Dominant second half performance sees Kilcormac/Killoughey retain under 20 title

Molloy Precast & Environmental Systems Under 20 Hurling Final

KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY 1-26

CRCC 0-15

A DOMINANT second half performance saw Kilcormac/Killoughey win the Offaly under 20 hurling title for the sixth year in a row when they defeated CRCC by 14 points at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr on Saturday.

For most of the first half it looked unlikely that there would be such a gap between the sides. The sides were level eight times in that first half and it was only three late points in the half that gave Kilcormac/Killoughey a 0-10 to 0-8 interval advantage and that was the only occasion in the half that more than a single point separated the sides.

However Kilcormac/Killoughey began to push on in the second half and when Leigh Kavanagh finished the ball to the net in the ninth minute of the half, and they quickly added four points in quick succession to go 10 points clear, there was only going to be one winner. CRCC kept plugging away but they lacked the firepower in attack that Kilcormac/Killoughey had and the winners gradually pulled away.

In the end Kilcormac/Killoughey exerted their dominance on the game but it took them time to do so. They did have chances to build a lead in the first half but CRCC stuck with them and frustrated them for a lot of that half. It was a different story in the second half as Kilcormac/Killoughey imposed themselves more on the game and took control and CRCC simply had no answer to that.

CRCC put in a huge effort, particularly in the first half, and they posed problems for Kilcormac/Killoughey but they lacked the firepower in attack that Kilcormac/Killoughey possessed. Andrew Hogan contributed 11 of their 15 points, 10 of them from placed balls, and just four players got on the scoresheet for them.

In contrast 10 different players scored for Kilcormac/Killoughey. Five of their starting forwards scored from play and perhaps surprisingly the one who didn't was Adam Screeney. That doesn't mean he didn't have a big impact on the game. He scored eight points from placed balls but he set up at least three goal scoring opportunities for colleagues which weren't taken. His runs and off the all work created openings and while he may not have got the final score, a colleague often did.

On the opposition side goalkeeper Liam Hoare did all he could for his side. He pulled off a string of fantastic saves to keep his side in the game. Adam Screeney, Richard Bracken, Odhran Fletcher and Leigh Kavanagh all saw goalbound efforts brilliantly kept out by the CRCC netminder and but for him his side would have suffered a greater defeat.

Alongside him, Caelum Larkin, Ajay Cleary, Timothy Carey, Canice Stevenson, Andrew Hogan, Eoin King and Marc Ryan all did well for CRCC.

For Kilcormac/Killoughey James Mahon, Harry Sweeney, Brecon Kavanagh, Mark Mulrooney, Brian Guinan, Daniel Hand, Odhran Fletcher, Adam Screeney and sub Macdara Mitchell all impressed.

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After an early wide from a long distance free, CRCC took the lead in the second minute from an Andrew Hogan free. Kilcormac/Killoughey equalised within a minute but it could so easily have been a goal. Adam Screeney was denied from close range by a great Liam Hoare save and Odhran Fletcher fed the rebound back to Stephen Gleeson and he pointed.

Andrew Hogan pointed another free but Richard Bracken quickly levelled before Andrew Hogan was on target again from a '65'. Daniel Hand levelled for the third time after nine minutes with a fine point from the left sideline before an exchange of frees from Andrew Hogan and Adam Screeney left the sides level at 0-4 each midway through the first half.

CRCC saw a goal effort from Shane Connolly saved but the ball came back out to Marc Ryan and he popped over their first point from play. Adam Screeney levelled from a free before he set up Harry Sweeney to put Kilcormac/Killoughey in front for the first time after 22 minutes. Canice Stevenson quickly levelled but Adam Screeney pointed another free and then set up Richard Bracken for a goal chance but Liam Hoare pulled off a great save. CRCC moved the ball upfield and Timothy Carey picked out Eoin King and he pointed. Andrew Hogan restored the CRCC lead from a free but Kilcormac/Killoughey finished the half well with Mark Mulrooney, Brian Guinan and Odhran Fletcher all picking off points to give them a 0-10 to 0-8 half time lead. It was the first time that more than a point had separated the teams.

Andrew Hogan cut it back to the minimum a minute into the second half and after he and Adam Screeney exchanged points from frees, half time sub Macdara Mitchell hit a good point for Kilcormac/Killoughey. Adam Screeney then created a goal chance for Odhran Fletcher but Liam Hoare once more came to CRCC's rescue at the expense of a '65' which Adam Screeney pointed.

Andrew Hogan kept CRCC in touch with another free but Odhran Fletcher quickly replied and then in the ninth minute good Kilcormac/Killoughey pressure resulted in Leigh Kavanagh one handing the ball to the net to open up a six point gap. Macdara Mitchell, Mark Mulrooney and Adam Screeney from a free and a '65' quickly added points and suddenly KilcormacKilloughey were 10 points clear.

Andrew Hogan pointed another free but Brian Guinan replied for K/K. Andrew Hogan's '65' and a good point from Eoin King kept the CRCC tally going but they needed goals at that stage. Macdara Mitchell hit another point before Andrew Hogan pointed another free after 51 minutes but that was CRCC's last score of the game. Kilcormac/Killoughey pushed on and Brian Guinan, Odhran Fletcher, Daniel Hand (3) and Adam Screeney (free) all added points to give them a 14 point winning margin.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY: Morgan Bennett; Donnacha Kilmartin, James Mahon, Harry Sweeney; Oisin Guinan, Brecon Kavanagh, Oisin Carroll; Richard Bracken, Mark Mulrooney; Brian Guinan, Leigh Kavanagh, Daniel Hand; Stephen Gleeson, Odhran Flether, Adam Screeney. Subs. Macdara Mitchell (for Stephen Gleeson, half time), Ter Guinan (for Leigh Kavanagh, 49 mins), Luke Bracken (for Donnacha Kilmartin, 56 mins), Jack Buckley (for Odhran Fletcher, 58 mins), Leigh Kavanagh (for Btian Guinan, 58 mins).

CRCC: Liam Hoare (Carrig & Riverstown); Oisin Dolan (C & R), Caelum Larkin (C & R), Sean Connaughton (C & R); Joseph McLoughney (Coolderry), Ajay Cleary (Coolderry), Timothy Carey (C & R); Canice Stevenson (C & R), Darragh Hoyne (Coolderry); Shane Connolly (Coolderry), Andrew Hogan (Coolderry), Sean Walshe (Coolderry); Eoin King (Carrig & Riverstown), Marc Ryan (Coolderry), Evan McEvoy (Crinkill). Subs. Corey King (C & R) (for Evan McEvoy, 37 mins), Callum Connolly (Coolderry) (for Sean Walshe, 44 mins), Cillian Hynes (Coolderry) (for Joseph McLoughney, 56 mins), Matthew Ryan (Crinkill) (Eoin King, 60 mins).

REFEREE: Kieran Dooley (Drumcullen).

MAN OF THE MATCH

He may have ended up on the losing side but Liam Hoare did all he could to keep his side in the game. He pulled off a string of great saves, beginning in the very first minute when he denied Adam Screeney from close range and more great stops followed from Richard Bracken, Odhran Fletcher and Leigh Kavanagh. But for him CRCC would have been out of this game earlier and would have lost by more. For Kilcormac/Killoughey Brecon Kavanagh, Daniel Hand, Brian Guinan and sub Macdara Mitchell all deserve mention.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Leigh Kavanagh's goal in the 39^th minute was a significant moment in this game. CRCC had kept in touch up to that but that goal put six points between the sides and within minutes they had added four more points to go 10 points clear and it was game, set and match from there.

REFEREE WATCH

Kieran Dooley did a good job throughout. It was played in a good spirit with few contentious issues but he handled everything well and with little fuss. A couple of yellow cards late in the game were both warranted and there was nothing untoward prior to that.

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WHAT’S NEXT

Kilcormac/Killoughey maintain their dominance of the under 20 grade with six titles on the trot to conclude another successful year.

VENUE WATCH

The pitch at St Brendan's Park was in good condition despite overnight rain, which caused players to slip on occasion. The lack of a public address system or playing of a national anthem for a county final was disappointing.

STATISTICS

Wides; Kilcormac/Killoughey 10 (5 in first half) CRCC 11 (5 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Kilcormac/Killoughey 0 CRCC 2 (Ajay Cleary, Matthew Ryan)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac/Killoughey; Adam Screeney (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-2 '65s), Daniel Hand (0-4), Brian Guinan, Odhran Fletcher, Macdara Mitchell (0-3 each), Leigh Kavanagh (1-0), Mark Mulrooney (0-2), Stephen Gleeson, Richard Bracken, Harry Sweeney (0-1 each).

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CRCC; Andrew Hogan (0-11, 0-8 frees, 0-2 '65s'), Eoin King (0-2), Marc Ryan, Canice Stevenson (0-1 each).