Physicality and legs the big issues as Kilcormac-Killoughey fall away after excellent opening half

DREAMING of a coming of age breakthrough at half time, Kilcormac-Killoughey were shown how far they have to go to get up to the next level as Kilkenny champions Ballyhale Shamrocks got away from them in the second half of an enthralling Leinster club senior hurling quarter-final in Nowlan Park on Sunday.

AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final

Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-25

Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-18

Messy after match scenes when a Kilcormac-Killoughey supporter attacked a couple of Ballyhale Shamrocks' player left a sour taste in the mouth but we will only talk about the hurling in this match report.

It was an excellent game of hurling, full of intensity and great skill and Kilcormac-Killoughey were the better team in the first half, leading by 1-10 to 0-10 at the break. On a perfect afternoon for hurling, Kilcormac-Killoughey showed their potential as they carried the game to their illustrious opponents in every area and they could have been even further ahead at half time.

The quality of their hurling commanded complete respect and Ballyhale Shamrocks looked a bit shocked by the scale of the K-K challenge. Yet by the final whistle, normal service had resumed as Ballyhale Shamrocks outscored them by 0-15 to 0-8 for a win that was not fully comfortable but was somewhat inevitable from a long way out.

The second half showed the huge body of work that lies ahead of the three in a row Offaly champions as they bid to fulfil their potential at the next level. Skill and pace wise, they are as good as most club teams in the country but physically, they were over powered in the second half and struggled once Ballyhale moved up through the gears,

K-K have a bit of a gap to fill where their young guns have physical developing to do and the older players that have this strength are gone or going over the hill and their legs went in the second half. K-K's three elder statesmen James Gorman, Damien Kilmartin and Conor Mahon have all given magnificent service and have been instrumental in their success story over the past fifteen years. They are all still contributing powerfully for K-K, capable of being man of the match on any given day and providing much needed leadership and inspiration to their outstanding young talent but there is a vacuum there and this was never more obvious than in the second half when Ballyhale turned the screw and K-K couldn't live with them,

There was no shame whatsoever in defeat for K-K and they are a joy to watch but until the younger players get that bit stronger, their dreams of Leinster and All-Ireland glory won't be fulfilled.

A fiercely determined Kilcormac-Killoughey matched Ballyhale Shamrocks in every facet of play and every sector of the field in the first half.

Playing with terrific determination and winning a lot of battles, K-K fully deserved their half time lead of 1-10 to 0-10 and Ballyhale Shamrocks knew they were in a serious dogfight.

K-'K's key players went well with Charlie Mitchell scoring three breathtaking first half points and Adam Screeney, roving far out the field, getting 1-2. His goal came from a 24^th minute penalty when Brian Butler pulled back Conor Mahon and Screeney made to mistake to give them a 1-8 to 0-7 lead.

There had been almost nothing between them before that. Both sides missed point chances and both should have got goals – James Gorman didn't get a clean strike with his chance for K-K in the 18^th minute but Adrian Mullen also caught more fresh air than sliotar when it fell invitingly to him two minutes later.

The sides were level six times in the opening twenty minutes and K-K only managed a two point lead briefly until Screeney's penalty put four in it. Conor Slevin got two spectacular long range frees in the first half and his second one in the 29^th minute, followed by a terrific James Gorman point in injury time gave K-K that three point interval lead and in with a great chance.

From the restart, it was clear that the tide had turned for both teams as Ballyhale began to win the tussles they had been losing in the first half. With TJ Reid devastatingly accurate from placed balls, Ballyhale were 0-15 to 1-10 ahead after 41 minutes. After mishitting an earlier free into the goalie's hands, Adam Screeney tapped over their first second half point from one in the 42^nd minute. With the wind not a factor, K-K were sucking air and Ballyhale got a run of three more before Conor Mahon got their first second half point from play in the 45^th minute.

Points from Adrian Mullen and Reid (free) put K-K 0-20 to 1-12 ahead after 48 minutes and the Offaly side deserve credit for the resilience they showed. They refused to go away and frees from Screney and Conor Slevin had the gap back to three with nine minutes left.

On the surface, K-K were still alive, in with a chance but in real time and in real viewing, they were more or less gone. They just couldn't get any momentum and Reid restored a five point lead with two frees.

K-K had the gap back to four twice in the closing minutes but never threatened the goal they had to get. Reid continued to fire over every free and K-K could only manage three points from play in the second half, two of them injury time ones from subs Leigh Kavanagh and Thomas Geraghty that didn't really matter as Ballyhale were home and dry.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks): Eoin Cody was sensational for Ballyhale Shamrocks. He scored five points, set up another few and his work ethic and ball winning captured attention.

K-K had a lot of players who played well with Conor Slevin excellent in goals, Brecon Kavanagh doing a lot of good work in defence and Charlie Mitchell oozing class up front. As a unit, they are not far away but they aren't there yet and they know themselves what they have to work on.

THE SCORERS

Ballyhale Shamrocks: TJ Reid 0-12 (11f), Eoin Cody 0-5, Adrian Mullen 0-3, Paddy Mullen 0-2, Eoin Kenneally, Ronan Corcoran, Niall Shortall 0-1 each.

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Adam Screeney 1-5 (goal from a penalty and 3f), Conor Slevin 0-4 (4f), Charlie Mitchell 0-3, Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Daniel Hand, James Gorman, Thomas Geraghty and Leigh Kavanagh 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Conor Slevin; Tom Spain, Jordan Quinn James Mahon; Cillian Kiely, Enda Grogan, Brecon Kavanagh; Damien Kilmartin, Colin Spain; Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon, Daniel Hand; Charlie Mitchell, James Gorman, Adam Screeney. Subs – Alex Kavanagh for Gorman (39m), Ter Guinan for Kilmartin (49m), Leigh Kavanagh for Hand (54m), Thomas Geraghty for Conor Mahon (58m), Peter Geraghty for Colin Spain (60m)

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: Dean Mason; Killian Corcoran, Joey Holden, Brian Butler; Ronan Corcoran, Richie Reid, Evan Shefflin; Eoin Kennealy, Adrian Mullen; Paddy Mullen, Eoin Cody, TJ Reid; Liam Barron, Brian Cody, Niall Shortall. Subs – Dara Mason for Butler (42m), John Fitzpatrick for Brian Cody (53m), Finnian Shefflin for Paddy Mullen (58m), Conor Walsh for Barron (60m), Luke Donnelly for Ronan Corcoran (63m),

Referee – Padraig Dunne, Laois.

REFEREE WATCH

Padraig Dunne had a very good game. He was consistent, let it flow but quickly pulled up players as well. His refereeing contributed to an enjoyable afternoon, notwithstanding a couple of brief late flare ups.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Adrian Mullen really came into his own in the second half and the two points he got in the 43^rd and 45^th minutes helped Ballyhale open up a 0-18 to 1-11 lead. They were also the scores when we knew that K-K's dreams would have to be put on hold for another year.

VENUE WATCH

The Nowlan Park pitch looked very well and as usual, Kilkenny had loads of stewards as they managed the fixture professionally.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ballyhale Shamrocks go into the semi-final against Clough-Ballacolla.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballyhale Shamrocks - 10 (7 in first half); Kilcormac-Killoughey – 9 (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Kilcormac-Killoughey – 4 (Conor Mahon, Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely, Brecon Kavanagh); Ballyhale Shamrocks – 2 (Brian Butler, Eoin Cody).

Red cards: 0