Goals crucial as Kilcormac-Killoughey pushed the whole way by brave Ballinamere-Durrow

THREE goals and a couple of game deciding breaks told the tale as Kilcormac-Killoughey were pushed the whole way to the line by a very brave Ballinamere-Durrow in a gripping U14 Hurling Championship final at O'Connor Park on Saturday morning.

EJ Access Solutions U14 Hurling Championship final

Kilcormac-Killoughey 3-9

Ballinamere-Durrow 1-10

Kilcormac-Killoughey did really well to overturn a four point half time deficit and get the win but it was anything but comfortable and it would not have taken a whole lot for the result to have swung the other way.

On a blustery, difficult day for hurling with a wind blowing down the Park Avenue end, K-K became increasingly dominant as the half wore on and looked like they would win it throughout the closing quarter. At the same time, there was only three points in it inside the last five minutes, B-D were very much alive and kicking and anything could have happened.

It was a fine advertisement for Offaly underage hurling with two well coached teams, showing plenty of skill and full of heart and character.

K-K did get some breaks and two of their second half goals were certainly in the fortunate category. Ultimately, they proved decisive but it was a double sided coin and one B-D second half point looked to be wide from the stand while a couple of decisions to penalise K-K players for over carrying drew the ire of their supporters.

It was just a very enjoyable, keenly fought game, well refereed by Sean Michael Maher who allowed play to flow. K-K's record at underage level has been phenomenal in recent years while it was good to see B-D compete in an A grade final – they need underage hurlers emerging to build on the good work done at senior level by Ballinamere in recent years and some of these players will progress further in the next few years.

B-D had first use of the wind and did well to lead by 0-7 to 0-3 at half time. It looked bleak for them when they were level at 0-3 each after 18 minutes and they would have been in serious bother if it had stayed that way. Significantly all three of K-K's first half points came from Jayden Hannon frees and they didn't look like scoring from play.

B-D got well on top in the second quarter. Conal Buggy got three points, a free, a '65' and one from play, Matthew Cunningham pointed from play and K-K struggled to cope. Unfortunately for B-D they also missed some fairly simple chances in this period – they had six first half wides, four of them in the closing ten minutes and these came back to haunt them.

The second half was an intriguing affair. B-D's lead was three, 0-8 to 0-5, when K-K scored a very fortunate 34^th minute goal. Midfielder Jayden Hannon completely mishit a] free from inside the 40 metre line but it hit the ground at speed in front of B-D goalkeeper Larry Wright and flew into the net.

B-D responded superbly with two Matthew Cunningham points, the second suspiciously close to a wide but K-K struck for a deadly 2-1 without reply from the 40^th to 43^rd minutes. Jayden Hannon went for goal from a 21 metre free, his shot having sufficient power to deflect in off a B-D hurl and then Cuan Meehan followed up with a tap in goal after Larry Wright batted out Harry Devery's shot – full credit to Wright who didn't drop his head after those goals and ended up making some good stops, doing very good late work.

Liam Collins added a point and with a 3-6 to 0-10 lead, K-K were in the driving seat. The goal of the game in the 44^th minute brought B-D back into it, a great passing movement ending with Ronan O'Boyle firing to the roof of the net.

The gap was only two points but unfortunately for B-D, they not only didn't score again but didn't really threaten to as K-K were immense late on, taking control all over the field. It took a bit of time to make sure of it. Harry Heffernan-Feighery put them three up in the 53^rd minute and it was the 57^th minute before Jayden Hayden made it secure with a free.

Wright made a good save from Aaron Coady before Cuan Meehan floated over a delicious injury time point to leave B-D needing two goals to rescue it and that was never going to happen – it was fitting that Meehan got the final score as he brightened up the hour plus with some lovely skill and movement.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jayden Hayden (Kilcormac-Killoughey): Jayden Hayden's contribution went way deeper than the 2-5 he scored, all from frees. His frees into the wind in the first half were particularly noteworthy but his physical presence and dominance was also important. He provided a real bulwark at midfield and he also possessed a high work rate.

K-K had several other players who performed very well while B-D can be very proud of the way. Darragh Galvin was arguably their best player, cutting out a lot of ball at centre back while Conal Buggy also contributed powerfully at midfield and Harry Devery and Matthew Cunningham scored well in their attack.

THE SCORERS

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Jayden Hayden 2-5 (2-5f), Cuan Meehan 1-1, Liam Collins, Aaron Coady and Harry Heffernan-Feighery 0-1 each.

Ballinamere-Durrow: Conal Buggy 0-5 (4f), Matthew Cunningham 0-3, Ronan O'Boyle 1-0, Harry Devery 0-2.

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THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Isaac Holland; Gearoid Molloy, Charlie Locke, Sean Lambe; Harry Bracken, Conor Doyle, Reece Kenny; Jayden Hannon, Cuan Meehan; Liam Collins, Aaron Maher, Conor Guinan; Michael Mitchell, Aaron Coady, Harry Heffernan-Feighery. Subs – Luke Guinan for Heffernan-Feighery (HT), Harry Heffernan-Feighery for Locke (44m), Danu Meehan for Mitchell (54m),

BALLINAMERE-DURROW: Larry Wright; Jack Brennan, Ross Spollen, Liam Deering; Jack Waters, Darragh Galvin, Joe Haverty; James Hyland, Conal Buggy; Daire Spollen, Harry Devery, Devon Molloy; Sean McLoughlin, Matthew Cunningham, Ronan O'Boyle. Subs – Sean Lambe for Daire Spollen (45m),

Referee – Sean Michael Maher, Shinrone.