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Peter Healion and Ciaran Slevin of Kilcormac/Killoughey lift the Sean Robins cup. INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
Champions

Kilcormac-Killoughey retain Offaly senior hurling crown

Last March’s beaten All-Ireland club finalists defeated Birr this afternoon.

Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-21
Birr 1-14

REIGNING CHAMPIONS KILCORMAC-Killoughey were crowned Offaly hurling kingpins again this afternoon with a seven-point win over Birr at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

They had to fight hard to withstand a second-half fightback from Birr but Kilcormac-Killoughey, defeated in last March’s All-Ireland club decider by St Thomas, sealed victory when Daniel Currams found the net in the closing stages.

The victory was a sweet one for Kilcormac-Killoughey after they had been defeated in the 2002 and 2007 county finals by Birr.

And it also saw them retain a title that the Danny Owens-managed side had won only for the first time last season.

Birr, managed by ex-Offaly senior Johnny Pilkington, fought hard but ultimately suffered their second final loss in three years.

Kilcormac-Killoughey edged into an early 0-3 to 0-2 lead before they dominated the second quarter and were 0-13 to 0-5 clear at the interval.

Curras and Thomas Geraghty pitched in with important contributions but their scoring star was ace freetaker Ciaran Slevin.

Birr fought back after the break with Dylan Hayden impressing in the scoring stakes to help them trail by 0-14 to 0-9.

A Trever Fletcher pointed edged Kilcormac-Killoughey into a 0-17 to 0-10 lead before experienced substitute Simon Whelehan came off the bench to fire home a goal for Birr.

That helped them cut the gap to three points, 0-17 to 1-11, and Kilcormac-Killoughey were provided with a serious test.

But they responded magnificently with Currams finding the net and they pushed on from there to triumph.

The Offaly champions now go forward to meet Laois side Camross in the AIB Leinster club senior hurling quarter-final in Portlaoise on November 3rd.

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As it happened: Sunday GAA club match tracker