Kilmainham shape up for quarter-finals

Kilmainham set themselves up for a place in the knock-out stages of the JFC with an emphatic win against Drumbaragh in a high-scoring encounter at Cortown on Saturday evening. With one game remaining in this five-team group, Kilmainham will be aware that if they avoid defeat the next day against Dunboyne that they will secure a quarter-final ticket. There was plenty to admire about Kilmainham's display against their parish rivals as they dictated the opening half and were ahead by 1-12 to 1-5 at the interval. "We tried to make a good start and we also wanted to maintain the momentum unlike the last day where we let Duleek / Bellewstown back into the game," Kilmainham manager Paul Clarke told the Meath Chronicle. "If we made the same mistake against Drumbaragh we would have been punished, they're a good team and we couldn't afford to make any mistakes. "I'm still looking for a 60-minute performance from the team, tonight was a step in the right direction and it was big win for us. "There was a great spread of scores and it was great to have some players back from injury, we will have to build on this now," he added. Drumbaragh struggled in all departments for the opening 24 minutes and it was only when they made a couple of changes that matters improved. John Smith was introduced at full-forward, Enda Nulty moved to midfield for John Rennicks who was withdrawn while William Carry reverted to a wing-back role. Drumbaragah finished the half on a more positive note with points from Colm Carry (two), Nulty and Darragh McNamara. However, it turned out to be a false dawn and that opening 20-minute blitz gave Kilmainham a platform for victory. Midfielder Barry Lynch set up his partner Gavin Butler for the opening point in the first minute which cancelled William Carry's effort after only 25 seconds. Michael Newman (two), returning after injury, Sean Mahon and Shane Butler split the posts, but Colm Carry's goal revived Drumbaragh and they were denied a second goal when Mark Smith hit the post. That miss proved costly as Kilmainham found the net at the other end when Newman finished after Gavin Butler's run from midfield made the opening. Drumbaragh then squandered what looked like a gilt-edged goal chance when McNamara found Colm Carry, but his effort was cleared off the line by Mark Fallon. By the 20th minute further points from Newman (three), Barry Lynch and Danny Butler had extended Kilmainham's lead to a substantial nine points (1-10 to 1-1) before the changes brought brief respite for Drumbaragh. The pace dropped, understandably, after the break with Kilmainham absorbing lots of pressure as Drumbaragh tried to retrieve the game. It was that sort of night for Drumbaragh, nothing went right, and they lost the influential Seanie Bennett with a shoulder injury in the final quarter as the sides traded late goals which were academic. Kilmainham - K Jordan; M Fallon, H Newman, J Quigley; J Mahon, R Mooney, S Morgan (0-2); B Lynch (0-1), G Butler (0-1); S Mahon (0-1), T Lynch (0-1), S Butler (0-2); P Curran (0-2), M Newman (2-7 five free), D Butler (0-1). Subs - D Farnan for Newman 55 mins, mark Newman for Curran 58m, S Brosnan for Quigley 59m. Drumbaragh - W Arkins; M Kavanagh, B Forde, P Carry; E Nulty (1-1), N Corcoran, D Gogarty; J Rennicks, M Smith (0-1); J Connolly (0-1), S Bennett, W Carry (0-1); T Carry (0-1 free), C Carry (1-2 two frees), D McNamara (0-1). Subs - J Smith for Rennicks 23 mins, J Morrissey for Gogarty 44m, J Madden for Bennett 49m. Referee - Donal Smyth (Navan O'Mahonys).