Doyle goal crucial as Kilmessan win
Kilmessan fashioned a hard-earned fourth round SHC victory by 1-10 to 0-12 at the expense of previously unbeaten Kildalkey in the first championship game at Dunganny this evening in front of a crowd estimated at around 500.
The victory for KIlmessan throws the group wide open and now means that there will be four teams fighting it out for three qualification places with the next action set for Saturday when Trim take on Killyon at Kildalkey.
Not best pleased to have to play on a Thursday night at 7pm, Kilmessan looked like they would be second best at one stage in the opening half when they trailed by 0-1 to 0-4 after eight minutes and by 0-7 to 0-8 at the interval.
The deficit was 0-7 to 0-10 soon after the resumption and Kildalkey's Patrick Conneely was denied a goal by the Kilmessan crossbar soon after.
However, the introduction of substitute Sean Doyle had a big impact for Kilmessan and he refled to the net on 51 minutes to push his side ahead at 1-9 to 0-11. He added a point to increase the lead and Kildalkey could only muster a Martin Healy point in the hectic clsoing stages.
(See video of last four minutes - not great due to light and also at ground level.
GRASS
The photo taken at half-time of the sliotar in the long grass - the sliotar is on the pitch - the grass was a bit too long for hurling.
OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
On the plus side for the Co Board - the venue was well organised, plenty of stewards on duty, a public address in operation and in the absence of a scoreboard, the score was announed every 10 minutes. The car park was also well organised. And most importantly, two official linesmen on duty.
GROUP A P W D L F A Pts
Kilmessan 4 3 0 1 83 67 6
Kildalkey 4 2 1 1 77 64 5
Trim 3 2 0 1 73 52 4
Killyon 3 1 2 0 58 54 4
Longwood 3 0 1 2 53 80 1
O’Mahonys 3 0 0 3 45 72 0
NEXT UP
Saturday - Trim v Killyon.
Sunday - Longwood v Navan O'Mahonys
Fifth round - Trim v Kilmessan; Kildalkey v Longwoood; Killyon v Navan O'Mahonys