Kilcormac-Killoughey 2-22 Naomh Eanna 0-14
Offaly champions Kilcormac-Killoughey blitzed Naomh Éanna by 2-13 to 0-03 in the second-half at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday to blast through to the Leinster Club hurling semi-finals.
The Wexford kingpins led 0-11 to 0-09 at half-time and appeared to be motoring satisfactorily although they were handing over wind advantage.
And Kilcormac-Killoughey shoved a considerable spanner in the Gorey side's works when hitting them for two rapid-fire goals to transform matters utterly by 2-11 to 0-11 after 38 minutes.
Shane Hand’s men didn’t look back as they powered through to a provincial last-four date against either Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) or O’Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) as Offaly ended their search for a first victory in the competition since 2018 - when Naomh Eanna, then first-time Wexford winners, were the last Wexford side to post a victory in it.
Kilcormac-Killoughey burst into an early 0-04 to no-score lead amid a raucous atmosphere as Colin Spain, teenager Adam Screeney (free) and Charlie Mitchell together with Conor Mahon obliged.
But Naomh Eanna soon settled as Jack Doran pegged back a seventh minute score, before Conor McDonald was foiled by Oisín Mahon, and Gorey midfielder Aodhán Doyle forced a save with the danger eventually being negated.
Nevertheless, Naomh Eanna made further in-roads to close to within 0-04 to 0-03 with scores from distance by both Catha Dunbar and McDonald.
And a brace of dead-balls from Jack Cullen levelled for the first time after 16 minutes (0-05 apiece), and he sides were tied twice more, before Naomh Eanna edged ahead by 0-11 to 0-09 at half-time with late incisions from placed-balls by Pádraig Doyle and Cullen.
The Offaly kingpins, with wind advantage, lorded matters on the resumption, as James Gorman and Adam Screeney (free) bridged the gap for the fourth time before they rocked Naomh Eanna with a double goal blast inside a minute.
The first major blow came about quite fortuitously, as the puck-out stemming from Gorey’s fifth wide saw the long delivery gain the slightest of touches off full-forward Gorman on its way to the net in the 37th minute.
And within seconds Adam Screeney angled a scorcher to the net from an assist by Gorman to blow open a 2-11 to 0-11 divide, which quickly swelled to nine points as Enda Grogan and Cillian Kiely hit the scoresheet.
Cathal Dunbar eventually notched Gorey’s first score of the half after thirteen minutes (2-14 to 0-13). But Kilcormac-Killoughey didn’t ease their foot off the throttle as they stormed onwards, with 'man of the match’ Gorman suggesting their semi-final on November 25th is a "huge game".
Kilcormac-Killoughey: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanagh, Oisín Mahon, Tom Spain; Jordan Quinn, Cillian Kiely (0-03, 2f), Enda Grogan (0-01); Colin Spain (0-02), Damien Kilmartin; Leigh Kavanagh, Conor Mahon (0-01), Jack Screeney (0-01); Charlie Mitchell (0-02), James Gorman (1-03), Adam Screeney (1-07, 0-05f).
Subs: Thomas Geraghty (0-1) for C. Mahon (51), Ter Guinan for L Kavanagh (55), Lochlann Kavanagh (0-01) for Gorman (55), James Mahon for B Kavanagh (59), Ger Healion for Mitchell (60+2).
Naomh Eanna: Jack Cushe; Cian Molloy, Tom Stafford, Cian Ó Tuama; Charlie McGuckin (0-01), Cathal Stokes, Brendan Travers; Seán Doyle, Aodhán Doyle (0-01); Cian Browne, Cathal Dunbar (0-03), Jack Doran (0-02); Pádraig Doyle (0-02f), Conor McDonald (0-01), Jack Cullen (0-4, 2 ‘65, 2f).
Subs: Rian Fitzpatrick for Stafford (49), Seán Óg Whelan for Browne (52), Eoin Conroy for Travers (59), Darragh Canavan for McDonald (60+3).
Referee: Seán Cleere (Kilkenny).
