Clann na nGael winning margin not enough to earn knock-out place
Clann na nGael shaded the high-scoring SHC Group B1 game against Blackhall Gaels at Pairc Tailteann this evening with a 5-10 to 2-16 victory.
Clann na nGael needed to win by 10 points to edge out Kilmessan for the one quarter-final place available, but they also needed to win to avoid the relegation play-offs.
Blackhall Gaels couldn't qualify even with a victory, but a win would have taken them out of the relegation play-offs.
Now they will take on Navan O'Mahonys in that play-off and the loser will drop down to the IHC grade for 2021.
Blackhall had enough chances to win the game and Clann na nGael also had ample opportunities to win by 10 points.
At one stage late in the first-half Clann na nGael had a 3-7 to 1-3 advantage, but that was as good as it got.
They were almost overhauled in the second-half when Blackhall closed the gap to the minimum (2-15 to 4-10) with three minutes remaining.
Costly for Blackhall was the concession of goals of the soft variety in each half while Clann na nGael were also guilty of poor finishing in each half with a final tally of 13 wides ultimately proving costly.
Dermot Carty was the main target man for the Gaels and his contribution of 1-4 in the opening half kept his side in contention although they trailed by 1-5 to 3-8 at the interval. Stephen Morris added the other Gaels point.
Goals from Eamonn O Donnchadha, John O'Sullivan and Diarmaid O Donnchadha gave Clann na nGael that knock-out lifeline with points from Callum O'Sullivan (four), Eamonn O Donnchadha (two), Killian Swaine and Conor McGovern.
Blackhall dominated the second-half for long periods with Carty adding eight more points while Colm Whitty netted, but it wasn't enough.
Clann na nGael maintained a decreasing lead with goals from O'Sullivan and Aaron Ennis helping them maintain their status in the senior grade.
SCORERS
Clann na nGael - Callum O'Sullivan 1-4 two frees;Eamonn O Donnchadha 1-2; John O'Sullivan 1-0; Diarmaid O Donnchadha 1-0; Aaron Ennis 1-0; Luke Swaine 0-2; Killian Swaine 0-1; Conor McGovern 0-1
Blackhall Gaels - Dermot Carty 1-12 nine frees, one '65'; Stephen Morris 0-3; Colm Whitty 1-0; John Kelly 0-1.
TEAMS
Clann na nGael - Eoin Griffin; Aaron Doherty, Aaron Ennis, Jack Doherty; Sean Reilly, KIllian Swaine, Gerry O'Sullivan; Darragh Swaine, John Farrell; Callum O'Sullivan, John O'Sullivan, Eamonn O Donnchadha; Diarmaid O Donnchadha, Ciaran Garry, Conor McGovern. Subs - Luke Swaine for O'Sullivan half-time; Martin Keogh for McGovern 43 mins, Josh McGrath for G O'Sullivan 47m, Conor Fenron for Garry 59m.
Blackhall Gaels - Daniel Whitty; John Morris, David McGowan, Hugh Smith; Tom MUrphy, Shane Whitty, Conor Delany; Paul Kelly, Stephen Morris; Kevin Coyle, Niall Mangan, Alan Nestor; Colm Whitty, John Kelly, Dermot Carty. Subs - Conor Burke for Mangan half-time; Mark Nicholson for Coyle 47 mins.
Referee - Killian Jones (Kildare).