Resurgent Kilmessan hold off gritty Clann na nGael

Nicky Horan's men finish strongly to secure victory

Kilmessan...0-26

Clann na nGael...0-20

Are Kilmessan on the way back? That's one intriguing question that was left hanging in the air around Pairc Tailteann after this SHC first-round encounter this evening.

The team that have won more senior hurling championship titles than anyone else (29) have certainly gone through the doldrums since they landed their last Jubilee Cup in 2013.

However, they were indications contained in this victory that gives real hope to their long-suffering followers that they might be about to blossom once more.

There was that hefty scoreline for starters. To score 26 points in any game indicates a team capable or creating and taking their chances. Then, there was the kind of character, steel and hunger they showed in the closing stages to finally shake off the challenge of a young, girtty, skilful Clann na nGael outfit.

Kilmessan had in their line-up one of their great players of recent times Stephen Clynch only this time he was in goals instead of his customary outfield position. They also had on the sideline another of their former marquee players, Nicky Horan, who is manager.

At the interval Nicky Horan's Kilmessan were in front by a relatively comfortable 0-16 to 0-10. By the 50th minute however Clann na nGael, helped by some tasty points from Eamon Og O Donnchadha, Callum O'Sullivan, Josh McGrath and Joe Ennis, had hauled themselves back on level terms. The scoreboard showed the teams tied at 0-19 apiece.

This was a real crisis for Kilmessan. Instead of shrinking and wilting further they hit back, regained the initiative, and powered their way to victory with a flurry of points in the closing stages from Luke Horan (three), Sean Doyle, Mark Horan and Marty Mulhall. When they most needed to the Boys in Blue found an answer.

Kilmessan didn't start so brightly and after 17 minutes trailed by 0-5 to 0-8 but they then tapped into a rich vein of form to lead at the break. Luke Horan was especially prominent when it came to converting frees into scores.

His marksmanship is a major feature of this team and he finished the evening with an impressive 13 points. Mark Horan, Darragh Horan, Doyle, Adam O'Neill, Kris Gorman and Marty Mulhall also made scoring contributions over the hour. Declan Smyth didn't score but he had a fine game.

They nearest Kilmessan came to finding the net was when a Declan Smyth shot was saved by Clann na nGael's Ciaran Fitzsimons near the end of the game while also in the closing stages Mark Horan looked certain to find the net but somehow Clann na nGael's John O'Sullivan cleared the ball off the line. It was a remarkable rescue mission.

A major aspect of Clann na nGael's evening was the series of classy points from O Donnchadha. He tormented the Kilmessan backline while Ennis was always a threat from frees and play. The enterprising Callum O'Sullivan, Josh McGrath, Diarmaid O Donnchadha, the hard-grafting Killian Swaine and youngster Eoin Kelleher were others to fire over for the enterprising Clannsmen but Kilmessan showed the steel, and hunger, to win.

SCORERS

Kilmessan - Luke Horan 0-13 nine frees, one 65; Mark Horan 0-4; Sean Doyle 0-4; Darragh Horan 0-2; Kris Gorman 0-1; Adam O'Neill 0-1; Mary Mulhall 0-1.

Clann na nGael - Eamon Og O Donnchadha 0-7; Joe Ennis 0-7 two frees, two 65s; Callum O'Sullivan 0-2; Diarmaid O'Donnchadha 0-1;Killian Swaine 0-1; Josh McGrath 0-1; Eoin Kelleher 0-1.

TEAMS

Kilmessan - Stephen Clynch; Harry Cahill, Shane Brennan, Cian O'Sullivan; Kris Gorman, Joey Keena, Noah Conroy; Eoin Harkin, Mal Doyle; Luke Horan, Declan Smyth, Darragh Horan; Sean Doyle, Mark Horan, Adam O'Neill. Subs - Peter Farrell for Keena 41m, Darren Reilly for M Doyle 46m, Mary Mulhall for O'Neill 60m.

Clann na nGael - Ciaran Fitzsimons; Evan Cole, Gerry O'Sullivan, Jack Doherty; Eugene O'Reilly, Killian Swaine, John O'Sullivan; Diarmaid O Donnchadha, Eoin Fitzsimons; William Gleeson, Callum O'Sullivan, Joe Ennis; Eamon Og O Donnchadha, Josh McGrath, Eoin Kelleher. Subs - Dylan Doherty for Fitzsimons 40m, Gearoid O Breathnack for Kelleher 43m, Odhran Daly for Cole 54m.

Referee - Conor Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille).