Adam Screeney, Kilcormac-Killoughey, and Peter Murphy, Castletown-Geoghegan, in AIB Leinster Club SHC action. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster Club SHC Semi-Final
Kilcormac-Killoughey 2-13 Castletown-Geoghegan 1-13
By Gerry Buckley at TEG Cusack Park
Last week’s headline-makers, Castletown-Geoghegan were attempting to become the first Westmeath club to reach a Leinster club senior hurling final, but a late Adam Screeney goal for Kilcormac-Killoughey prevented history being made in a pulsating penultimate round game in Mullingar.
A brace of converted frees from close range by Screeney in the opening five minutes put the visitors two points clear. Point exchanges ensued between Niall O’Brien and Screeney (from frees), and the lively Conor Murphy - a classy score on the run - and a Colin Spain sideline cut.
O’Brien ‘65’ in the 14th minute was followed by 10 scoreless minutes before another wind-assisted O’Brien free and a second from play by Murphy nudged the Westmeath side ahead for the first time with 27 minutes on the clock. Screeney slotted over a ‘65’ to draw the sides level at 0-5 apiece.
Castletown-Geoghegan finished the first half strongly with three unanswered points from the sticks of Shane Clavin, Morgan Gavigan and Peter Clarke, from a superb lineball with the last puck of the half). Prior to Gavigan’s point, both sides had goal chances with Screeney denied by Ciaran O’Brien, and Niall O’Brien thwarted by Conor Slevin. Castletown-Geoghegan led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval.
With a useful wind behind them, the Offaly men were on level terms less than nine minute after play resumed, courtesy of points from goalkeeper Conor Slevin (ree) and two from Adam Screeney, including his side’s first score from play in the 38th minute. The outstanding O’Brien and Conor Mahon traded points before Peter Clarke and O’Brien tagged on further points to put the underdogs ahead by 0-11 to 0-9 at the end of the third quarter.
However, Kilcormac-Killoughey pounced for three points without reply to edge in front, the scores coming from Daniel Hand and one each from the Screeney brothers, Adam (free) and Jack. In the 54th minute, a real shock looked on the cards when sub David Fennell teed up Aonghus Clarke, who duly found the net in style.
Adam Screeney (free) and Peter Clarke exchanged points, but the winners crucially got in for their first goal directly from the resultant puck-out, sub James Gorman finding the net from point-blank range.
Three minutes of added-time were signalled and in the first of these O’Brien scored an amazing point to tie up the scoring again. Adam Screeney scored the all-important second goal for Kilcormac-Killoughey some 30 seconds later, the highly-rated corner forward showing great skill to flick the ball past Ciaran O’Brien.
Castletown-Geoghegan had no option but to go for a goal from a last-gasp free, but Niall O’Brien’s shot was saved and cleared, and the final whistle blew within seconds.
Scorers for Kilcormac-Killoughey: A Screeney 1-8 (6fs, 1 65), J Gorman 1-0, C Slevin (f), C Spain (sideline), C Mahon, J Screeney, D Hand 0-1 each.
Castletown-Geoghegan: N O’Brien 0-6 (2fs, 1 65), A Clarke 1-0, P Clarke 0-3 (1 sideline), C Murphy 0-2, M Gavigan, S Clavin 0-1 each.
Kilcormac-Killoughey: C Slevin; T Spain, O Mahon, J Mahon; J Quinn, E Grogan, B Kavanagh; C Spain, D Kilmartin; L Kavanagh, C Mahon, J Screeney; D Hand, C Mitchell, A Screeney.
Subs: Cillian Kiely for Grogan (37), P Geraghty for L Kavanagh (46), J Gorman for Mitchell (50), Cathal Kiely for Kilmartin (55), A Kavanagh for Hand (inj., 60).
Castletown-Geoghegan: C O’Brien; P Murphy, A Glennon, D Maloney; J Bermingham, J Murphy, M Gavigan; P Clarke, S Clavin; C Murphy, A Clarke, L Varley; D O’Reilly, N O’Brien, J Gallagher. Sub: D Fennell for O’Reilly (inj., 17).
Referee: E Furlong (Wexford).
