Brilliantly impressive Kilcormac-Killoughey continue red hot pace with run away win over title contenders

OOZING quality throughout the field, taking some breathtaking scores and matching it with a ferocious work rate, Kilcormac-Killoughey sent out an alarming warning signal to all the contenders for the Sean Robbins Cup with a ruthless demolition of St Rynagh's in Rath on Friday evening.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 2

Kilcormac-Killoughey 4-26

St Rynagh's 0-15

Their team is too young, the championship too early and it is always unfair to over hype any team but Kilcormac-Killoughey have continued from where they left off in last year's final win over Shinrone and are already red hot favourites to retain the crown.

Knockout hurling of course will dictate that but after a first round destruction of Tullamore, this performance against one of their main title contenders was frighteningly impressive. There is of course a long road ahead and they will face tough battles but K-K have a terrific depth in strength –this was demonstrated by the return of Brecon Kavanagh to the team after missing the first round through injury and the man to lose out was one of the stars of the Offaly U-20 hurling team, James Mahon.

Another key member of that squad, Alex Kavanagh didn't see action here as he is being kept back for their senior “B” team at the moment but he would make any other team in this championship – and will be used by K-K in the higher grade if needed.

The competition for places is fierce and will ensure that Kilcormac-Killoughey will go close enough to full throttle in every game.

It was always likely that St Rynagh's would not get their effort levels up to what they needed to pull of a shock here. The place to do that is knockout hurling but St Rynagh's will still be bitterly disappointed with their display here. They were miles off Kilcormac-Killoughey and while players such as Ben Conneely, Shane Rigney and Luke O'Connor showed flashes of excellence, it is difficult to find redeeming factors in such a comprehensive defeat.

They were blown out of the water in the first half and while K-K had first use of the wind, this in no way explained their half time lead of 2-15 to 0-5.

After the initial settling in period in the opening ten minutes of so, it became clear that there was a huge gap between the teams. It was 0-3 each after ten minutes, 0-6 to 0-4 after 12 and it all went downhill for the losers after this – Luke O'Connor, one of Rynagh's better players on the evening, was denied a goal by a great double save from Conor Slevin and Cillian Kiely in the 4^th minute and that might have kept them competitive for a bit longer.

K-K's first goal in the 13^th minute was a stunning score as man of the match Leigh Kavanagh sped away from Conor Hernon, resisted the temptation for the simple point and passed to Daniel Hand who fired to the net. K-K went for the jugular in a hugely impressive manner. Ruthless and relentless, they had 2-15 on the board by the time Luke O'Connor got Rynagh's next point from an injury time free.

Jack Screeney's 19^th minute point meant that all six forwards had scored and Damien Kilmartin's 23^rd minute strike added the two midfielders to that list – twelve players scored from play for the winners, including goalkeeper Conor Slevin. Their second goal had arrived just before that and was worth the trip to Rath on its own. Leigh Kavanagh passed the ball to Cillian Kiely and the centre half back sped into open ground. An easy point was there for the taking but he had only one thing on his mind, bouncing the ball off the ground with his hurl and blasting an unstoppable shot to the net.

It meant that the game was well and truly out of St Rynagh's reach at half time and even though Shane Rigney and Stephen Quirke got the first two points of the second half, K-K were completely unruffled. They got five points on the trot and their third goal arrived in the 47^th minute after a Luke O'Connor free halted the rot briefly, Charlie Mitchell tapping home from close range – Gary Conneely got a 43^rd minute red card after an off the ball incident with Brecon Kavanagh.

K-K showed their depth in strength by introducing the above mentioned James Mahon as well as two vastly experienced players in Enda Grogan and Cathal Kiely. Kiely showed his quality with four super points, three of them in the space of a couple of minutes after coming on. St Rynagh's got a few scores in the closing ten minutes but it was all of academic interest and the last score was an injury time penalty goal from Adam Screeney after Charlie Mitchell was fouled after chasing down the ball.

It was almost a complete performance by Kilcormac-Killoughey and while it wasn't flawless, you would be almost nit picking to highlight those – they had a few wides, including some from Adam Screeney who had Stephen Wynne brought back to man mark him and was often double teamed but still set the pulse racing with the quality of some of his play. They had a few flashes of sloppy play and full back Oisin Mahon was exposed for pace once or twice but defended with great character and is such a hard man to get by.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Leigh Kavanagh: K-K's quality is showed by the fact that the choice for man of the match is an unsung hero, Leigh Kavanagh. Kavanagh's work rate and ability to do the simple thing was a key factor for Offaly U-20 hurlers this year and he came of age as a senior hurler here. He was the only forward not to score as they chalked up 1-36 in the first round against Tullamore but he remedied that with their opening point after just ten seconds here. He had a sensational first half, adding a great second point and having several scoring assists, including the first two goals. He had too much pace for Conor Hernon and his ability to work hard and win dirty ball was the icing on the cake. He continued to drive hard in a productive second half before being given a breather with twelve minutes left.

Colin Spain was a contender once again, putting in a fantastic shift at midfield and he is bringing his U-20 form into the club campaign.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Adam Screeney 1-6 (goal from a penalty and 3f), Charlie Mitchell and Cillian Kiely 1-2 each, Daniel Hand 1-1, Cathal Kiely 0-4, Ter Guinan, Colin Spain, Jack Screeney and Leigh Kavanagh 0-2 each, Conor Slevin, Damien Kilmartin and Conor Mahon 0-1 each.

St Rynagh's: Luke O'Connor 0-5 (4f), Shane Rigney and Aidan Treacy (2f and 1 '65') 0-3 each, Stephen Quirke 0-2, Matthew Maloney and Joey O'Connor 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Tom Spain, Oisin Mahon, Brecon Kavanagh; Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely, Ter Guinan; Damien Kilmartin, Colin Spain; Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh; Daniel Hand, Charlie Mitchell, Adam Screeney. Subs – James Mahon for Tom Spain (46m), Cathal Kiely for Leigh Kavanagh (48m), Enda Grogan for Cillian Kiely (49m),

ST RYNAGH'S: Conor Clancy; Simon Og Lyons, Keelan Rigney, Stephen Wynne; Matthew Maloney, Ben Conneely, Conor Hernon; Aidan Treacy, Joey O'Connor; Sean Dolan, Gary Conneely, Stephen Quirke; Luke O'Connor,, Shane Rigney Aaron Molloy.

Referee – Kieran Dooley (Drumcullen).

REFEREE WATCH

Early on, Kilcormac-Killoughey didn't get a couple of frees that they looked entitled to but it quickly became clear that Kieran Dooley was letting play run and not giving soft frees. These very much balanced out and the Drumcullen official refereed it fairly and competently. Gary Conneely's red card came for an off the ball incident with Brecon Kavanagh but Dooley, who was up the far end of the field, was summoned by his umpires when the defender went down and only one outcome was probable once he was called.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Kilcormac-Killoughey's first goal from Daniel Hand in the 13^th minute was a fantastic score and had a big double spin off. It seemed to knock the fight out of St Rynagh's and it was the signal for K-K to push on.

VENUE WATCH

As usual Drumcullen GAA Club's pride in their facilities shone in the way they hosted this fixture. They had plenty of stewards and managed the crowd very well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kilcormac-Killoughey meet Seir Kieran and St Rynagh's have Tullamore in round 3.

STATISTICS

Wides: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 12 (8 in first half); St Rynagh's – 8 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 1 (Oisin Mahon); St Rynagh's – 2 (Conor Hernonn and Aidan Treacy).

Red cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 0; St Rynagh's – 1 (Gary Conneely).