Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-24 Shinrone 2-14
Coasting towards a seemingly facile victory at half time, Kilcormac-Killoughey were not far away from suffering a disastrous defeat in a thrilling Offaly Senior Hurling Championship final against Shinrone in O'Connor Park on Sunday afternoon.
Clinging onto a one point lead inside the last five minutes, a highly relieved Kilcormac-Killoughey sort of fell over the line as they completed their second in a row – adding to the one they won in 2012-2014, with a handful of players featuring in all seven of their senior hurling wins in Offaly.
Fairly hot favourites going into this, Kilcormac-Killoughey got the final 1-3 from the 57th minute to the full time whistle with man of the match Charlie Mitchell securing the win with a brilliantly taken 60th minute goal.
It was an extraordinary second half and a fantastic fightback by Shinrone, who were seeking their second title, having won their first with a final win over K-K in 2022. They looked to be heading to a heavy defeat when they trailed by 0-17 to 0-07 at half time and they were in dire trouble at this stage.
After a comparatively mild opening spell, the sides were level at 0-05 each after 13 minutes but Kilcormac-Killoughey really sprung to life in the second quarter. They outscored Shinrone by 0-12 to 0-02 as they had two runs of three points without reply and a decisive closing one of six on the trot.
The quality of K-K's hurling in this period took the breath away as they took scores from all over the field. Every line on the field contributed a score and the midfield pairing of Colin Spain (2) and Damien Kilmartin (3) contributed a pivotal five points.
It seemed all over and when Charlie Mitchell extended it on the restart, it looked like the lead could go towards 20. A 35th minute Eoin Bailey-O'Brien goal raised a defiant cheer from the large Shinrone crowd and suddenly, they found their A game. They had hauled in a ten point deficit in their quarter-final win over Coolderry and almost did it again here.
It was 0-20 to 1-10 after 42 minutes but the whole game changed in the next few minutes as Shinrone struck for 1-3 without reply to bring it back to a point with eight minutes left. The goal was scored by impressive sub Sean Cleary in the 49th minute while Jason Sampson had been desperately unlucky to hit the cross bar in the 41st minute..
A lot of things were going wrong for K-K but a fantastic Conor Slevin free in the 55th minute settled them and they got their composure again late on. Shinrone's best forward Adam Landy got their final point in the 57th minute, leaving the minimum in it and there was a great chance there.
K-K were very impressive in the way they closed it out as Charlie Mitchell and Adam Screeney stroked over wonderful points. Mitchell's goal settled it and Adam Screeney's closing point deep in injury time was significant as his two late points showed his quality on a day when the game did not flow as smoothly as usual for him.
Kilcormac-Killoughey: Conor Slevin (0-03, 3f); Tom Spain (0-01), Jordan Quinn James Mahon; Cillian Kiely (0-01), Enda Grogan (0-01), Brecon Kavanagh; Damien Kilmartin (0-02), Colin Spain (0-03); Jack Screeney, Conor Mahon (0-01), Daniel Hand (0-02); Charlie Mitchell (1-05), James Gorman, Adam Screeney (0-04, 2f).
Subs: Alex Kavanagh (0-1) for Gorman (38), Leigh Kavangh for Hand (45), Ter Guinan for Grogan (52), Peter Geraghty for Conor Mahon (58), Mark Mulrooney for Jack Screeney (63),
Shinrone: Eamonn Cleary (0-01, f); Darren Crean, Michael Cleary, Darragh Landy; Dan Doughan, Killian Sampson (0-03), Dara Maher; Adrian Cleary, Luke Watkins; Adam Landy (0-03), Donal Morkan (0-06, 6f), DJ McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, Jason Sampson, Eoin Bailey-O'Brien (1-00).
Subs: Peter Cleary for Crean (HT), Ciaran Cleary (0-01) for Bailey-O'Brien (36m), Sean Cleary (1-00) for Paul Cleary (36), Declan Cleary for Adrian Cleary (51), Gearoid Maher for McLoughlin (59)
Referee: Adam Kinahan, Clodiagh Gaels.
