Kilcormac-Killoughey show championship potential in blistering second half power display

AN absolutely compelling game, hurling at its most fiercely fought ended with Kilcormac-Killoughey showing rich potential when they blew a stunned Naomh Eanna out of the water in the second half at a seething Wexford Park on Sunday.

Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final

Kilcormac-Killoughey 2-22

Naomh Eanna (Wexford) 0-14

Trailing by 0-11 to 0-9 at half time but with a stiff wind to come, the Kilcormac-Killoughey sent the Wexford champions packing with a power packed second half display.

It looked like it would be a real dogfight at half time but K-K were quite sensational in the second half, grabbing control early on, never letting up and they had their semi-final berth booked long before the final whistle. Their work rate was phenomenal as they outscored a stunned Naomh Eanna by 2-13 to just 0-3 in the second half.

It was vintage stuff by Kilcormac-Killoughey who really unleashed the shackles now that the pressure of winning an Offaly championship is off their shoulders. Naomh Eanna had no answer whatsoever and there were not many that predicted a winning margin of fourteen points.

Not many expected the scale of K-K's win over Shinrone in the Offaly final either and K-K's current form suggests that anything is possible for them. With a semi-final coming up against Mount Leinster Rangers or O'Loughlin games in two weeks time, K-K certainly have the potential to be playing into December and you would not know where their season will end yet.

There was so much to admire about them here.While their hurling was delightful, it was their work ratre and appetite that really caught attention here. They worked so hard to tackle, close down opponents and turn over ball and once the screw was really tightened in the second half, Naomh Eanna floundered badly.

It was superbly entertaining as two highly motivated teams unleashed their full arsenal at each other, fighting for every ball like men possessed, with no quarter asked or given.

It was club fare at its most raw, its most thrilling and it gave supporters a rare November treat. In a throbbing first half, it looked for a while like we would not see 30 men on the pitch at the end but K-K got so on top in the second half that Naomh Eanna eventually lost their desire for battle, the fight going out of them.

The physicality of both teams was obvious from the start and there was a hint of anarchy throughout the first half.

Playing against the wind in the first half, Kilcormac-Killoughey came flying out of the blocks. Adam Screeney's work rate was phenomenal early on as he overturned ball and everything K-K did turned to gold in three breathtaking minutes at the start.

The visitors stormed into a 0-4 to no score lead within three minutes and a shellshocked Naomh Eanna didn't know what hit them. They reacted by hitting hard, not always fairly and trying to ruffle K-K's feathers. K-K allowed themselves to get sucked in at a stage when they might have been better to walk away, to keep doing what they were doing, but there is also merit to the argument that they had to stand up to it and show that they wouldn't be bullied.

It resulted in the game going onto a knife edge for a few minutes with a couple of brief skirmishes and it threatened to get badly out of hand before sanity restored. When the dust settled, K-K did not get back their early fluency – the game may have developed this way anyway but it was nip and tuck from here to the interval.

A super Conor Slevin save from Aodhan Doyle kept K-K 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes but from here to the interval, the Wexford champions were the better team and the Offaly men survived on scraps. Naomh Eanna were level, 0-5 each after fifteen minutes but K-K responded very well with two Screeney frees putting them back two clear. They were 0-8 to 0-6 ahead after 19 minutes but Naomh Eanne got three in a row to lead for the first time after 23 minutes.

They then got two of the last three points for a 0-11 to 0-9 half time lead but with the wind to come, K-K were very much alive.

There was only one team in it in the second half. K-K were brilliant. They were back on level terms by the 35th minute and a 36th minute goal from the outstanding James Gorman, when he deflected a long delivery into the net completely changed the game. Naomh Eanna hadn't time to digest that when K-K had the ball in the net a 2nd time with Adam Screeney finishing superbly after James Gorman deflected a Colin Spain ball into his path.

K-K went for the jugular and were relentless in every aspect of their play. They had 2-14 on the board when Cathal Dunbar got Naomh Eanna's first second half point in the 42nd minute. K-K continued to pick off quality scores and it was amazing to see how much they were in control in the last quarter. It was 2-18 to 0-14 in the 54th minute and K-K got the final four points as they sauntered into the semi-finals.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Enda Grogan (Kilcormac-Killoughey): James Gorman got the TG4 man of the match and there was merit in that has he had a profound impact, scoring 1-3 and helping set up Adam Screeney's goal. It was a day where K-K's work rate and turnovers laid the foundation for the win and they had heroes all over the field. While Adam Screeney's natural flair and scoring ability has brought him to national attention at an early age, people don't often see the work rate that accompanies this. He showed this here as he worked his socks off, chasing and closing down, making interceptions when he didn't win the ball cleanly.

You could make a case for several K-K players. Brecon Kavanagh was magnificent in the K-K defence, Cillian Kiely really came to his milk in the second half, Colin Spain had a superb first half when he was really needed as did Oisin Mahon, Conor Slevin was right on his game in the goals while Charlie Mitchell was wonderfully productive. I am going to go with a choice a bit from the left field in Enda Grogan. Now very much in the veteran stage, his work rate and concentration on the basics was as good as anyone else. He turned over some great ball, tackled diligently and when young players see an older team mate doing this, it has to be inspirational and his display was representative of all that was so good about K-K.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Adam Screeney 1-7 (5f), James Gorman 1-3, Charlie Mitchell and Cillian Kiely (2f) 0-3 each, Enda Grogan, Colin Spain, Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Lochlann Kavanagh and Thomas Geraghty 0-1 each.

Naomh Eanna: Jack Cullen 0-4 (2 '65s' and 2f), Cathal Dunbar 0-3, Jack Doran and Padraig Doyle (2f) 0-2 each, Charlie McGuckin, Aodhan Doyle, Conor McDonald 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanagh, Oisin Mahon, Tom Spain; Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan; Colin Spain, Damien Kilmartin; Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh; Charlie Mitchell, James Gorman, Adam Screeney. Subs – Thomas Geraghty for Conor Mahon (50m), Ter Guinan for Leigh Kavanagh (54m), Lochlann Kavanagh for Gorman (54m), James Mahon for Brecon Kavanagh (58m),Ger Healion for Mitchell (62m).

NAOMH EANNE\: Jack Cushe; Brendan Travers, Tom Stafford, Cian O'Tuama; Cathal Stokes, Cian Molloy, Charlie McGuckin; Sean Doyle, Aodhan Doyle; Cian Browne, Cathal Dunbar, Jack Cullen; Jack Doran, Conor McDonald, Padraig Doyle. Subs – Tom Fitzpatrick for Stafford (48m), Sean Og Whelan for Browne (51m), Eoin Conroy for Travers (58m), Darragh Canavan for McDonald (62m),

Referee – Sean Cleere.

REFEREE WATCH

Sean Cleere had a lot to do and it was hard to spot everything that was going on. He did well though, getting to grips with things when it threatened to get out of hand early on the regularly showing cards to put manners on players. Apart from that aspect, his handling of things were close to spot on.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

James Gorman's goal six minutes into the second half completely turned the tide in K-K's favour and they never looked back.

VENUE WATCH

Wexford Park was in mighty order for the time of year and a large crowd created a very good atmosphere.

WHAT'S NEXT

K-K play Mount Leinster Rangers or O'Loughlin Gaels in the semi-final.

STATISTICS

Wides: K-K -10 (3 in first half); Naomh Eanna – 10 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: K-K – 2 (Cillian Kiely and Adam Screeney); Naomh Eanna – 3 (Cian Molloy, Aodhan Doyle, Jack Doran).

Red cards: 0.