Raharney 1-8 Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-13
Kilcormac-Killoughey survived a massive test of their credentials this afternoon in Mullingar before a late Dan Currams goal settled their Leinster club championship semi-final with Raharney.
Ciarán Doyle’s first half goal helped the Westmeath side into an early lead and they would have been much the happier side going into the dressing room at half-time with the scores level at 1-4 to 0-7.
Two stunning scores from his twin brother Killian appeared to set up a historic victory for the home side but 2012 Leinster champions Kilcormac-Killoughey dug deep and gradually edged their way in front before Currams’ late strike concluded the action.
Kilcormac-Killoughey will meet the winners of Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyhale Shamrocks in the decider.
Kilcormac-Killoughey played with the advantage of the wind in the first half but that turned out to be far less consequential than the low sun that shone directly into the eyes of the Offaly club’s defenders throughout the opening quarter.
Kilcormac-Killoughey exerted immense pressure on the Raharney backline in the opening five minutes and they wasted no time in taking a two-point lead thanks to two scores from the stick of Ciarán Slevin. However, some poor shooting prevented them from going further in front, even though they monopolised possession during those early exchanges.
Raharney failed to cross the K-K 45m line until the sixth minute, however once they did, they made their foray forward count. John Shaw collected a free out of defence and struck a neat score on the turn to open their account before uncharacteristic hesitancy in the K-K full back line allowed a high ball from the same player to drop to the deck inside the square, where Ciarán Doyle was on hand to flick the sliotar to the net.
Kilcormac-Killoughey’s response to this score was admirable and they picked off the next three points to cancel out Doyle’s goal, two frees from Slevin and a tidy snapshot from Cillian Kiely.
A stunning sideline cut from Peter Geraghty put the Offaly side back in front after Joey Boyle had tied the game up and when Slevin split the uprights from general play after good approach play from Peter Geraghty in the left corner, it looked as if the Offaly champions had ridden out the worst of the storm.
Instead they had just sailed through the eye of the tempest as Raharney roared back into the tie, capitalising on some sloppy handling in the Kilcormac-Killoughey back line.
The Doyle twins picked off a point each to draw the sides level at the interval and as the Raharney management turned to the stand to whip their supporters into a frenzy as the sides went off the field, there was no doubt about which team had more momentum.
Raharney took the lead after the restart but a spectacular Brian Leonard point from his own 65m line should have offered his side a rallying point.
Instead their forward line became even more anonymous in the face of tenacious Raharney defending, leading to James Gorman’s withdrawal and Dan Currams failing to make any impact on the tie.
Raharney gradually grew in confidence and when 17-year-old Killian Doyle picked off two incredibly accurate points from the left corner, the crowd of 4,181 supporters began to believe that an upset was possible.
Kilcormac-Killoughey had been similarly pushed to the wire by Shelmaliers in the previous round and on that occasion a strong performance from Cillian Kiely was vital to their survival. The Offaly minor star came to the fore once again here with an incredible point from midfield to tie the teams up with five minutes to go and from then on, K-K were the only team to trouble the scoreboard operators.
Raharney had their chances to sneak a win, most notably when Killian Doyle tried to find Brian Connaughton with a handpass in front of goal but the sliotar dropped just a yard too far in front of the substitute.
They couldn’t break through and instead paid a penalty for pushing forward late on when Dan Currams was left isolated some 30 yards from the Raharney goal and he soloed through empty space and blasted the ball to the net with the last puck of the game.
Raharney: A Doyle; T Doyle, C Jordan, D Giles; G Greville, P Greville, A Sheils; N Flanagan, C Boyle; J Boyle (0-01), K Doyle (0-03, 0-01 free), R Greville; C Doyle (1-03, 0-01 free), B Smyth, J Shaw (0-01).
Subs: C Flanagan for T Doyle (35), F Boyle for Smyth (38), B Connaughton for Flanagan (47).
Kilcormac/Killoughey: Conor Slevin; Con Mahon, G Healion, A McConville; K Grogan, P Healion, B Leonard (0-01); D Kilmartin, K Leonard; Ciaran Slevin (0-09, 0-05 frees), Conor Mahon, C Kiely (0-02); J Gorman, D Currams (1-00), P Geraghty (0-01, sideline).
Sub: T Geraghty for Gorman (39).
Referee: David Hughes (Carlow)
