Durnin magic decisive as Kiltale claim league crown

It took a moment of brilliance, a wisp of wizardry from the stick of veteran magician Peter Durnin to decide this enthralling A HL Div 1 final in Kiltale's favour by 1-17 to 1-15 over Trim at Batterstown tonight.

With the teams tied a minute into the three of injury time announced by referee Derek Ryan a ruck developed 60 metres from the Trim goal and tight to the sideline where tensions were as high as it was inside the whitewash boundary.

Players from both sides jabbed, poked, pulled and pushed for possession, all cautious against conceding a free that would settle the game, but in stepped Durnin.

Wearing 25 on his back after having to change his number 14 shirt because of spilled blood, the Kiltale full-forward flicked his own brand stick and pulled the sliotar from a maul. In the same movement he stepped back and without raising an eye struck the sliotar straight and true between the posts for the winning score.

Cathal McCabe did add the insurance point two minutes later, but it was Durnin's stroke that was the decisive mark on a game that sparked into life after a turgid, error ridden opening period.

Kiltale made fewer mistakes than Trim in the opening 30 minutes, that's what boosted them to their 0-10 to 0-4 interval lead.

Jack Regan showed he lost none of his accuracy while on his travels over the winter and spring, whereas Trim were wasteful, hitting eight wides in the opening half and 16 in total - that profligacy proved costly.

However, despite Trim being creators of their own downfall, that should take nothing away from a spirited Kiltale - they simply looked like a side who wanted it more and had more to prove, less than 10 days out the start of their SHC campaign.

As Trim laboured early on Regan (free), Durnin and Cathal McCabe eased Kiltale into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after six minutes. Trim fired wide after wide and dropped a couple short, Mikey Cole was also denied by Shane McGann's enduring brilliance.

James Murray settled Trim with their first score in the seventh minute, but it took them another nine minutes to narrow the deficit to the minimum with young Daniel Murray lofting over a superb score.

Kiltale woke from a 10-minute slumber with Regan and Durnin converting frees. Durnin had to temporarily take over placed balls duties from Regan after the Kiltale number 12 had to leave the field following first-aid treatment.

Upon his return Regan tagged on another free and in the 24th minute Craig Gilsenan made it 0-7 to 0-2 before his evening was cut short by injury.

Darragh Heffernan took advantage of a poor clearance to end Trim's 10 minute barren spell, but Gilsenan's replacement Mark O'Sullivan announced his arrival with two quickfire scores to make it 0-9 to 0-3.

James Murray responded for Trim, but anything he could do Regan could replicate as Kiltale secured their 0-10 to 0-4 interval cushion.

Kyle Ennis was introduced to add some urgency to the Trim attack and he was off the mark in less than three minutes. Regan restored Kiltale's six-point cushion with another free, but then Trim found their groove.

Joey Cole (two) and James Andrews clipped over points in a three minute spell. James Murray rattled the post with a ferocious drive a minute later - he claimed it hit the back stanchion, the umpires begged to differ, although they were confused with several calls over the evening.

Trim's goal did eventually arrive in the 40th minute and it had an element of luck about it as Mark Molloy's long ball deceived everyone including the in-rushing Daniel Murray and Kiltale goalkeeper McGann to rest in the net.

Two minutes later Kyle Ennis edged Trim in front for the first time with a brilliant score which one umpire waved wide before being over-ruled by the the other.

Jack Regan restored Kiltale's lead with his first from play and one from a free.

Kyle Ennis levelled it again before Regan's second from play made it 0-14 to 1-10 - all of a sudden there was a really exciting game on.

James Toher and Durnin traded points before James Murray made it 1-12 to 0-15 with nine minutes remaining - it was anyone's game.

Durnin was denied a goal by Charlie Ennis, but after Toher had given Trim the lead for the second time his goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Padraig Kelly from blasting a brilliant goal which moved Kiltale 1-15 to 1-13 clear.

Trim didn't give up. Tempers frayed and after James Murray had converted two frees to level it up the referee's patience wore thin and he issued a second yellow card to Philip Garvey on the hour mark.

Despite being a man down Kiltale drove on and it was Durnin who produced a moment of magic to ensure Kiltale claimed the silverware and go into the start of the championship buzzing.

SCORERS

Kiltale - Jack Regan 0-8 six frees; Peter Durnin 0-4 one free; Padraig Kelly 1-0; Mark O'Sullivan 0-2; Cathal McCabe 0-2; Craig Gilsenan 0-1.

Trim - James Murray 0-5 four frees; Kyle Ennis 0-3; Mark Molloy 1-0; Joey Cole 0-2; James Toher 0-2; Daniel Murray 0-1; Darragh Heffernan 0-1; James Andrews 0-1.

TEAMS

Kiltale - Shane McGann; Willie Mahady, Iarla Hughes, David Donoghue; Conor McNally, Philip Garry, Cathal Brien; Padraig Kelly, Eoin Corrigan; Conor Ryan, Cathal McCabe, Jack Regan; Luke O'Halloran, Peter Durnin, Craig Gilsenan. Subs - Mark O'Sullivan for Gilsenan 25m, Jack Bannon for Brien, Fearghal McCabe for Corrigan both 44m, Daragh O'Doherty for O'Halloran 50m,

Trim - Charlie Ennis; Danny Coleman, Dimmy Higgins, Gary Fleming; Conor Quigley, James Toher, Darragh Heffernan; Joey Cole, Mark Molloy; David Murtagh, James Andrews, James Murray; Conor McKeown, Mikey Cole, Daniel Murray. Subs - Kyle Ennis for McKeown half-time, Josh Harris for D Murray 51m, Eoghan Ryan for Andrews 62m.

Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna).