Kilmessan open with a narrow victory over Trim
Kilmessan 0-11
Trim 1-7
WHEN the two most decorated sides in Meath hurling clash a classic can be expected, but that wasn't quite what transpired at Athboy on Friday as Kilmessan edged out Trim in the SHC opener.
Trim have been going through a barren time in recent years and Kilmessan are in danger of becoming the perennial underachievers of their generation, but both sides produced an enduring contest that made for in excitement what it lacked in quality.
Kilmessan scraped the victory courtesy of championship debutante Kevin Keena's winning point two minutes from time. However, Trim could have won the game had Neil Heffernan taken the goal chance that was gifted to him seconds later.
Defeat was harsh on Trim because their superior work rate and heart deserved at least a draw, but it is difficult to argue against Kilmessan's win.
They were the better team. They dominated most of the play and restricted Trim to scores from placed balls with Joey Toole accounting for all of his side's scores.
Kilmessan also managed 16 wides to Trim's seven and that statistic tells its own story. Another glaring reason for Kilmessan's win was that they got off to a great start and held Trim scoreless for the open 18 minutes.
In typical Kilmessan fashion Martin Curran's men then shifted down a gear and allowed Trim back into the contest. Having looked assured, composed, skilful and dangerous in every aspect for the first 20 minutes, they switched off for the next 22 minutes.
However, Kilmessan have so much skill that a five-minute patch can kill off most opposition and that is what they did. They teased Trim by letting them back into the game, but then ended up doing enough to win.
In the opening quarter the mercurial Nicky Horan was sublime. Everything he touched turned to scores, but he was afforded plenty of space by some slack marking.
Horan opened the scoring from a free after 31 seconds and he followed that with two more pointed frees and two magnificent efforts from play to earn Kilmessan a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Trim looked all at sea. Their attacks were rare and were it not from some excellent defending by Gay Kennedy, David McGuinness and Benny Keogh they could have been lost in the rear view mirror before half-time.
Veteran Paul Donnelly put six points between the sides before a couple of positional changes brought Trim into contention. Toole remarkably split the posts with a 55-metre sideline cut before Keena made it 0-7 to 0-1.
Eight minutes before the break Toole's audacious 25-metre free found a way to the net to renew the town side's hopes. Kilmessan were still dangerous and Keena was denied a goal by Declan Murray's brilliant save and Keogh's clearance off the line to lead by 0-7 to 1-1 at the break.
Three Toole frees from varying distances and angles restored parity within seven minutes of the restart, but the impressive Keena and an 80-metre Horan free pushed Kilmessan 0-9 to 1-4 clear.
Toole again and Ger O'Neill traded scores before the Trim ace brought his side level with two more converted frees with four minutes remaining.
Keena raced away from Darren Mullen to close the scoring, but Trim could have snatched a win with Heffernan blazing wide or even a draw had Toole enjoyed a bit more luck with a difficult late effort, but Kilmessan got what they deserved.
SCORERS
Kilmessan – N Horan 0-6, four frees; K Keena 0-3; G O'Neill 0-1, P Donnelly 0-1; Trim – J Toole 1-7, 1-6 frees, one sideline.
THE TEAMS
Kilmessan – M Brennan; P McGovern, D Donnelly, M Reilly; R Donnelly, S Clynch, M Horan; P Farrell, G O'Neill; N Horan, P Reynolds, C Keena; K Keena, P Donnelly, J Keena. Sub – M Doyle for Farrell 59 mins.
Trim – D Murray; D Mullen, D McGuinness, B Keogh; C Doyle, G Kennedy, C Joyce; J Canty, R Fitzsimons; T Farrell, S Ashe, N Murray; A Douglas, J Toole, N Heffernan.
REFEREE
Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels).