Late scores seal crucial win for Kilcormac-Killoughey over Clodiagh Gaels

DESPITE not having a huge attendance packed into Glenisk O’Connor Park, both Kilcormac-Killoughey and Clodiagh Gaels produced a fine display or hurling on a wet and damp day on Sunday afternoon. 

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship Round 2

Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-19

Clodiagh Gaels 0-16 

In the end, it was three late scores from the KK men that sealed victory with Shane Guinan, Lochlann Kavanagh and JK Kilmartin making sure of the win and keeping up their 100% start to the season, whilst defeat leaves the Gaels on just one point after two games.  

It was a nip and tuck opening 15 minutes with the two Langton brothers opening their accounts for the afternoon early on, with Mark Leonard’s KK holding the early advantage as they led by 0-6 to 0-4, with some fine individual scores coming from the experienced Shane Guinan and new Senior player Mark Mulrooney. Ben O’Brien and Sean Brady kept Clodiagh Gaels in the game but KK began to push on as Lochlann Kavanagh’s free taking was added to scores from Peter Geraghty.

Ben O’Brien was one of the Gaels’ better performers on the day and he got his second score of the half before Liam Langton’s fine score from distance made sure that KK were never too far ahead coming into the final stretch before half time. In what was a very open first half game where both sides seemed to have loads of time and space on the ball when afforded to them. KK held on to lead, 0-9 to 0-8 at the break but they knew they still had work to do in order to get the result they needed. 

Despite getting the second half’s opening score through David Buckley, KK started off the half the much stronger and soon opened up a three point gap with JK Kilmartin sending over a fine individual score, followed by a brace of frees from Lochlann Kavanagh. 

However, Clodiagh Gaels never lied down and came back fighting on all cylinders as they began to win a bit more dirty ball and winning frees which they were able to convert through Liam Langton and Cathal Brady sending over a score  from play. Both sides, while not hitting a large majority of wides, were still managing to hit some very poor shots which ended up short on many occasions and leaving plenty of opportunities to go to waste. 

 Clodiagh Gaels could not find a breakthrough into a lead though as wing back Cathal Kilmartin sent over a lovely taken point before Alex Kavanagh was on hand to get two get back to back scores to add to the impressive point he sent over during the first 30 minutes. 

Liam Langton sent over the remainder of the scores for Clodiagh Gaels both from play and placed balls and was doing his level best to keep them in the game, however, KK never panicked and saw out proceedings with Harry Sweeney introduced to make an impact with his over the shoulder score, with Shane Guinan, Lochlann Kavanagh and JK Kilmartin finally making the result assured and giving KK a huge win in their hunt to retain the Senior B title. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

(Alan Spain): Liam Langton was Clodiagh Gaels best and most effective player, while his brother Conor came up with two good scores of his own. Ben O’Brien did his bit to steady the ship. 

The two Kavanagh brothers Lochlann and Alex racked up 0-10 between them and were as clinical as we’ve come to expect, while Shane Guinan, Charlie Bracken and JK Kilmartin all had positive outings. 

Alan Spain was a rock in the defence for KK. First to the ball and was breaking tackles all afternoon and was crucial to his sides late surge as the build up to the late points came from him winning the ball back. 

THE SCORERS

Clodiagh Gaels: Liam Langton 0-9 (7frees), Conor Langton 0-2, Ben O’Brien 0-2, David Buckley, Cathal and Sean Brady 0-1 each

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Lochlann Kavanagh 0-7 (5frees), Alex Kavanagh 0-3; JK Kilmartin and Shane Guinan 0-2 each, Peter Geraghty, Mark Mulrooney, Conor Quinn (free),Cathal Kilmartin and Harry Sweeney  my0-1 each. 

THE TEAMS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Shane Mulrooney; Shane Melia; Charlie Bracken; Alan Spain; Cathal Kilmartin; Karl Guinan; James Geraghty; Killian Leonard; Conor Quinn; Shane Guinan; JK Kilmartin; Peter Geraghty; Alex Kavanagh; Mark Mulrooney; Lochlann Kavanagh. Subs - Harry Sweeney for Leonard (48m)

Clodiagh Gaels: Kevin Kinahan; Aaron Flanagan; Mark Kelly; Dylan Hyland; Tom Dunne; Clint Horan; Eoin Dunne; Ben O’Brien; Sean Brady; Cathal Brady; Liam Langton; Pat Lyons; David Buckley; Conor Langton; Aaron Rattigan. Subs - Sean Rattigan for Rattigan (50m). 

REFEREE WATCH

Joey Deehan had a good game and with any decisions he had to make he was assured and composed as expected. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Despite it being very early on in the game, Mark Mulrooney’s first half point was excellent and really showed his quality when taking it from out near the sideline. 

VENUE WATCH

Whilst not hosting a huge crowd, Glenisk O’Connor Park held up really well in wet conditions and the game flowed without any issues.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kilcormac Killoughey face Clara in round 3 while Clodiagh Gaels take on Lusmagh. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 14 ( 9  in first half, 5  in 2nd half); Clodiagh Gaels – 4  ( 2 in first half, 2 in 2nd half).

Yellow cards: Clodiagh Gaels- (1) Dylan Hyland; Kilcormac-Killoughey – (0) 

Red cards: Clodiagh Gaels– (0 ); Kilcormac-Killoughey – (0).