Two sent off as Kilcormac-Killoughey claim Junior “C” honours after tough battle

Kilcormac/Killoughey made amends for their 2025 two point defeat to Ballyskenach/Killavilla when they defeated Belmont by 10 points in the Offaly Junior C Hurling final, played in Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park on Saturday last.

Molloy Environmental Junior C Hurling Competition Final

Kilcormac/Killoughey 3-19

Belmont 3-9

Kilcormac/Killoughey proved to be the best side all through and were fully deserving of their victory. In fairness to Belmont they never threw in the towel and had the final score of the game a well taken goal by substitute Kevin Nugent. While this is a 13-a-side Championship, K/K had a panel of 32 in what is their 4th team, and Belmont’s third team had 26 on the panel.

Belmont had the first score of the game a Darragh Flynn point, it was the only occasion on which they led. The game’s opening goal came in the 4th minute when Chris Guinan put Aidan Bracken through for a well-executed goal. K/K led 1-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes and 1-5 to 0-3 after 17th minutes, thanks mainly to the accuracy of Ciarán Slevin, from play and frees. The twice Captain of K/K county senior final winning teams ended with a personal tally of 0-12, five of which came from play and was the stand out player on view - although he did receive a red card with 9 minutes left on the clock.

Belmont did narrow the gap to two points on 18 minutes, when Adam Reames finished to the net with a great solo effort, having soloed 50 metres through the heart of the K/K defence. However, inside 90 seconds Trevor Fletcher had the Sliotar in the net at the other end after he took possession of a Jack Buckley delivery and goaled from close range. K/K went on to lead 2-14 to 1-4 at the break.

On the resumption K/K picked up where they left off and were 2-15 to 1-4 in front on 14 minutes. A Cathal Flannery goal on the three quarter mark seemed to throw Belmont a life line. But like in the first half K/K’s response was almost immediate with Trevor Fletcher firing home his second goal.

From there to the finish the result was never in doubt K/K led 3-17 to 2-8 on 50 minutes, when at that stage the game got a bit ugly. A melee broke out 40 metres from the Belmont goal and when order was restored referee Declan Cooke gave straight red cards to K/K’s Ciarán Slevin and Belmont’s Jamie Flynn, both of whom were without their helmets at the time.

When play resumed another fracas developed and K/K’s Ger Healion and Belmont’s Brian Grehan were lucky to escape with yellows. A minute later Belmont’s Cian Donoghue was booked for a wild swipe at Jack Buckley. Thankfully the game retuned to normality after that as K/K ran out 3-19 to 3-9 winners.

Scorers:

Kilcormac/Killoughey: Ciarán Slevin 0-12 (0-7f), Trevor Fletcher 2-1, Aidan Bracken 1-3 (0-1f), Jack Buckley 0-2, Kevin Ryan 0-1

Belmont: Paul Egan 0-5 (0-4f), Cathal Flannery 1-1, Adam Reames 1-0, Kevin Nugent 1-0, Darragh Flynn, Callum Woods, Mark Cahill 0-1 each

Kilcormac/Killoughey: Joey Lynch, Brian Gorman, John Kenna, Kevin Ryan, Anto Kilmartin, Evan Heffernan, Dave Coyne, Aaron O’Kelly (Capt), Chris Guinan, Ciarán Slevin, Jack Buckley, Aidan Bracken, Trevor Fletcher Subs: Ciaran Kenny for Anto Kilmartin, Gerard Healion for Chris Guinan, Kevin Rigney for Kevin Ryan

Belmont: Darren Nevin, Mark Wren, Callum Woods, Joe Clancy, Jamie Flynn, Brian Grehan, Rory Kenny, Cathal Flannery, Cian Donoghue, Paul Egan, Adam Reams, Aidan Connolly, Darragh Flynn Subs: Kevin Nugent for Flannery, Mark Griffin for Cian Donoghue, Mark Cahill for Connolly

Ref: Declan Cooke (Crinkill)