Fletcher inspires Kilcormac-Killoughey as they retain under 15 hurling title

AN entertaining affair between two very good hurling teams ended with Kilcormac-Killoughey claiming another piece of silverware at underage level, making it three championship titles in just under two weeks for the club.

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY 4-14

TULLAMORE 1-09

TULLAMORE began quicker of the two sides as Gleann Keaveney pointed the first free of the game after two minutes, but Odhran Fletcher replied quickly with a fine score.

A late hit forced KK into an early substitution as Oisin Carroll was taken off due to injury, and it took until the 10th before the next score, which came from the stick of captain Eoin Rouse, before Tullamore registered the next three scores thanks to a Keaveney free and two points from play from James Geraghty and Adam Martin.

KK managed to pull the game back though as a long range free from Odhran Fletcher floated high in the air before dropping into the net deceiving everyone on the line.

Fletcher added two more frees as KK began to grow into the game, but Tullamore continued to play their game as Keaveney brought it back level once again, with 20 minutes played.

Both defences were turning over the ball extremely well and weren’t allowing anything easy inside as there wasn’t another score for another while, until Odhran Fletcher added a free from 60 yards to leave KK two in front.

Just as the half time whistle approached, Kilcormac-Killoughey grabbed another goal as an excellent ball sent in from Macdara Mitchell found Odhran Fletcher as he turned quickly to fire the ball into the net and give KK a four point lead at the break.

Ending the half strongly and starting the half strongly was the work of the KK men as they rushed to score 1-3 unanswered after just five minutes into the second half, with Odhran Fletcher and Macdara Mitchell driving forward for the KK men with some excellently taken scores from out the field and at difficult angles.

Macdara Mitchell was leading by example as he burst through to bury the ball past keeper Ferenczi to leave the KK with a commanding lead.

Tullamore began to hit some poor wides as KK began to go up another gear. Odhran Fletcher sent over a '65', before Jack Dunican’s point from outside the 45 yard line left it 3-10 to 0-7 with just 20 minutes remaining.

Tullamore finally got a much needed goal thanks to a powerful strike low into the corner from Adam Martin, and moments later Tadhg Kelly fired over a score to bring Tullamore right back into contention.

Unfortunately for Tullamore that’s as good as it got, as KK were continuously in control, with Fletcher added another two points before another long range free caught the Tullamore defence off guard and found its way into the net to complete a hat trick of goals.

He added one more free alongside Luke Gill adding one more point before Patrick Duffy got the game's final score for Tullamore, as KK secured a second U15 title in a row in what they hope will be the start of a memorable two weeks for the club.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

ODHRAN FLETCHER (Kilcormac-Killoughey): There were some outstanding performers on both teams. From a KK point of view, Macdara Mitchell led the team by example, while Fiachra Carroll, Jack Dunican and Oisin McKeown were all excellent. Jason Donoghue had a great game at cornerback tor Tullamore, as well as Adam Martin scoring a great goal, but Odhran Fletcher was a step above the rest. 3-10 scored and some of the scores and his skill on the ball was fantastic.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Odhran Fletcher 3-10 (2-7 frees, '65'); Macdara Mitchell 1-2; Jack Dunican and Luke Gill 0-1 each.

Tullamore: Gleann Keaveney 0-4 (4 frees); Adam Martin 1-1; Eoin Rouse, James Geraghty, Tadhg Kelly and Patrick Duffy 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: James McLaughlin; Sean Cleary; Jack O’Donoghue; James Lynch; Cian Dillon; Oisin Carroll; Oisin McKeown; Joe Quinn; Jack Mitchell; Jack Dunican; Macdara Mitchell; Ruairi Kilmartin; Fiachra Carroll; Odhran Fletcher; Aaron Screeney. Subs: Darragh Gorman for Carroll (6m); Niall Fitzgerald for Lynch (43m); Harry McQuade for Screeney (49m); Liam Kilmartin for Kilmartin (56m); Luke Gill for Mitchell (56m).

TULLAMORE: David Ferenczi; Jason Donoghue; Seán Finlay; Alex McCarthy; Dara Clarke; Dylan Dunne; Patrick Duffy; Pearce Judge; Eoin Rouse; Gleann Keaveney; Tadhg Kelly; James Geraghty; Robbie Burns; Brooklyn Mannion; Adam Martin. Subs: Charlie Heffernan for Burns (48m); Cian Lambe for Keaveney (48m); Ethan Lloyd for Geraghty (56m); Diarmuid Power for Mannion (63m) - .

REFEREE Kieran Pat Kelly.

REFEREE WATCH

Kieran Pat Kelly refereed the game well and allowed the game to flow when possible, but was also quick to call fouls committed when needed. A solid performance.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Odhran Fletcher’s second goal was a killer blow before half time that changed the game as it gave KK a four point lead at half time, and it was a well worked strike from himself and Macdara Mitchell.

VENUE WATCH

Faithful Fields hosted this final in a fantastic manner, with plenty of stewards on hand and the pitch in splendid condition on a real fine evening for hurling.

WHAT'S NEXT

The season is now over for both teams.

STATISTICS

Wides: Kilcormac-Killoughey 7 (3 in the first half, 4 in the second half) Tullamore 5 (1 in the first half, 4 in the second half)

Yellow cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey 0 Tullamore 0.

Black cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey 0 Tullamore 0.

Red cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey 0 Tullamore 0.