoid Maher's strike saved. Jack Dunican's shot was saved for K-K and Liam O'Riordan made no mistake, 1-1. Mark Mulrooney and Fionn Carney both hit the net, 2-2 with three taken. Harry Sweeney's shot was saved by Matt Watkins and James O'Sullivan gave SBK the lead, 3-2 and four each taken. Aaron Screeney had to convert for K-K but his shot was saved and SBK were the new champions.

Penalties is a hard way to lose and is normally a questionable way to decide an outcome but it was the fairest method here as 2 hours and 20 minutes of hurling plus injury time hadn't separated them. They couldn't go on for ever, one replay was enough and there had to be a winner.

It was a hard defeat for K-K but SBK did need this win more. This outstanding young team have done so well in minor ranks, won the minor title three years ago and with complete and absolute respect to K-K, it means so much more to Shinrone and Ballyskenach-Killavilla GAA Clubs, who provided the players for SBK

Seven in a row would have been a fantastic achievement for K-K but it is always good to see a spread of honours and both sets of players can be so proud of the way they competed, the sportsmanship they showed. They were teak tough, held nothing back but they hurled as if their lives depended on it.

It was just such a treat to watch over the two days and SBK may have just about deserved it. 2-8 to 0-12 up at half time, they were certainly in control when they led by 3-15 to 0-17 inside the last ten minutes of normal time. However, they conceded an awful goal and K-K staged a sensational charge for the line, getting in front, 4-23 to 3-16 with just two minutes left.

SBK got back in front deep in injury time and it took an Odhran Fletcher free to force extra time, 1-24 to 3-18. K-K held a tentative 1-27 to 3-20 lead at the end of the first period of extra time but it did look like they had the momentum and that they had a slight edge in fittness.

They were 1-29 to 3-21 ahead two minutes into the second period but SBK went through the pain barrier and were level with five minutes to go. K-K led 1-31 to 3-24 as it drifted into injury time but SBK got one last chance and Gearoid Maher held his nerve to fire over the equalising free to bring it to penalties – and on the day, that was the fairest solution as no side really deserved to lose in open play and the lottery of a penalty shootout was the easiest way to go down.

It was a fantastic spectacle the whole way and you couldn't take your eyes off it for a second. The standing ovation that the supporters gave the players at the end of normal time was a beautiful touch and a fully deserved acknowledgement of what they were giving on the day.

The first half made terrific viewing with SBK making a blistering start. Liam O'Riordan ran riot for the first two minutes, scoring 1-2 with his goal a great strike after a James Sampson pass.

K-K setttled with points from Odhran Fletcher (free), Aaron Screeney and Jack Dunican but SBK struck with a sensational 1-2 from the sixth to ninth minute. This time, the outstanding James O'Sullivan was the hero as he got them all, the goal coming from a deft ground strike in the sixth minute.

That gave them a 2-4 to 0-3 lead but they were forced onto the back foot for the next fifteen minutes plus. SBK didn't score again until O'Riordan got a free in the 24th minute and by that stage, K-K had 0-9 on the board.

K-K were dominant in that spell and SBK didn't help themselves as they were overturned too often with short passes intercepted or fumbled by the intended recipient. SBK, however, found their form again late on and matched K-K point for point to lead by 2-8 to 0-12 at the break: 2-7 of their scores came from O'Riordan and O'Sullivan with only Seamie Cleare contributing and that was one ground for concern for them.

It continued in the same vein in the second half with every ball fiercely contested and a great quality of hurling. K-K started well and points from Jack Dunican and Odhran Fletcher (free) had the sides level within a minute of the restart.

SBK found another gear and four of the next five points had them 2-12 to 0-15 ahead. Their lead was 3-14 to 0-16 after 40 minutes, Ben Young blasting home the goal after the K-K defence completely lost him. They were 3-15 to 0-17 ahead after 49 minutes and it was theirs to lose but K-K staged a sensational recovery.

Fletcher got a free and K-K got the break they had to with a 51st minute goal. It was a disaster of a goal from an SBK perspective as Matt Watkins got caught in no man's land as the ball dropped in. Gearoid Maher had peeled off Mark Mulrooney to wait for Watkins to bat the ball out to him and Mulrooney nipped in between them to tap to the net, 1-18 to 3-15.

James O'Sullivan replied with a sensational point but K-K went for the jugular. Fiacra Carroll, Jack Dunican, Harry McQuaid and two from Odhran Fletcher pushed them 1-23 to 3-16 ahead with two minutes left – McQuaid and Fletcher (free) also missed simple chances.

Somehow, SBK found a way to rescue it. Liam O'Riordan equalised from a free and Gearoid Maher put them in front with a huge free, the two minutes of injury time just up. There was additional time to play and a soft free gave Fletcher the chance to force extra time, 1-24 to 3-17.

K-K were marginally the better side in the first period of extra time, outscoring SBK by 0-3 to 0-2 to lead by 1-27 to 3-20 at the break – SBK were in the red but a great James Morkan point on the stroke of half time kept them very much in it.

Gearoid Maher levelled it up with a free a minute into the second period. K-K took the initiative with points from Joe Quinn and Fiacra Carroll and should have went three up but Odhran Fletcher underhit the type of free he would normally float over. The scores came at a remarkable rate in the second period, despite both sides being banjaxed.

SBK displayed fantastic resilience and levelled it up with points from Ronan Dockey and Seamie Cleare, five minutes left. Aaron Screeney pushed K-K back in front, Liam O'Riordan equalised, on advantage and Screeney edged K-K ahead , three minutes left. Again SBK came back and Gearoid Maher displayed nerves of steel to force extra time with a 55 metre free just seconds into injury time, awarded for a late hit on Sam Young and we went to penalties – considering the pressure, it was a phenomenal score and Maher will be among the many players feted in the SBK celebrations this week.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

James O'Sullivan (SBK): There were contenders all over the field for both sides and it is a sign of the quality on view that you could pick any one of half a dozen players. Ultimately we go with James O'Sullivan, who was quite magnificent for SBK. Starting at full forward but moving out to the half forward line and spending extended time in the midfield zone, he scored 1-5 but brought so much more to the table. He set up scores, had a high work ethic and made crucial blocks, tackles and interceptions. A wonderful performance by O'Sullivan.

You could very easily go with Gearoid Maher, Jason Dockery or James Morkan on the SBK side. Maher and Dockery were tremendous in defence, covering space very well and stopping the K-K runners coming through – Dockery and James Samspon returned to the SBK lineup after missing the drawn final and certainly strengthened them. Maher was very close as he defended so well and he converted the pressure late frees to keep SBK alive.

Liam O'Riordain also contributed powerfully for SBK – his quick scores gave them a big early foundation and his battling qualities once again shone through.

SBK had several other players who played well while K-K had man of the match contenders in centre back Richard Bracken, midfielder Brian Guinan and forward Jack Dunican. Bracken and Guinan did a mountain of work and were instrumental in hauling K-K back into it while Dunican had the game of his life and would have been the choice if K-K won – he scored 0-5 and could have been nearer ten as he had a few wides as well, he oozed quality in winning ball and his contribution was huge on a day when Odhran Fletcher and Aaron Screeney were tightly marked. Credit to Fletcher and Screeney, however, as they kept doing the right thing when the ball wasn't running for them and got inspirational scores when it counted. Fiacra Carroll also deserves a mention as he got three points and did a lot of hurling.

THE SCORERS

Shinrone/Ballyskenach-Killavilla: Liam O'Riordan 1-9 (6f), James O'Sullivan 1-5, Ben Young 1-0, James Morkan and Gearoid Maher (3f) 0-3, Seamie Cleare 0-2, Fionn Carney, Ronan Dockery and Aaron Brereton 0-1 each.

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Odhran Fletcher 0-15 (10f), Mark Mulrooney 1-1, Aaron Screeney and Jack Dunican 0-4 each, Fiacra Carroll 0-3, Brian Guinan 0-2, Joe Quinn and Harry McQuad 0-1 each.

Penalties: SBK 3 – Liam O'Riordan, Fionn Carney, James O'Sullivan; K-K 2 – Odhran Fletcher and Mark Mulrooney.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE/BALLYSKENACH-KILLAVILLA: Matt Watkins; Sam Young, Paul Simpson, Jason Dockery; Ben Young, Gearoid Maher, Darragh Phelan; James Morkan, James Sampson; Aaron O'Toole, Liam O'Riordan, Killian Fitzpatrick; Fionn Carney, James O'Sullivan, Seamie Cleare. Subs – Aaron Brereton for O'Toole (37m), Ronan Dockery for Ben Young (62m), Killian Meagher for Phelan (78m),

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: James McLoughlin; Sean Cleary, Harry Sweeney, Niall Fitzgerald; Oisin Carroll, Richard Bracken, Luke Bracken; Brian Guinan, Joe Quinn; Jack Dunican, Jack Buckley, Fiachra Carroll; Odhran Fletcher, Aaron Screeney, Mark Mulrooney. Subs – Harry McQuaid for Buckley (40m), Michael Kelly for Richard Bracken (77m), Jack O'Donoghue for Cleary (81m)

Referee – Shane Guinan, Drumcullen.

REFEREE WATCH

Supporters and officials from both sides contested some decisions and there were certainly questionable ones but overall, Shane Guinan's handling of it contributed to the entertainment levels. There was no game defining decision and he let things run – there were times when he let advantage run out when the team in possession would have preferred the free.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Mark Mulrooney's 51st minute goal was a huge moment here. It was very preventable and it gave K-K a lifeline, as they now trailed by just three points, 3-15 to 1-18. Without it, SBK probably would have closed out the deal in normal time and were fortunate that they didn't pay a dear price for it.

VENUE WATCH

The Birr pitch is currently in great order and a large crowd created a great atmosphere at this final.

WHAT'S NEXT

That concludes the season for both sides.

STATISTICS

Wides: K-K – 11 (3 in first half, 6 in second half, 1 in 1st period extra time, 1 in second period); SBK – 7 (4 in first half, 3 in second half, 0 in 1st period extra time, 0 in second period).

Yellow cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 1 (Sean Cleary); SBK - 0

Red cards: 0