Kilmessan prove too strong for Dunboyne

Kilmessan finished their season on a winning note when they captured the A HL Div 1 title at Trim on Saturday with a comprehensive victory against Dunboyne. This was an impressive performance by Kilmessan and manager Ollie Horan opted to start with a team which comprised the players who turned up most frequently at training since the Jubilee Cup final defeat by Kildalkey. The plan worked and Kilmessan were on the front foot for most of the game as they out-battled Dunboyne with the exception of the second-quarter which they lost by seven points (0-1 to 0-8), but still had enough in the tank for a 2-6 to 0-10 interval lead. There was also one moment late in the second-half which was memorable as it has to go down as the miss-of-the-year. Kilmessan’s Darren Reilly had a clear shot at goal from about 13 metres and with only the ’keeper to beat blazed wide. Fortunately, for his team, it wasn’t a crucial lapse as Kilmessan were well in control and were ahead by 3-15 to 0-12 at that stage. Kilmessan called the shots for the opening 10 minutes as they established a 1-4 to 0-0 advantage before Dunboyne made the scoreboard. Nicky Horan rifled a fifth minute free to the net. The free was awarded after Dunboyne full-back Paul Fagan was late with his challenge and tested the quality of Horan’s helmet which earned a word or two from referee Stephen Masterson. Horan sent a dipping shot under the crossbar from 25 metres and then pointed a free a minute later. Horan provided the pass for Stephen Clynch’s seventh minute point while Darren Reilly opened Kilmessan’s account from play soon after. Horan’s ninth minute free completed Kilmessan’s tally before John Watters and Niall Hackett (free) got the Dunboyne resistance in motion. However, Kilmessan rallied with a Clynch point and a goal from Eoin Marsh (pictured) following a lengthy run for a 2-5 to 0-2 first-quarter advantage. Kilmessan managed only one more point before the break, Paul Grimes saw his goal-bound effort deflected over by a fine Stephen Reilly save. The Dunboyne men dictated the second-quarter as they reeled off eight points and trailed by only two at the interval. Hackett (four, two frees and a '65’), Stephen Moran (two), Gary Watters and Michael Dunne were the marksmen. Kilmessan resumed smartly with points from Joey Keena, Padraig Maguire and Clynch inside six minutes before Dunne claimed a superb point for Dunboyne. Kevin Keena’s point kept the momentum going for Kilmessan and Horan fired to the net from play at the end of the third-quarter for a 3-10 to 0-11 advantage. The remainder was fairly academic as Kilmessan kept a firm grip on the game and were never in any real danger as they reeled of points from Kevin Keena (three), Reilly (two), Clynch (two, one free), Horan, Charlie Keena and Ger O’Neill Dunboyne kept battling, but only managed a paltry three points for the half and took the bare look off the scoreboard when Michael Dunne finished to the net near the end. Kilmessan - C Curtis; P McGovern, P Byrne, P Burke; M Horan, J Keena (0-1), P Farrell; D Donnelly, G O’Neill (0-1); E Marsh (1-1), S Clynch (0-4), P Grimes (0-1); P Maguire (0-1), N Horan (2-3, 1-2 frees) D Reilly (0-3). Subs - K Keena (0-4) for Grimes half-time; C Keena (0-1) for Maguire 44 mins; D Maguire for Marsh 51m. Dunboyne - S Reilly; D Watters, P Fagan, P Gannon; A Watters, G Barry, G Murphy; G Watters (0-1), M O’Grady; J Watters (0-2), Stephen Moran (0-2), N Hackett (0-5 four frees one '65’); Sean Moran, M Dunne (1-3), N Smith. Subs - F O’Neill for Sean Moran 48 mins; D Buggle for D Watters 53m; C Kane for A Watters and D Kane for Hackett both 55m. Referee - Stephen Masterson (Boardsmill).