Superior Kilcormac-Killoughey claim semi-final berth as Birr rue missed chances in strange game

KILCORMAC-Killoughey stumbled rather than sauntered into the semi-finals as they were too good for Birr in a very strange Senior Hurling Championship tussle in O'Connor Park on Sunday afternoon.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 1

Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-21

Birr 2-14

For Birr, there is a quarter-final against champions Shinrone to look forward to and a gallant second half rally here gives them something tangible to build on, even if their overall performance raised far more questions than answers.

There was a lot of very contracdictory elements to this game. Birr had ample chances to have won, hitting a series of fairly shocking wides, yet Kilcormac-Killoughey were the better side by a considerable distance – the impression remains that they had another gear or two in them and could have pulled away to win by more, yet they could very easily have lost.

K-K almost paid the price for a very lackadaisical second half performance. They led by 1-13 to 0-7 and at that stage, it looked like they could have won by whatever they wanted to. Yet they fell asleep in the second half, lost focus and became sloppy. Quite simply, their intensity levels were not where they needed to be and it was only when Birr somehow got back into the game in the closing quarter that they found a renewed sense of urgency.

It could have been too late and Birr will harbour regrets about their missed chances. They had nine wides in the first half, seven in the second but apart from the fact that many of these could have been points, their problems went deeper than mere shooting. Their shot selection was suspect at times and they dropped a handful of balls short as well from promising positions.

K-K were by no means flawless in this regard either. They scarcely put a foot wrong in an attacking sense in an outstanding first half display but they also showed feet of clay when the pressure came on in the second half – when Birr got the gap back to three points with four minutes plus injury time left, K-K were in danger of unravelling. As they fought desperately to steady the ship, they underhit or mishit a few chances from distance and also had poor wides.

Birr once again took to the field without the injured Eoghan Cahill and they desperately need him back for the quarter-final. Lochlann Quinn hit four wides from scoreable frees, in addition to a couple from play, and in knockout hurling, those are misses that no side can afford. There was a lot more than him guilty and the groans were audible from the Birr supporters as their wide count crept higher in the second half.

Gracefield and the restoration of the old scoring difference rules may have took the heat out of Birr's challenge at the start. Under the new rules, a five point win for Birr would have put them ahead of K-K on scoring difference and that was something tangible to aim for. Gracefield's DRA appeal meant, however, that K-K's scoring difference was 18 points better than Birr's. Birr would have needed to win by more than nine points to haul that in and while that was only an extra four points, even their most blindly optimistic supporters knew that would not happen.

It was a mixed bag by K-K. They didn't go at full pelt but they clearly wanted to get a result and qualify for the semi-final – St Rynagh's big win over Kinnitty in the previous game meant that they needed at least a draw go qualify for the semis. They were very good at times and they will be difficult to beat in this championship – some of their hurling when they used quick hands to transfer the ball at pace and players moved all over the place off the ball to create options, was a joy to watch, but they completely took their eye off the ball for 20 plus second half minutes.

The first half was extremely frustrating one for Birr. They started well and competed very well for 20 minutes or so but fell away very badly after that and trailed by 1-13 to 0-7 at half time.

Birr gave as good as they got in the first quarter and the star of the show for them was Emmet Nolan, as he gave Cillian Kiely a run around. With Kiely standing off him and giving too much space, Nolan got four sensational points from play and Birr fully deserved to be level, 0-7 each after 17 minutes.

If anything Birr had been marginally the better team up to that point but had done a lot of hurling to be just level. Almost in the blink of an eye, the wheels came off for them. Nolan seemed to move off Kiely, which was very strange as K-K took control in all sectors. Kiely raced forward himself for an inspirational point as K-K got 1-6 without reply before half time – Kiely ended up having an excellent second half, especially when the pressure was on.

The goal came in the 23rd minute with Sean Thomspon saving very well from Conor Mahon and Adam Screeney but Mahon got his boot from the rebound to find the net. Birr didn't help their own cause as they hit some terrible wides – six in a row in a few minutes and at least half of these should have been scored.

For much of the second half, it looked like K-K would ease to victory without having to extend themselves in the slightest. Even when Colm Mulrooney got in for a very good 37th minute goal, it barely created a murmur of excitement. The gap was still 1-15 to 1-8 and Birr did not help their cause as Quinn missed two frees in the following minutes and Rory Carthy dropped a chance short.

Conor Mahon and Adam Screeney (free) pointed to put K/K 1-17 to 1-8 ahead after 45 minutes and it seemed all over. A nine point gap was huge and Birr did terrifically well to get back into it, even if K-K did contribute to this. There was still nine points in it after 48 minutes and then Birr rallied with three points in a row to bring it down to six.

Cathal Kiely got a quality point after a great ball from his brother Cillian but a 52nd minute goal for Birr, a super finish from Morgan Watkins changed everything. Suddenly K-K were misfiring up front and Colm Mulrooney cut the deficit to just three points with a good 56th minute score. After a handful of misses, K-K eventually found the range as Birr also missed chances to turn the screw further - sub Shane Guinan got an important one in the 61st minute and Adam Screeney's free meant that Morgan Watkins' closing point for Birr was immaterial.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jack Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey): Emmet Nolan, back from abroad, was Birr's outstanding player and it is hard to overlook him – he got six super points but also dropped a couple short as well as carrying possession into bodies late on and fouling the ball. He was superb, however. Jack Screeney is my choice. He was really good at wing back, mopping up a lot of ball, using most of it perfectly and defending well. Oisin Mahon and Colin Spain also did very well for K-K while James Gorman had a brilliant first half but was replaced at half time.

THE SCORERS

K-K: Adam Screeney 0-9 (7f), Conor Mahon 1-1, James Gorman 0-3, Charlie Mitchell 0-2, Cillian Kiely, Cathal Kiely, Jack Screeney, Colin Spain, Thomas Geraghty and Shane Guinan 0-1 each.

Birr: Emmet Nolan 0-6, Colm Mulrooney and Morgan Watkins 1-2 each, Lochlann Quinn 0-4 (3f and 1 '65').

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanagh, Oisin Mahon, Tom Spain; Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely, Jack Screeney; Cathal Kiely, Damien Kilmartin; Colin Spain, Conor Mahon, Charlie Mitchell; Thomas Geraghty, James Gorman, Adam Screeney. Subs – Shane Guinan for Gorman (HT), Lochlann Kavanagh for Geraghty (56m), Killian Leonard for Kilmartin (54m), Ger Healion for Mahon (59m),

BIRR: Stephen Thomspon; Barry Harding, Oisin Murphy, Padraic Watkins; Rory Carthy, Eoin Hayes, Brian Watkins; Joe Ryan, Brendan Murphy; Lochlann Quinn, Emmet Nolan, Luke Nolan; Sean Ryan, Morgan Watkins, Colm Mulrooney. Subs – Niall Lyons for Sean Ryan (51m),

Referee – Brian Gavin (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin operated a let it run policy and was very consistent in the way he applied it. There were a couple of frees not punished, illegal looking handpasses not called but these balanced out and he exuded common sense and efficiency.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Shane Guinan's 61st minute point gave K-K a four point lead and knocked the resistance out of Birr.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was in good order but the attendances going to games at the moment is a problem for the County Board. It is likely to show in the accounts and €18 for this double bill was questionable – there is very few people staying for two games at a venue and that cost may discourage some neutrals from attending.

WHAT'S NEXT

K-K are in the semi-finals while Birr play Shinrone in the quarter-final.

STATISTICS:

Wides: K-K – 9 (2 in first half); Birr – 16 (9 in first half).

Yellow cards: K-K – (Cillian Kiely, Thomas Geraghty); Birr – 0.

Red cards: 0.