Senior County Hurling Final

[alltheway]

Sunday 7th October becomes a red-letter day for both St.Rynaghs and Kilcormac/Killoughey GAA Clubs. A day when both aim to bury demons of different sorts. KK, come in weight the added pressure of having never won a senior title, when, at different stages they were widely expected to do so. Rynaghs have, but not with this generation of players, and both, between them have shared an abundance of under-age titles. The rewards will now be reaped by one, but which?

Where Sean Robbins spends the next 12 months, each team can put up a valuable argument to host him, but where he will rest his head ultimatley depends on how both go about their business on Sunday. Rynaghs will be many peoples favourites on the back of knocking out many peoples pre-championship favourites, Coolderry. Not with the result alone, but the notable improvement in performance, and a confidence that has seen a tremendous work ethic and togetherness in their group. This is exemplified, which I'm sure people will see at half-time on Sunday, where they gather as a unit in midfield and march towards the dressing room together. Solidarity, and belief in the collective becomes ever more paramount in these modern times, ask Jim McGuinness. Rynaghs have built strong from the back, trusting youth, and those youngsters have grown into men, and quiet quickly. Take Conor Clancy in goals, just out of minor, who has a huge psychical presence in between the sticks, he has revelled in the role, one which oppositions would target given his tender age. Stephen Wynne has proved a reliable club man and waltzes out with balls to set forward attacks as opposed to the traditional booming clearance. Conor Hernon, captain, is the fulcrum on which the Rynaghs rearguard is built, hard working, fast and as sticky as you are likely to meet in Offaly Hurling. Where they position him and what threat they ask him to nullify will go a long way towards deciding the result. Pat Camon upon his return from injury earlier in the year has become a tower of strength wherever he has played, and with Dermot Shortt commanding the centre back spot, this youthful back line are not short of leaders, or fearful of the physical stakes. If they have the Gazza of 2011 in midfield, Rynaghs will have a commanding figure in the engine room, Nigel White has gone about his work in tremendous fashion this year and has got crucial scores at times, he has been the perfect foil for Kelly, but he will insist more of his partner, the unsung hero of the blue and golds. Another leader, along still only 25 is Ciarán Flannery, and the fact that he didn't hurl particularly well in the semi augers well for Rynaghs. For Rynaghs to win, Flanerry will have to have the measure of Peter Healion, and he has the ability and strength to do so, problem is, Healion can physically take whatever is thrown at him, and he will be tough to break down in the centre. The positioning of Diarmuid Horan is crucial. Bet Willie Comerford for pace every time in the semi-final, but where was the end result? If Horan becomes more direct with ball in hand, he is pivotal to Rynaghs cause. A player of his ability should finish with 1-3 or so a game, but he hasn't, he seems to be played in the role of play maker, give him the ball, but let him score, if I was a Rynaghs man, it's what I would call for, but will he? Gary Connelly has the ability to decide big games, he doesn't shy back, and he can hurl too, KK will need to curb his influence, as he could roam anywhere, and is well able to win his ball and take a score. If they allow him to roam, they are in trouble. Queue Scales and Quirke, the heroes of the semi, they will face a different test on Sunday in Chris Guinan and Alan McConville, expect to see a Guinan-Scales, Quirke-McConville match-up. Don't expect the same return as they got in the semi final. McConville, althhough small in stature, is huge in heart, and he will be the perfect match for Quirke, like he did on Eoin Ryan last year.If KK win those two battles, they will have a strong foothold in the game.

Driving through Kilcormac, the town seems more subdued, more in control, more ready. There isn't wild excitement of a young team looking for that elusive win. Players and supporters alike know that there time to shine has to come on Sunday. They have been on the block a while now, they know it too. If there time is to be on Sunday, how Mahon, Gorman, Fletcher and Currams perform will be crucial. All 4 haven't hit there standards yet this year, they have shown flashes, but their undoubted ability at this level means that if they fire, so do KK. Their backs have been consistent, as has Slevin in the Goals, his puck outs are a big asset. His ability to find forwards on the run, particularly his brother, and go-to guy for them this year, Ciaran, is crucial. If their forwards are allowed that supply line coming through, they will relish it. Slevin will keep the board ticking over, what Currams and Gorman turn up is the question. Currams has the power and ability to score goals from 14, and they will need them. Gorman is as sweet a striker as there is, he'll score 4 or 5 points and be unstoppable, or he'll be off after 35 minutes, it could be his time. Fletcher is a poacher, he will need to be watched. How the Rynaghs backs are positioned will be vital. If it were me, Camon-Gorman, Simon Og-Fletcher and Wynne-Currams, I would expect fireworks, as on paper they look evenly matched, but nothing is ever won there. I expect KK's backs to overpower what frenzy Rynaghs cook up in the first 20 mins, but it is further up the field the match will be won and lost for KK. Damien Kilmartin will sit back, break up attacks and do the unselfish work he has all year, if they returned Mahon to this sector alongside him, they would have the perfect compliment, but I expect Mahon to start at 11. Peter Gerathy has a youthful exuberance about him that haas seen him score freely all year, expect him to be welcomed into the match early on. They are not short of options either, both Leonards, Killian and Brian will fancy their chance, as will one one the Grogan's, Kevin and John. They have a bench to come on, they are a stronger unit than they were in 09.

It's finely poised, Rynaghs can nullify most attacks, Kilcormac Killoughey can rack up huge scores, but they don't consistently. Rynaghs are where they are this year as they have been fairly consistent, barring the Belmont game. They have improved big time and they will feel it is theirs, so to will KK. It is an intriguing match-up and one which will more than likely guarantee an electric atmosphere in a normally subdued OCP. There is no love lost, they know each other side out, they have contested finals all up along, and everyone knew this day would inevitably come. It has, and all the underage titles count for little now. Which team reaches it's pinnacle will take the spoils, Rynaghs have improved and come on enormously, KK have the more room for improvement from the semis. If Kilcormac/Killoughey learn from 09, and I think they will, I think they will shade this, allow it to become a scrap and the Saints will see it out. Expect a battle, one team's day is going to come, and I think KK will bench all the hurt of the past and take this one. Their day can be Sunday if they want it. Expect their boys to become men and fire them over the line. KK by 3-5 points in the end.

[Lone Shark]

Excellent preview - fair play.

I haven't seen as much SHC this year as I'd like due to a variety of reasons (God do I miss being a full time local hack!) but even so there is a lot to look forward to in this tie. Two clubs that would get a huge boost from a title like this, a relatively even match on paper, and an interesting tactical contrast.

My gut feeling is that Rynaghs might have a slight edge. Over the past few years I've often felt that Rynaghs team alignments have been drawn up in some form of raffle, with forwards playing in the backs, backs playing up front and usually about three guys playing in the same position from one year to the next. Whether by accident or design, they finally seem to have hit on the right formula and critically, they didn't seem to get carried away by the Coolderry result and still they produced a good one against Shinrone. Their current lineup seems well balanced, they're scoring well, they get the narrowest of votes from me. I'm looking forward to it though - should be a good one.