Six unanswered points in the last seven minutes earned Kilcormac/Killoughey a hard fought victory over Ballyskenach in a keenly contested encounter in the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship at Clareen on Sunday last.
Kilcormac/Killoughey had to dig deep to grind out this victory. They looked to be in trouble when Ballyskenach came from behind to open up a three point lead with just eight minutes left but the winners finished the stronger and those six points in the remaining minutes gave them a deserved victory.
The victory puts Kilcormac/Killoughey on top of the group with three points out of four and even at this early stage they are well on course to qualify for the knock out stages of the championship.
This game ebbed and flowed with both both sides enjoying periods of domination. They were level on five different occasions and the outcome was really in the balance up to the final whistle.
Ballyskenach made the better start and were 1-2 to 0-0 up after just five minutes. K/K quickly responded and cut the lead back before levelling six minutes before the break. However a second Ballyskenach goal put them in front again. At the interval the lead was just a point, 2-6 to 1-8 to Ballyskenach, and considering Ballyskenach had the advantage of the wind in the first half, it looked a precarious position for them.
It looked moreso when Kilcormac/Killoughey moved in front eight minutes after the restart but Ballyskenach hit back to go in front once more. As the battle intensified the lead changed hands again before Ballyskenach hit the front once more with a great goal early in the final quarter. However K/K had the final say and sealed victory in the closing stages.
John Leahy was the scoring star for Kilcormac/Killoughey hitting a magnificent total of 12 points, nine from frees and three from play. His unerring accuracy played a major part in this victory but he didn’t get great support from the remainder of the attack, which only contributed two further points from play.
At the opposite end corner forward David Carney caused the biggest problems for the K/K rearguard and he finished with a very creditable 2-2 from play, his second goal being a particularly impressive solo effort. Again the back up from the rest of the attack wasn’t great, as they also only added two further points from play.
David Carney put Ballyskenach in front after a minute and four minutes later they won a penalty when Eugene Kirwan was hauled down in front of goals. David Franks drove the penalty to the net and followed up with a pointed free from his own 65m line.
John Leahy opened K/K’s account from a free after seven minutes and three minutes later Damien Barron went for goal from a 20m free and found the net to put K/K right back in it. Brendan Murphy and David Franks (free) had points for Ballyskenach with midfielder Paul Bracken twice bursting forward to point for K/K. Liam O’Toole was on target from a sideline cut and then John Leahy pointed twice (one free) to bring the sides level after 24 minutes.
A minute later Noel Murphy did well to get the ball to David Carney on the right and his low shot beat Stephen Byrne for a Ballyskenach goal. John Leahy and David Franks exchanged points from frees before Leahy and Damien Barron pointed from play to leave just a point in it at the interval, 2-6 to 1-8.
A minute after the restart they were level when Tony Spain soloed up the left wing and pointed. John Leahy put K/K in front from a free but the sides were level again when David Carney kicked the ball over off the ground. A David Franks free restored the lead but Martin Murray and John Leahy (free) had K/K in front by a point after 46 minutes.
Three minutes later David Carney picked up a clearance, turned quickly evading his marker and soloed goalwards before crashing a shot to the far corner of the net. Peter Murphy added a point after 22 minutes and they were three clear. However the remaining minutes belonged to K/K and principally to John Leahy. He hit five points (four frees) with sub Mark O’Brien weighing in with another to turn the game in their favour and give them a valuable win.
Seamus Kiely, Kevin Rigney, Shane Hand, Colm Cassidy, Paul Bracken and John Leahy were K/K’s best while Mick O’Hara, Cathal Murphy, Barry Keeshan, David Franks, Brendan Murphy and David Carney caught the eye for Ballyskenach.
KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY: Stephen Byrne; Seamus Kiely, Henry Kilmartin, Seamus Spain; Kevin Rigney, Shane Hand, Colm Cassidy; Paul Bracken (0-2), Martin Murray (0-1); Paul Leonard, Tommy Bracken, Damien Barron (1-1, 1-0 free); John Leahy (0-12, nine frees), Mark Hand, Tony Spain (0-1). Subs. Mark O’Brien (0-1) (for Paul Leonard, 43 mins), John Rigney (for Tommy Bracken, 48 mins), Mark Leonard (for Damien Barron, 56 mins).
BALLYSKENACH: Tom O’Toole; Eugene Hannon, Mick O’Hara, Ollie Ryan; Mark Kirwan,
Cathal Murphy, Barry Keeshan; David Franks (1-4, 1-0 penalty, 0-4 frees), Liam
O’Toole (0-1, lineball); Peter Murphy (0-1), Noel Murphy (0-1), Brendan Murphy;
Bill Lalor, Eugene Kirwan, David Carney (2-2).
Sub. Derek Middleton (for Eugene Kirwan, 51 mins).