Ter's terrific display earns man of the match award in Offaly hurling final

A TERRIFIC display by Kilcormac/Killoughey wing back Ter Guinan earned him the man of the match award in Sunday's county final victory over Ballinamere.

Ter was given the job of marshalling Offaly inter-county team mate Dan Bourke and did a great job in keeping the Ballinamere man out of the game and then he contributed two important points from play in the second half.

Afterwards he reflected on the game and expressed delight and relief at getting the victory. “It was a tough game, we knew it was going to be a tough game. Ballinamere have a lot of quality players, so it was just a relief to get over the line in the end.

“I think before half time, 15 minutes there, we got on top of them, probably missed maybe a few chances. But I think when we got the four points up going into half time, it was a big boost. And then after half time, we just kicked on from there, so it was brilliant.”

Kilcormac/Killoughey were able to keep that advantage through most of the second half. “Yeah, we could kind of just try and keep them at bay, keep that one or two points ahead of them. But they were always going to get a purple patch, and they're a great team. So yeah, we knew we just had to keep going until the final whistle.”

That threat was evident right to the end and Ballinamere had a late chance to level it but Mike O'Brien's shot flew over the bar when a few inches lower it could have been a goal and they would have been looking at a replay.

“Yeah, it could have been,” said Ter. “But they always have that potential, they're very dangerous forwards if you let them hurl. So I think it was just great to get over the line.”

The man of the match was picking up his third Offaly senior title with Kilcormac/Killoughey and now their attention will turn to a Leinster Club campaign where they face the Kildare champions.

“We've done well in Leinster the last few years,” he added. “Last year we pushed Ballyhale, the year before we got to the final against Na Fianna. So we'll just have to push on this year, and hopefully we can go again in Leinster and compete. We know we have a panel capable of competing in Leinster. So we just want to try and do that this year, hopefully.”

Sunday's victory completed a first four in a row for Kilcormac/Killoughey in Offaly and Ter said that was a big achievement as well. “I think it's the first time the club's done it now. We weren't getting wrapped up in that before the match. We were just thinking about this one. But it's great to win that now.”

Ter got forward to score two points himself in the second half, one of which might have been a big questionable. “I think one of them was a bit lucky,” he laughed but at the end of the day it didn't matter as Kilcormac/Killoughey had registered their eighth Offaly senior hurling title.