Corvan enjoying Keady’s success in both codes

By Shaun Casey

CONOR Corvan was the key man for Keady as they got over the in line in Sunday’s Senior Hurling Championship final, getting their hands on the Jimmy Carlisle Cup for the first time since 2018.

He fired off 0-7, including the insurance score in the dying seconds. It helped Keady finally make their way past old rivals Middletown, who have held the upper hand for most of the last decade.

Corvan, along with a number of his teammates, are dual players for the club and the footballers face a semi-final showdown with St Paul’s this weekend, where they are eyeing up a spot in the Intermediate Championship decider.

“In the hurling there, the likes of ourselves, Derrynoose, Middletown, Craobh Rua have a lot of boys playing dual as well, it’s the done thing,” Corvan said after their 0-17 to 0-15 victory over Middletown.

“If you can get your schedule right and you are rolling into your games fresh, the fitness and the strength is there from the start of the year so it just all builds momentum.

“We came out of a very tough game in the football two weeks ago (against Belleek). We won by a point when we probably should have been beat but we battled hard and the is a good collective there at both and we’re all pushing hard.”

Middletown, chasing eight county titles on the bounce, had got their noses ahead for the very first time as the game ticked towards the final quarter, but Keady came back strongly and eventually got over the line.

“There’s only one word for it and it’s just sweet. We battled hard in years gone by and we came up second best but Middletown are an exceptional team.

“If you look through their whole team, the amount of experience and the trophies they have won as a collective, just to be in touch with them and to get over the line, it was just very sweet.

“We couldn’t shake them off, they don’t lie down and they battle hard, but we’re just delighted to come out the right side of it.

“We were beat by two points last year. The year before, it was literally a last-minute goal. There’s always a point or two in it so for us to come out on top in the end by two points, it’s just brilliant for us.”