Three-in-a-row is easy for super Kildalkey team in comfortable win

If further evidence was required to demonstrate that Kildalkey hurling club is in the midst of a golden age it was provided at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday when, as widely expected, they won their third successive SHC title. Those who have played for the club in the past and who endured numerous disappointments in the search for Jubilee Cup success could, in the bad old days, have hardly dared to dream that one day they would see the team achieve such a feat. Yet not only did Pat O'Halloran's side win this often scrappy, stop-start encounter they did it at a canter putting a wide gulf between them and their rivals that never looked like it was going to be bridged. This was no classic, but Kildalkey won't care about that. The title is theirs and deservedly so. The omens were good for the reigning champions as early as the first minute when Seanie Corrigan's long punt from midfield ended up bouncing on the artificial surface in the O'Mahonys square and high into the net past a startled James Burke. Soon after Noel Kirby fired over two points and Kildalkey were on their way. Corrigan's goal, added to Kildalkey's superiority in most facets of the game, meant that the competitive edge was sucked from the encounter at an early stage and neutrals in the crowd of about 2,000 hoping for a classic from this novel final pairing were disappointed. At half-time when Kildalkey led by eight points, 2-7 to 0-5, it was clear that it was going to take something really special from O'Mahonys to derail the champions. It never came as the commanding Kildalkey continued the tag on the scores and progress, with relative ease, to notch up another big-day success. Once again Derek Doran proved to be a major force utilising two of the limited opportunities that came his way to fire home two goals, the first after just seven minutes. Sean Heavey won the ball in midfield, passed to Corrigan who, assisted by the wind, lofted the ball goalwards. Doran who had escaped his marker, created a few inches of space and quickly fired the ball to the net for a trademark goal. That left Kildalkey 2-2 to 0-0 in front and looking every bit the confident, assured group of players who knew they were on the cusp of achieving something special. The game was full of thunderous exchanges and some sulphurous confrontations that threatened to get out of hand. Referee Marcus Quinn had to make a few trips to consult umpires about unsavoury confrontations that intermittently broke out in various parts of the pitch. If O'Mahonys were hoping to use their considerable physical presence to knock Kildalkey off their stride they were to be disappointed as the champions showed that they were not going to be subdued. Once again it was the three Keogh brothers, Maurice, Enda and Padraig, who provided a potent combination of skill and strength. Padraig started in an unfamiliar full-forward position and became embroiled in a long-running feud with O'Mahonys full-back Richie Hogan. He later moved outfield and helped to maintain Kildalkey's lead in the closing stages. Noel Kirby, as is his way, contributed a series of long-range points including one early effort from inside his own '65' that, wind-assisted, sailed between the posts. Sean Heavey wore the number 14 jersey but was employed in a free role and gave a tour de force display. One moment he was picking up possession around midfield, the next he was covering back helping out the defence. He also scored two points, the first in the opening half from a brilliant sideline cut. Mairtin Doran and Corrigan were others to slot over long-range points that kept the scores ticking over and the issue was put beyond doubt with Doran's second goal. It came on 44 minutes when he won some space and sprinted goalwards, shaking off a few tackles. His initial shot was saved by Burke. It came back to Doran who slotted home while he was still on the ground. Padraig Geoghegan with his pacy runs from deep and Patrick Conneely in the right corner also ensured the O'Mahonys defence couldn't settle. While Kilalkey hit 11 wides they had some room for error. O'Mahonys, on the other hand, could scarcely absorb the eight wides they clocked up. They couldn't afford too many missed chances. They also needed to take more than the point they garnered from a first-half penalty. They were awarded the 'spot-puck' on 12 minutes after Mikie Kelly was deemed to have been fouled going through. Paddy Skehan went for a goal, but his shot was deflected over the bar by Corrigan for what was O'Mahonys' opening score of the game. It took the Brews Hill side 14 minutes to get ther first score from play. It was scored by Kelly and it was to constitute their only point from play in the first 30 minutes. That statistic alone says a lot about the difficulties they had in getting decent ball into their forwards. Niall McKeigue, Skehan, Barry Regan and Derek McMullan subsequently fired over points yet the Navan side never played with the type of conviction that indicated they REALLY believed they could get back into the game. Rattled by their horrendous start, the closest O'Mahonys got to their opponents was six points midway through the first-half. Their modest haul of five points from play was never going to be enough. It's a statistic that also spoke volumnes about the strubbornness and organisation of the Kildalkey backline. Boosted by their blistering start it was The Village who pushed on to win the cherished three-in-row and continue a goldern spell for the club. SCORERS Kildalkey - N Kirby 0-7 six frees; D Doran 2-0; S Corrigan 1-1; S Heavey 0-2 one sideline; M Doran 0-1. Navan O'Mahonys - P Skehan 0-5 four frees, one penalty; B Regan 0-2; N McKeigue 0-1, M Kelly 0-1; D McMullan 0-1. THE TEAMS Kildalkey - Conor Flynn; Conor Dunne, Stephen Forde, Eoin Potterton; Maurice Keogh, Enda Keogh, Mairtin Doran; Sean Corrigan, Tony Fox; Padraig Keogh, Noel Kirby, Padraig Geoghegan; Paddy Conneely, Sean Heavey, Derek Doran. Subs - Gary Kelly for Conneely 50mins, Fergus McMahon for Fox 50m, Francis Doran for P Keogh 60m, Daire Lahart for Corrigan 60m. Navan O'Mahonys - James Burke; Cormac Reilly, Richie Hogan, Donal Hogan; Damien Moran, Kevin O'Rourke, Shane Crosby; Niall McKeigue, Paddy Smyth; Brian Dillon, Paddy Skehan, Shane McKeigue; Mickey Kelly, Barry Regan, Andrew Snow. Subs - Colin O'Rourke for Snow 22mins, Derek McMullan for Dillon 40m, David Quirke for S McKeigue 40m, Jake Regan for Crosby 50m, David Murtagh for Kelly 55m. REFEREE Marcus Quinn (Clann na nGael).