K/K get the nod to capture first senior title in novel final

On a Saturday evening in May, Tullamore and Kilcormac/Killoughey opened their 2009 SHC campaigns as the first and second fixture of a double header in Lusmagh. Tullamore started their season with a 3-11 each draw with Seir Kieran, while Kilcormac/Killoughey went down badly to St Rynagh's after fading in the second half. Both these teams have been through a lot since then, and it's fair to say that from inauspicious beginnings, both clubs have put together a very positive campaign. For one side, it will end in glory, while the other will have no shortage of regrets after letting what could yet be a once-in-a-generation opportunity slip through their fingers. Both these teams have question marks hanging over them, to the point that literally any result is possible this Sunday. K/K have the scoring power and the intensity to win at a canter, but equally they are mentally fragile and could crumble in the face of the steady and persistent hurling that Tullamore have shown since the knockout stages of the championship began. Either way, Sunday's game should be an interesting and enlightening encounter. Had Tullamore beaten any team other than Birr two weeks ago, they would be seen as huge outsiders in this tie, but that result has completely changed how people look at the town team. They are still bookies outsiders for this game, available at as much as 7/4 to win this game, which suggests that the betting companies see this as a 60/40 match. However despite that favouritism, it's unlikely that K/K will underestimate their opponents. After all, Tullamore have now beaten Birr twice in succession, with the most recent win in a straight do-or-die championship match. That is something that K/K tried and failed to achieve in three separate championship meetings in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Perhaps even more impressive was the manner of Tullamore's win in that semi-final against Birr. Having trailed by six points early in the second half, Birr had come back to level scores with five minutes to go and still had the advantage of the wind as they sought to seal the deal. Tullamore, instead of folding - as many teams might have done in that situation - dug deep and came up with two hugely important points to clinch their place in the final, defending manfully at the other end of the field as they did so. Hurler for hurler, Kilcormac/Killoughey look to have an edge on Sunday - a simple run down on the respective team sheets and the greater level of senior and underage inter-county recognition in their ranks confirms that much. However, the question has to be asked, do they have the mental strength required? Clara's win over Rhode last weekend was a huge endorsement of the value of self belief when the heat comes on in a championship tie. Kilcormac/Killoughey haven't had their resolve tested this year, in the fashion that Tullamore's was against Birr and indeed against St Rynagh's before that. Many would argue that K/K failed to perform in the face of real championship pressure previously, and they cannot expect to win without conquering those demons on Sunday. In that light, the battle between the K/K inside forwards and the Tullamore full-back line becomes all the more important. Early scores would settle K/K, while a few early setbacks could equally cause their mental gremlins to run amok. Stephen Egan put in a wonderful performance against Birr and he will probably be assigned to curtail Ciarán Slevin, while Cillian Bane will have to deal with the physical presence of Ger Healion. Bane is not one of the biggest hurlers that can be found, but he was more than a match for each of the Hanniffy brothers, while marking Gary Healy of St Rynagh's was another physical test that he passed with flying colours. Unlike these three, however, Healion is purely a power player. He will set himself under the dropping ball and though he doesn't score as heavily as those around him, his style can be difficult to counteract. It is in the left corner that K/K could have the biggest advantage, as James Gorman's height and range can cause problems and might constitute a mismatch with Alan Martin. K/K have been withdrawing their half-forwards to allow Gorman to sweep around in front of Healion, with Daniel Currams often arriving on the scene from deep positions, thus creating a lot of chances for two of the leading lights of the K/K attack. Tullamore could let Nigel Mannion play a deeper role, however that gives Brian Leonard the chance to pick up breaking ball from midfield and Leonard has been taking some very nice scores this year. If this range of attacking options causes Tullamore problems in the early stages of this game, K/K could pull away and start to hurl with freedom. In particular, they've been creating plenty of goal chances (19 goals in eight games this year) and one or two first-half goals could be decisive. If Tullamore can hang on to K/K's coat-tails, it's not impossible that they might come with a late run. However it seems unlikely that they could come from way behind as they did against St Rynagh's. K/K have simply been scoring too heavily to let that happen. In the six games since the hurling championship resumed in July, K/K have been averaging 3-19 per game. They are simply not the kind of team who will be held scoreless for ten minutes at a time, and as such Tullamore would be leaving themselves with too much to do if they fall behind. Another crucial battle ground will be the midfield area. In Conor Mahon and Eamonn Lee, K/K have two players with height, fitness and attacking potential. Lee can take points from out the field, while Mahon is capable of drawing fouls and indeed creating openings with his direct and purposeful running at opposition defences. However, Tullamore too have been very impressive at midfield this season, with Shane Kelly and James Keane forming an impressive partnership. Kelly has long been one of the most under-rated hurlers in the county, mixing great athleticism with no small amount of craft. James Keane had never really delivered on the potential he showed at minor level up to this point, but the amount of time he has spent at his hurling this year is starting to tell and his performance this Sunday could easily surprise people who haven't seen him hurl yet this year. If he and Kelly can negate the influence of K/K's midfield, they can greatly restrict the amount of scores Tullamore concede and thus make a win possible. Put simply, Tullamore cannot beat or match a score of 23 or 24 points - and Keane and Kelly will be integral in preventing K/K reaching that milestone. This is not the kind of game where one could pick a winner with any great level of conviction, and if the match is in the melting pot with ten minutes remaining, Tullamore would be the favoured side since they've been there and proved to themselves that they can come out on top in just such a situation. Nonetheless, on the basis that Kilcormac/Killoughey have players capable of scoring in every shirt from 8-15 and that Tullamore will be unable to shut down all of them, they are the tentative choice to enjoy an historic first ever championship success.