St Mullins fall to Offaly champions
Jason O'Neill from St Mullins and James Mahon from Kilcormac Killoughey keep their eye on the ball Photo: Pat Ahern
Kilcormac Killoughey advanced to the semi-final of the AIB Leinster senior hurling championship with victory over St Mullins at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday. In the early stages, the Offaly champions looked set for an easy passage where the visitors dominated. They all but secured their victory in the opening quarter where they led 1-6 to 0-2. The goal came when Daniel Hand pounced when St Mullins keeper, Kevin Kehoe, failed to clear.
The Carlow side came up to the pace of what was required. Points from Conor Kehoe, Kavanagh and James Doyle narrowed the deficit. At the break, Kilcormac-Killoughey still led 1-8 to 0-5.
A 38th minute goal from Doyle gave St Mullins hope. The intercounty player caught a high ball and cut through the Kilcormac Killoughey defence. With defenders failing to get to him, he found the net with a s shot which flew in off the underside of the crossbar.
In reply, keeper, Conor Slevin raised white flags with two long distance frees. Adam Screeney brought his total to four with two frees. St Mullins dug deep. Doyle and centre-half back, Michael Walsh pointed. Kilcormac Killoughey substitute, James Gorman’s, point put five between them as the game headed towards the closing stages.
It wasn’t to be for St Mullins who came up against a visiting defence who never allowed their opponents the space or time to find another goal. The visiting Colin Spain’s point ended the scoring while St Mullins will be left to wonder what might have been.
A Screeney 0-4 (fs), D Hand 1-0, J Screeney 0-3, C Mahon, C Slevin 0-2(fs) each, E Grogan, C Mitchell, J Gorman, B Kavanagh , D Kilmartin, C Spain 0-1 each
James Doyle 1-4, M Kavanagh 0-3 (2fs), C Kehoe, J Kavanagh, G Coady, M Walsh, P Boland 0-1 each.
Conor Slevin; Tom Spain, Oisin Mahon, James Mahon; Jordan Quinn, Enda Grogan, Brecon Kavanagh; Colin Spain, Damien Kilmartin; Leigh Kavanagh, Conor Mahon, James Screeney; Daniel Hand, Charles Mitchell, Adam Screeney. Subs: Peter Geraghty for Hand (41), James Gorman for J Screeney (54), Cathal Kiely for Kilmartin (54), Alex Kavanagh for A Screeney (57).
Kevin Kehoe; Paidi O’Shea, Paul Doyle, Paudie Kehoe; Ger Coady, Michael Walsh, Ciaran Harris; Conor Kehoe, Eamon O’Shea; Jack Kavanagh, James Doyle, Paddy Boland; Marty Kavanagh, John Doyle, Jason O’Neill. Subs: John Doran for J Kavanagh (blood 18), Oisin Ryan for J Kavanagh (51), John Doran for Harris (54).
Padraig Dunne (Laois)
