All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final: Kilcormac-Killoughey make history February 09, 2013





Peter Geraghty in action for his club Kilcormac-Killoughey during the 2012 All-Ireland club SHC semi-final against Thurles Sarsfields. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne. Peter Geraghty in action for his club Kilcormac-Killoughey during the 2012 All-Ireland club SHC semi-final against Thurles Sarsfields. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Most Read Stories

Kilcormac-Killoughey (Offaly) 1-20Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) 1-14Kilcormac-Killoughey will make their ever All-Ireland final appearance on March 17th after they turned over a much fancied Thurles Sarsfields side at Portlaoise this afternoon.The Offaly champions only claimed their first Offaly SHC in their history last year.Captain Ciaran Slevin gave a marvellous display for the winners as well scoring 0-11 over the hour.A goal 3 minutes to the interval from Pa Bourke looked as if Sarsfields would hold the upper hand. However, at the other end Kilcormac-Killoughey bounced back immediately with a goal of their own from Daniel Currams on the stroke of half time.Before turning four Sarsfields defenders, Currams kicked the sliotar over the line after failing at the first attempt.Half time score 1-8 to 1-7.Slevin, Conor Mahon, Brian Leonard and Currams stretched Kilcormac-Killoughey's lead to five points before corner forward Richie Ruth sent over a much needed score for Sarsfields. This was their first since the 27 minute.Sarsfields had several goal scoring opportunities to narrow the gap, the pick of them was Ruth's but 'keeper Conor Slevin was on hand to deny his effort.Points from Bourke and Ronan Maher reduced the deficit to a point - 1-14 to 1-13.Just as the Tipperary champions were gaining momentum Kilcormac-Killoughey pushed clear once again through Slevin, Peter Geraghty and Currams - 1-19 to 1-13.Slevin stepped up to the mark yet again with two more frees, before wrapping up victory with Kilcormac-Killoughey's sixth point in succession.Kilcormac-Killoughey - Conor Slevin; J Grogan, G Healion, A McConville; K Grogan, P Healion, B Leonard (0-2); D Kilmartin, K Leonard (0-1); Ciaran Slevin (0-11), C Mahon (0-2), P Geraghty (0-1); J Gorman (0-1), D Currams (1-1), T Geraghty (0-1). Sub: C Guinan for B Leonard.Thurles Sarsfields - P McCormack; S Maher, K O'Gorman, David Maher; D Kennedy, P Maher, M Cahill; M Gleeson (0-1), J Enright (0-2); Denis Maher (0-2), J Corbett, L Corbett; A McCormack (0-1), P Bourke (1-5), R Ruth (0-1). Subs: R Maher (0-1) for Enright, G O'Grady for J Corbett, M O'Brien (0-1) for Ruth.Referee - C Lyons.