Byrne’s men go in for the Kil’
KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY are back on top of the Offaly hurling ladder after a pulsating second half saw them hold out for a three-point win over last year’s champions, St Rynagh’s.
K/K had led by 2-10 to 0-5 at half-time having played with a strong wind but Rynagh’s showed their mettle and came back into the game to push the eventual champions all the way.
Ciaran Slevin lorded the midfield area of the field and, with a haul of 1-7 — he was crucial to their win.
Along with Slevin, the returning Dan Currams also proved inspirational while the teak toughness of Killian Leonard in the full-back line set the tone for the rest of the team. Currams was thought to be out of the final with an ankle injury but his return was key according to Kilcormac/Killoughey manager Stephen Byrne. He said: ‘Dan was a huge boost for us. We found out on Thursday that he was ready. I thought his contribution was massive and it was a massive lift to us. It was actually the first time all year we were picking from 30 players due to injuries ‘It’s going to take a while for it to sink in. You pray for something like this to happen but you don’t know if it is going to happen until the final whistle. The performance in the first half won it for us I thought. We had to dig deep then in the second half and we knew they would come back strong. They are tough to break down.’
With a driving wind behind them in the opening half, Kilcormac/Killoughey were slow to make use of it. They led 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes, the pick of those coming from James Gorman from inside his own half after only 35 seconds.
Though with the wind strengthening, St Rynagh’s were just about staying in touch and the half-time whistle brought around a 2-10 to 0-5 cushion for the double Ks.
But St Rynagh’s weren’t about to give up their title easily and back they came in the second half. Rynagh’s found an extra gear and a goal from Joseph O’Connor nine minutes from time brought it back to 2-13 to 1-11. Crucially, Stephen Leonard fired over an instant reply for K/K who hadn’t scored in seven minutes.
The closing five minutes was pulsating. St Rynagh’s managed to get it back to two points at one stage but there was no denying Kilcormac/Killoughey and spurred on by a majestic point from Dan Currams two minutes from time, the Sean Robbins Cup deservedly returned to Kilcormac/Killoughey for the first time since 2014.