Kildalkey senior's last game of year concluded a memorable, if poignant, season

LEINSTER CLUB IHC Nicky Potterton and PJ Healy remembered with a minute's applause

What a year it has been for Kildalkey. Senior, Intermediate and Junior champions they have enjoyed some great days indeed. Days that won't be easily or quickly forgotten.Golden days to be stowed away and treasured.

Pairc Tailteann the other week in the Leinster Club IHC was one of the forgettable days when they came up against a polished, ruthless, Thomastown side who scored their opening goal after 17 seconds and powered on from there like an hurricane. Unstoppable.

Kildalkey simply never went close to finding the kind of intensity that had helped them achieve a seventh SHC title this year - and there are clearly good reasons for that.

Right up there has to be the fact that Thomastown are a richly talented team. This also the plain fact that this game came at the end of a profoundly emotional few weeks for the Kildalkey club - and the area.

Before the start of Saturday's game there was a minute's applause to remember the great Nicky Potterton, a club legend and a hugely popular man who will be greatly missed.

Also remembered was PJ Healy, a step brother of Mark and Martin Healy, two wonderful Kildalkey players; always committed and wholehearted in their efforts to further the cause of the Village club.

PJ, like Nicky Potterton, passed away all too soon and the applause before the Thomatown game was loud, heartfelt - and deeply poignant. Nicky’s son Nicky junior, bravely played on Saturday and ended up as his team's topscorer with six points, all frees.

There was also the fact that this game arrived at the end of a long, hard year. Kildalkey looked tired at times, mentally and physically and unable to grapple with the storm whipped up by their opponents.

The movement, skill and physicality of the Thomastown players was something to behold and it it would have taken a top notch unit to live with them with the repertoire of skills they unleashed. Don't be surprised to see them vying for the top honours in Kilkenny, and Leinster, in the coming years.

Then there was the start the Kilkenny intermediate champions made. That goal after 17 seconds was the kind of beginning Kildalkey could have done with if they wanted to cause an upset. The goal, scored by Jack Holden, was a powerful statement of intent and the Kilkenny side had the talent and power to push on from there.

It was no surprise that the busiest man on the pitch was Kildalkey goalkeeper Mark McCormack. He executed a string of outstanding saves and only for him his team's margin of defeat could have been greater. A lot greater.

Particularly memorable was the penalty McCormack saved in the second-half. Just five minutes after the break Thomastown's Stephen Donnelly was pulled back as he sought a route towards goals. A penalty, no doubt. Robbie Donnelly stepped up to take the spot-puck. He got tremendous power behind his shot. He also directed the ball, as a penalty taker should, low and hard towards the corner. It was in all respects a textbook penalty yet it wasn't good enough to beat McCormack.

The inspired netminder dived, cat-like to his right, stretched out his stick and got a touch. It was a super save. Earlier in the game McCormack also made a splendid double block, initially stopping a John Donnelly piledriver. The ball broke to Holden who unleashed an exocet from close range. We waited for the net to bulge. Undaunted, McCormack tipped the ball over the bar. Soon after the 'keeper again saved superbly from Thomas O'Hanrahan who later went on to find the net.

As it turned out Holden ended up with two goals while Luke Connellan was another to hit the target for the Kilkenny side. Kildalkey full-back Brin Kelly also showed tremendous courage in stopping John Donnelly from scoring what seemed a certain goal, the Kildalkey full-back diverting the ball away.

The game was effectively over at the break when Thomastown led 2-15 to 0-5 with the Meath champions garnering their first after a long 18 minutes when Potterton converted a free. The first score from play was super long-range effort from Evan Fitzgerald soon after. He, along with Brian O'Halloran worked hard in the Kildalkey engine room without much reward.

Paddy Conneely and Patrick Potterton were others to loft over scores from play for Kildalkey but the 'home' team never looked like they might break through for the goal they so badly needed.

Kildalkey had sought to play short puck outs to try and diminish Thomastown's height advantage but at times even that strategy malfunctioned and the Kilkenny Cats took full advantage. Like any top quality side, Thomastown had an ace marksman in Robbie Donnelly who finished with 12 points, nine frees.

It was just another example of the kind of scoring power and expertise Thomastown brought to the table.

Kildalkey couldn't live with the classy Kilkenny side who combined power and craft to telling effect but they've had a wonderful year, with plenty of good days too.

SCORERS

Thomastown - Robbie Donnelly 0-12, nine frees; Jack Holden 2-2; Thomas O'Hanrahan 1-1; Luke Connellan 1-0; John Donnelly 0-2; Jonjo Farrell 0-2; Peter McDonald 0-1.

Kildalkey - Nicky Potterton 0-6 frees; Paddy Conneely 0-4 two frees; Patrick Potterton 0-1; Evan Fitzgerald 0-1.

TEAMS

Thomastown - Diarmuid Galway; Peter Connellan, Jay Burke, Ned Kirwan; Brian Staunton, Eddie Donnelly, Brian O'Hanrahan; Peter McDonald, Jonjo Farrell; Robbie Donnelly, John Donnelly, Luke Connellan; Thomas O'Hanrahan, Jack Holden, Stephen Donnelly. Subs - Zach Bay Hammond for McDonald 40 mins, Rory Connellan for Luke Connellan 50m, Dylan Waugh for J Donnelly 54m, David Prendergast for P Connellan 56m, Richard O'Hara for Burke 57m.

Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; David Conneely, Brin Kelly, Brendan McKeon; David Harmon, Martin Healy, Luke Rickard; Evan Fitzgerald, Brian O'Halloran; Brian Conneely, Gary Kelly, Nicky Potterton; Paddy Potterton, Mark Healy, Paddy Conneely. Subs - Brian Coffey for Harmon half-time, Patrick Barnwell for B Conneely 41m, Kevin McKeon for Rickard 44m, Conor Fitzgerald for Martin Healy 53m, Podge Geoghegan for Mark Healy 55m.

Referee - Conor Daly (Westmeath).

MAN OF THE MATCH

There was no doubt from a Kildalkey perspective who was top cat against the Cats. Goalkeeper Mark McCormack marked his performance with a string of outstanding saves with his penalty save from Robbie Donnelly early in the second-half right up there. McCormack did wonderfully well to get his stick to the ball that must have been travelling at the speed of light, before turning it around the post. Then there was a double save in the opening half that was special as Thomastown threatened to help themselves to an avalanche of goals. In domestic games McCormack might not have much to do but on Saturday that was certainly not the case and he dealt with his busy schedule with admirable alertness and agility.

MOVE OF THE MATCH

From a Kildalkey perspective they found it difficult to move the ball around with the kind of efficiency and speed that would have put the Thomastown team under sustained pressure but there were times when their passing and movement yielded rich dividends. On 46 minutes for example Nick Fitzgerald's side put together a fine move. Kevin McKeon and Mark Healy were involved in neatly and skilfully working the ball to Patrick Potterton. He didn't have many option so he looked at the posts and fired over under pressure from way out. It was a fine score indeed it was just that Kildalkey needed a lot more of them.

REF WATCH

Conor Daly made some calls that certainly irritated the home crowd and right up there was the yellow card shown to Nicky Potterton. He was certainly impeded as he sought to make progress towards the Thomastown goals during the opening half.

He didn't get the free and sought to get the ball back but was harshly booked for a tackle. His frustration was understandable considering he didn't get the free he deserved. There were other decisions the 'home' support were not happy about but overall the Westmeath official had a good outing. He kept a lid on things on those one or two occasions when it looked like the temperature might get a little over heated.

AND ANOTHER THING

The Pairc Tailteann pitch was in find condition for this game but you would have to wonder about hurling games being played at this time of the year - even on top notch pitches. It's a summer game that should be played on dry sod. Of course the question is when can these Leinster Club championship games be played if not now?

That indeed is the question but winter of summer these provincial club competitions have to be maintained. Kildalkey players will not look back on the game with any fondness but they will greatly learn from the experience too and benefit from it in the long run.

The Thomastown assignment wasn't one of their best days but Kildalkey as a club had a wonderful year - and their first team will be surely back to fight another day against the best sides in Leinster.