Derby bragging rights go to resurgent Killimordaly

Sarsfields 1-16

THE perceived flaws of the senior hurling championship have dominated many a discussion – for better or worse – among the hurling fraternity over the summer but, on the evidence of Killimordaly’s 2014 showings, the case for allowing the intermediate holders two years to find their feet in the top flight has certainly been strengthened.

Without question, Killimordaly have pushed on since their intermediate title win in 2012 and whatever weaknesses that stifled their performances in their intermittent appearances in this grade over recent decades look to have been addressed under manager Tomás Broderick and his backroom staff.

Whatever happens, progress has been made but the level of ambition shown by the championship’s surprise package would indicate they will not be content with a quarter-final appearance alone. They have a taste for it now and they will have no desire to see their unbeaten championship run end.

Definitely, their hunger to come out tops in this local derby against neighbours Sarsfields was evident from the off, with Killimordaly showing the greater intensity – so much so a couple of Sarsfields players required treatment in the opening half.

It was nothing malicious on the victors’ part, just sheer determination and commitment to go through that brick wall. The flip side, though, was that they conceded far too many frees in the opening period – nine to Sarsfields’ four – and that hurt them on the scoreboard.

Sarsfields, with the accurate Niall Morrissey taking over the free-taking duties from Kerril Wade, tallied six points from dead balls in the opening half to lead 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval.

In addition, Sarsfields had no wide in that time – nor did they have one in the entire game – and, in many respects, Michael Murray’s charges with their economical scoring return and low free count against them were striking all the right notes.

In contrast, Killimordaly had six wides in that opening period – 10 in all – while they saw another four scoring chances go abegging in the first 30 minutes, including goal chances for Brian Burke and Brian Concannon in the first quarter.

Critically though Killimordaly were creating those opportunities and, in the end, this victory came down to the simple statistic that they fashioned twice as many chances as their opponents over the 60 minutes and, by taking just over half of them, it was more than enough to put their rivals to the sword.

Still, it was not until the 48th minute introduction of David Concannon that Killimordaly finally steered themselves into a winning position. By this stage, the sides were level at 1-12 to 0-15 but with Concannon entering the fray Broderick’s men got a new lease of life.

For more,  read this week’s Galway City Tribune.