Kilcormac/Killoughey 2-13 Ballyskenach 0-10

[Lone Shark]

Much like our national hurling championship, where analysts are struggling to come up with any plausible alternatives to the big two of Cork and Kilkenny for potential winners, in Offaly in 2005 pundits tipping anyone other than Birr or Coolderry to lift the Seán Robbins Cup in the Autumn are thin on the ground. Both the aforementioned sides had comfortable wins over moderate opposition this weekend, but in Rath on Sunday evening Kilcormac/Killoughey faced up to much more dangerous opponents and emerged looking like serious contenders for honours this year.

Ultimately a side with as small a pick as Ballyskenach will always have weak links for balanced and talented sides to exploit, but even so to record a comprehensive victory like this took a solid consistent display in all aspects of the game, and K/K management will be very pleased with their evening’s work in advance of next weekend’s clash with Birr. Their defence was composed and disciplined, and in particular can take great credit for allowing Ballyskenach one solitary free within 60 metres of their own goal, their midfielders hurled a lot of ball both out of hand and straight off the sod, and their forwards all looked threatening, five out of six of them getting on the scoresheet.

After a typically competitive and robust start to the game, with Ciarán Slevin and David Franks both opening their sides account from placed balls, the ninth minute saw K/K take a lead they were never to relinquish after some great ground hurling up the field. Kevin Rigney’s first time clearance was helped on by Kevin Sadler, and the ball deflected to Slevin, who took his chance well, driving his shot across the goalkeeper to the top corner. Joey Wynne was the next man to score, taking advantage after Cathal Murphy misjudged a long ball to seize possession and score.

David Franks at this stage was doing all that could have been asked of him and more to keep his side in touch early on while his forwards were misfiring. He cancelled out Wynne’s score with a fine point from halfway within a minute, and traded scores with Slevin before Brendan Murphy escaped the shackles of Peter Healion for the first time on twenty minutes to register his first point. From here K/K finished the half very strongly, and scores from Cassidy, Eamonn Lee, Wynne and two from Slevin were matched only by a solitary Aidan Franks score to leave six between the sides at the break, 1-8 to 0-5. This could have been worse, as Slevin missed another goal chance, and Joey Wynne’s second point was a mere foot over the bar, and could just as easily have been a foot under it.

What breeze was in it was mild, but favoured the Tipp border outfit in the second half, so a good start by them could have set the game up for a great last quarter. It wasn’t to be however, as Lee and David Franks traded scores at the start of the second half, before Kilcormac got the second goal of the game. A shot from Thomas Craven drifted in the breeze, dropping on the left hand edge of the small square, and Kevin Sadler beat his man to the overheard pull, putting K/K nine points to the good. With Ballyskenach finding scores so hard to come by, it was always going to be a big ask, and although they had almost the entire half to find the necessary scores, ten minutes later they were twelve adrift and out of reach, as Kilcormac tacked on four more points. Ballyskenach fought to the end, and chipped away at the lead, but they never threatened to raise a green flag at any stage, and their tally of wides was accumulating at a rate not equalled by their tally of flags. Eoghan and David Franks with two more rounded out the scoring, but as Brian Gavin’s whistle blew, nine points remained between the teams, and in no way flattered the victors.

In a hugely competitive group, Ballyskenach will find it difficult to recover sufficiently to reach the knockout stages, but for every ounce of satisfaction Kilcormac derived from this win, ‘Skenach will see areas where they can improve in advance of the vital clash with St. Rynagh’s next Sunday. A good championship hurling side should be raising two flags for every wide ball, and in this respect 12 wides and only ten points goes a long way towards explaining the gulf between the sides. The spine of their defence would normally be a very strong area, but Cathal Murphy was uncertain and will not remember this game as one of his better matches, while Mick O’Hara never managed to impose himself on the game at any stage.

However the story of the day was the emergence of a real threat to last years top two, and the prospect of a mouth watering clash in Banagher on Saturday evening. Both Kilcormac and Birr will take the field with a real spring in their step, and a clear front runner for the overall prize will be in place by Saturday night.


Teams:
Kilcormac/Killoughey: Stephen Byrne; John Flaherty, Peter Healion, John Grogan; Keith McConville, Kevin Rigney, Colm Cassidy (0-2, 1 65’); Tony Spain, Kevin Grogan; Thomas Craven (0-1), Seamus Spain, Kevin Sadler (1-0); Eamonn Lee (0-2), Joey Wynne, (0-3), Ciarán Slevin (1-5, 0-3 frees).
Subs: David Gleeson for Wynne, Mark Hand for Slevin, Paul Cummins for S Spain, Gerard Healion for K Grogan.

Ballyskenach: Tomás O’Toole; Brendan Franks, Cathal Murphy, Mark Kirwan; Alan Middleton, Mick O’Hara, David McLoughlin; David Franks (0-6, 1 free, 1 65’), Timmy Hennessy; Aidan Franks (0-1), Noel Murphy, Tony O’Riordan; Alan Franks, Brendan Murphy (0-2), Eoghan Franks (0-1).
Sub: John Dooley for Alan Franks.
Referee: Brian Gavin (Clara)


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[Flatcap]

the lads did well all right, but i wouldnt say we were that good. byrne made a few saves, one from the free early on, and we were well beat at midfield. grogan was very quiet for a lad that should be on the under 21s later in the year.

did enough to win though. saturday will tell a lot.