Kiltormer back in control of their own destiny

Kiltormer 1-17

Tommy Larkins 1-12

Kiltormer’s destiny in the 2013 senior hurling championship is back in their own hands after they produced a very controlled performance to ease beyond Tommy Larkins in this Group D game at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe on Saturday evening.

The result sees Larkins exit the championship with another round to play while Kiltormer, defeated by Padraig Pearses in their group opener, now have a very real chance of progressing to the quarter-finals should they account for Beagh in their final group fixture.

Certainly, on this display, Kiltormer can achieve this. Playing against the breeze in the first half, they led 1-8 to 0-5 and, although outscored 1-7 to 0-9 in the second period, they still had the wherewithal and determination to get the job done.

That said, when Larkins tallied 1-2 unanswered midway through the second half – to leave just two points between the sides, 1-12 to 1-10 – you could see the beads of sweat begin to form on the Kiltormer brow, as in recent years, they have proved to be capable of building up leads and equally as adept in losing them.

On this occasion, though, Kiltormer were simply taking a breather and in the closing quarter they out-shot Larkins by five points to two to seal the deal. Tallying those late Kiltormer scores came from Michael Dolan, Keith Kilkenny (free and play), the lively Patrick Cormican and substitute Michael Greaney while Eamonn Hayes and centre-back Conor Nevin accounted for the Larkins efforts.

Really and truly, the victors had the hard graft done in the first half when, against the breeze, they build up a 1-8 to 0-5 interval advantage. By the end of a pedestrian first quarter, they led 0-4 to 0-2 as Kilkenny (65), Conor Ryan and Darren Hopkins fired over.

They continued to keep their noses in front with points from Kilkenny (two frees) and midfielder Brendan Kenny before a delivery from the latter broke beautifully for corner forward Sean Claffey and, using his speed to good effect, he cut a dash on way to netting the opening goal of the contest on 26 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.