Kilcormac-Killoughey survive Ballinamere onslaught in Offaly SHC decider

Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-16 Ballinamere 1-11

Kilcormac-Killoughey were pushed to the pin of their collar before retaining their Offaly Senior Hurling Championship title in a tremendously shootout with a Ballinamere side, attempting to capture their first title.

Red hot favourites going in, K-K showed they could also grind out results as they came from a point down with four minutes left to win by three.

Ballinamere had first use of a swirling cross field wind that favoured the team playing into the Park Avenue goal. Some supporters had called for the game to be called off on Sunday morning but the wind was not strong enough to justify such a decision and the Offaly County Board made an early announcement that it would proceed.

The wind posed different challenges for players, forcing them to judge it and be clever in their shot selection.

Kilcormac-Killoughey impressed as the better side against the wind and were that bit sharper in their use of the ball. Ballinamere were actually relieved to go in level at half time, 1-05 to 0-08 thanks to a well worked injury time goal, finished by Dan Ravenhill after a good build up involving Dan Bourke and Brian Duignan.

Adam Screeney caused a lot of early problems for Ballinamere as Kilcormac-Killoughey edged into a 0-05 to 0-04 lead after 15 minutss. Three points without reply from Daniel Hand, Conor Mahon and Colin Spain had them 0-08 to 0-05 ahead after 27 minutes and K-K were not far from getting in for a goal.

Dan Ravenhill's goal was just the boost Ballinamere needed but they still had it all to do in the second half.

That goal, however, changed the whole game and Ballinamere were a much different outfit in the second half. Their work ethic increased as they turned over ball and the