Kilcormac-Killoughey bid to exact revenge and dethrone Rynagh’s
OLD rivals St Rynagh’s and Kilcormac-Killoughey renew their hostilities tomorrow when they meet in the Offaly SHC final at O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
Since 2012, the sides have met in two finals and two semi-finals with Kilcormac-Killoughey winning both finals in 2012 and 2014 before St Rynagh’s overturned them in their bid for four in-a-row at the penultimate hurdle two years ago.
Last year saw St Rynagh’s capture their first title since 1993 and en route to that final win over Birr, the Shannonsiders once again took out Kilcormac-Killoughey in the semi-final.
It’s delicately poised. They have been the most consistent teams of recent times with St Rynagh’s looking to do the double, while Kilcormac-Killoughey are desperate to return to the summit where they stood between 2012 and 2014.
That win for St Rynagh’s last year came on the back of losing three out of the four previous finals (two to Kilcormac-Killoughey and one to Coolderry), but under the guidance of then manager Francis Forde – who departed at the end of last year to focus on his selector duties with a Galway side who went on to win the All-Ireland – they claimed their first title in 23 years.
Stepping into the breach this year was Kerry manager Fintan O’Connor and by his own admission, he had big boots to fill. “Franny did such a massive job with them, there was massive shoes to fill but these are a very good bunch of lads. They are a very driven group which makes it a little bit easier,” he explained.
“In fairness, they never put any pressure on me but from my own personal expectation after them winning last year, you want to at least get them back there again. That’s not always easy.” While both have navigated their way to the final, neither have set the world alight with regards form. Kilcormac-Killoughey have a 100pc record en route to the final but still have more in them based on their form of a few years ago.
Stephen Byrne took over in the managerial hot seat from Martin Fogarty at the start of the year. The former Offaly All-Ireland winning goalkeeper admits they’re still working on getting things right.
“There are probably a lot of people out there who think you have to play fancy hurling. I think from our point of view, we have defended very well, we haven’t put the ball in the net as much as we would like but we are still putting the ball over,” says manager.
“I think going into the final, finals are to be won. We would love to play a lovely brand of hurling but you still have a job to stop the opposition from scoring. It might not look the prettiest but we are still trying to get it right.”
Both teams go into the game minus key figures. Sharpshooter Dan Currams picked up a broken ankle in a challenge game before Kilcormac-Killoughey’s win over Belmont in the semi-final, while St Ryangh’s will be without Paul Quirke who broke his arm in a challenge game. the former Offaly U-21
Neither side have managed to score a goal in the championship since the group stages and if either could regain their goal touch, they could be a long way to winning the game.
Cillian Kiely and Ciaran Slevin will be integral to KilcormacKilloughey in the middle of the field while St Rynagh’s will look to Stephen Quirke up front to lead their charge. Offaly full-back Dermot Shortt will anchor the St Rynagh’s defence, while former Offaly player Ger Healion has returned from a cruciate ligament injury and his return has been massive for Kilcormac-Killoughey.