Fitzgerald nicks vital goal

Kildalkey caused a major shock when they sent reigning Meath and Leinster champions Kilmessan crashing out of the SHC semi-final in sensational style at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Kildalkey supporters might want to learn the theme from that old Steve McQueen film 'The Great Escape' because they could certainly have left the ground on Sunday evening whistling the tune after this latest instalment in their quest for the Jubilee Cup. This was a real case of fact being stranger than fiction. With only five minutes of normal time left on the clock, Kilmessan looked home and hosed with a six-point advantage (1-15 to 1-9). By the time referee Marcus Quinn ended normal time 11 minutes later, that included six minutes injury-time, Kildalkey had staged a dramatic recovery and forced extra-time on a 2-13 to 1-16 scoreline. "We left it late, but this Kildalkey team has wonderful spirit, Nick Fitzgerald made a big difference when he came on, his goal was vital," remarked Kildalkey manager Pat O'Halloran. "We are very fit, but we got the goals at the right time. This victory will count for nothing if we lose to Dunboyne in the final. "We need to win a county championship, but so do Dunboyne, it will be a fantastic final. "Padraig Geoghegan came back from Australia for this game, he paid his own way, that's how much this means to Kildalkey, but we will have to be at our best to handle Dunboyne the next day," he added. Almost a case of Groundhog Day for Kildalkey. They had fashioned a dramatic injury-time escape in the quarter-final against Navan O'Mahonys when six minutes extra were added. This time around they could only force a draw in the six added minutes, but they completed the demolition of the aristocrats of Meath hurling in extra-time. The common denominator on each occasion was substitute Fitzgerald. Against O'Mahonys, he managed a vital goal and he repeated the feat against Kilmessan. Noel Kirby was also a major component in this victory with 11 points, five unanswered in the second period of extra-time as Kildalkey dismantled Kilmessan with precision, passion and a fair bit of the physical thrown in as well. "We have no qualms whatsoever, they beat us fair and square on the field, we can't make any excuses," Kilmessan manager Martin Curran told the Meath Chronicle. "Obviously I'm disappointed, I'm very proud of what this Kilmessan team has achieved, we were a bit flat today, Kildalkey dominated extra-time and we could find no response to them," he concluded. This was a tough contest with Kildalkey totally committed from the start. Six Kildalkey men saw yellow cards with referee Marcus Quinn kept on his toes throughout. Probably the most relieved player with his yellow card was Sean Corrigan who was cautioned as early as the 12th minute following a challenge, off-the-ball, when Ger O'Neill was on the ground. O'Neill was on the receiving end more than once, but he took it in his stride and found the perfect response with a 28th minute goal which eased Kilmessan into a 1-9 to 1-5 interval lead O'Neill displayed all his qualities to find the net. Nicky Horan sent the sliotar towards the square and as the Kildalkey defence dithered, O'Neill had ample time to gain possession, turn and rifle past Gary McNally. However, scores were scarce in the opening quarter with Horan and Kirby trading a brace of frees apiece before Padraig Keogh found the net for O'Halloran's men. Kirby lofted a free towards the Kilmessan square and Keogh capitalised on hesitancy, possibly due to the bright sunshine, and finished to the net. Derek Doran (two) and Kirby added further points, but Kilmessan appeared to be in control with points from Horan and Joey Keena (two each), O'Neill, Kevin Keena and Malcolm Doyle for that merited four-point interval advantage. The third-quarter mirrored the first as the sides shared six points. Joey and Kevin Keena and Doyle were on the mark for Kilmessan with Kirby (two) and Sean Heavey replying. Further points from Horan and Kevin Keena increased Kilmessan's lead to six points, 1-14 to 1-8, and that gap remained intact after Fitzgerald and Joey Keena split the posts with well-taken scores from play. There was only five minutes remaining. Looking at the spectre of elimination, Kildalkey went for broke and reeled off points from Mairtin Doran and Derek Doran followed by that sensational Fitzgerald goal which reduced the deficit to the minimum, 2-11 to 1-15. Horan sent over another mighty free, but still Kildalkey refused to surrender. Even when Kirby pointed from distance, instead of dropping it into the square, it looked lost until Padraig Geoghegan justified his return from Australia, at his own expense, with a massive effort which drew the sides level (2-13 to 1-16). Extra-time looked predictable when Horan put Kilmessan in front again, but then Heavey found the net with a fortunate goal. One that he might not even have known too much about. Geoghegan's centre caused problems and Kilmessan's Mark Brennan could only parry the sliotar which rebounded off the in-rushing Heavey and into the net. It's the type of luck Kildalkey will probably need the next day when they tackle Dunboyne in the final. Once Kildalkey hit the front on Sunday there was no way back for Kilmessan. Kirby reeled off those five extra-time points and Kildalkey were on their way to the decider. Kildalkey - G McNally; C Dunne, S Forde, D Laharte; M Potterton, E Keogh, M Doran (0-1); S Corrigan, T Fox; P Geoghegan (0-1), N Kirby (0-11, seven frees, one '65'), E Keogh; D Doran (0-3), P Keogh (1-0), S Heavey (1-1). Subs - N Fitzgerald (1-1) for Corrigan half-time; P Conneely for M Keogh 59 mins; extra-time - M Keogh for Heavey 19m. Kilmessan - M Brennan; P McGovern, D Donnelly, C Keena; R Donnelly, S Clynch, P Farrell; M Horan, G O'Neill (1-1); J Keena (0-4), N Horan (0-7, five frees), P Reynolds; D Maguire, K Keena (0-3), M Doyle (0-2). Subs - V Reilly for Reynolds 40 mins; K Reilly for Donnelly 57m; P Donnelly for Maguire 64m. Referee - Marcus Quinn (Clann na nGael)