Kiltale driven to success by Forde in final replay

Kiltale retained the u-21 HC title in fine style with a replay victory against Dunboyne at St Loman’s Park, Trim on Saturday where substitute Anthony Forde grabbed a crucial goal on the stroke of half-time. Fortunate to earn a reprieve in the drawn game a week earlier, Kiltale made no mistake on this occasion although they had to work extremely hard to negotiate a determined Dunboyne side that failed to perform to their best. Kiltale probably deserve credit for that as well because they certainly stifled a Dunboyne attack that had a very potent look about it in the drawn game. Five points was a paltry return for Dunboyne, but they were guilty of wayward finishing in each half and can have no excuses about filling the runner-up position. The opening quarter was a fairly low key affair with more wides than scores as both teams struggled for accuracy. Michael Dunne’s pointed '65’ in the third minute was the only effort that troubled the umpires in the opening 15 minutes. Dunboyne were ahead by that solitary score at the end of the first-quarter as the sides shared eight wides and it was the 16th minute before Kiltale’s James Kelly drew the sides level from a free. Kelly added another point for Kiltale in the 22nd minute which drew an immediate response from Dunboyne when Alan Watters sent over a long-range free from his own half. Mark O’Sullivan opened his account as he traded a point with Dunne before a brace of Kelly points (a free and a '65’) edged Kiltale into a two-point lead. With the interval looming, a priceless goal arrived when Kiltale substitute Forde finished to the net on the which gave his side a 1-5 to 0-3 lead. That goal ultimately proved crucial as it gave Kiltale a platform to build on for the second-half. However, Watters got Dunboyne moving smartly after the resumption when he sent over a second minute '65’ which reduced the deficit. Kiltale countered and created plenty of chances subsequently, but had to wait until Kelly converted a free from close to halfway for their next score. Michael O’Grady kept Dunboyne ticking over on the scoreboard, but his well-taken effort in the 11th minute of the second-half was their last score. Kelly also sent over from play soon after during a third-quarter which produced eight wides, equally divided. Dunboyne produced very little in terms of chances in the final quarter as Kelly (two) eased Kiltale towards the winner’s enclosure O’Sullivan was denied a goal in the closing stages when Stephen Clince saved well at the expense of a point and Dunboyne were reduced to 14 players when half-time substitute Tommy Meyler collected two yellow cards in a little over 60 seconds after referee Stephen Masterson consulted with his umpire, twice. Meyler appeared to engage in a further verbal exchange with the umpire as he departed and the referee delayed play while the Dunboyne man vacated the playing area. The dismissal had no bearing on the outcome as Kiltale had the title wrapped up at that stage and it was the only negative statistic from a game in which two talented teams more or less cancelled each other for the most part. Forde’s goal on the stroke of half-time was the vital score. Kiltale - S McGann; A Donnelly, S Carroll, T Mahady; S Dunleavy, W Mahady, M McCormack; P Kelly, I Douglas; J Kelly (0-8 five frees, one '65’), M O’Sullivan (0-2), W Harnan; C McCabe, B Reilly, M Hennessy. Subs - A Forde (1-0) for Hennessy 26 mins; C Garvey for Reilly 37m; T Forde for Dunleavy 57m. Dunboyne - S Clince; A McWeeney, S Moran, D Dunne; G Murphy, A Watters (0-2 one free, one '65’), C Kane; M O’ Grady (0-1), C Thompson; K Moran, A Hynes, F O’Neill; K Carey, M Dunne (0-2 one free, one '65’), B O’Hara. Subs - T Meyler for K Moran half-time; M Finlay for Kane 44mins. Referee - Stephen Masterson (Kildalkey)