Second quarter surge secures win for Killyon

The leading contenders for Jubilee Cup honours won't be quaking in their boots at this performance in Pairc Tailteann today, but for Killyon it was a monumental result as their much changed side put themselves in with a shout for claiming a place in the SHC knockout stages with a 3-14 to 1-13.

For Na Fianna the result was a disappointing one, but it was the performance that will worry them more as they rarely looked in contention and only made a significant impact on the scoreboard when they hit four points in succession between the 53rd minute and 60th minute which closed the deficit to five point.

Killyon looked a more structured side. Impressive defensively with Jamie Smyth excelling and a threat up front with Keith Keoghan and Adam Farrell dangerous.

Early on Na Fianna looked threatening. They hit three wides and created a goal chance which Michael Heffernan didn't take. They did open the scoring in the fourth minute with Patrick Jordan on the mark.

Killyon settled with a simple David Raleigh free and from the puck out they won possession and he edged his side in front.

Dylan Farrell created a goal chance, but Na Fianna's Adam Farrell did well to save. A minute later Keoghan pointed from a difficult angle to stretch Killyon's lead to 0-3 to 0-1.

Na Fianna was struggling to make any inroads, but Will Flynn was denied a goal by Aaron Dunne's foot and Seanie Martin converted the resultant '65'.

A brilliant point from Heffernan restored parity and after Keoghan and Martin traded frees the teams remained level.

Justin Coyne with a score from midfield and Martin from a 55 metre free made it 0-5 each and in the 22nd minute Na Fianna edged in front again with a score from Will Flynn. Thirty seconds later Martin made it 0-7 to 0-5 and Na Fianna looked in a good position, but they failed to score again until nine minutes into the second-half.

In that spell Killyon turned a two-point deficit into a 1-11 to 0-7 lead.

Three points from Keoghan (two frees and a '65') and one from Dylan Farrell were followed by a superbly worked goal from Dylan Farrell with the last stroke of the half which made it 1-9 to 0-7 at the break.

Adam Farrell and Keoghan (free) added to Killyon's tally before Rory Fagan finally ended Na Fianna's barren spell in the 40th minute.

Three minutes later Na Fianna were given a glimmer of hope when Fagan converted a penalty after Kean Flynn was fouled, but less than a minute later Killyon bagged their second goal when Adam Farrell gathered Jacob Ryan's long ball and finished well to make it 2-11 to 1-8.

Keoghan (free) and Jordan traded points, but in the 48th minute Killyon put the issue beyond doubt when Keoghan converted a penalty after Adam Farrell had been fouled.

Na Fianna did threaten a late surge with points from Fagan (two frees), Eoin Bright and Ronan Byrne, but Killyon never looked like slipping up and wrapped up the crucial win with injury-time scores from David Raleigh and Dylan Farrell.

Killyon - Aaron Dunne; Harry Smyth, Brian O'Reilly, Jamie Smyth; Justin Coyne (0-1), Evan Burke, Thomas Raleigh; Paddy Coyne, Brendan Quinn; Dylan Farrell (1-2), Adam Farrell (1-1), Keith Keoghan (1-7 1-0 penalty, five frees, one '65'); David Raleigh (0-3 one free), Jacob Ryan, Cathal McKeown.

Na Fianna - Adam Farrell; Eoin Coffey, Luke Kelly, Cian Doherty; Anthony Healy, Peter Slevin, Evan Mullaly; Ronan Byrne (0-1), Oisin Bright; Kean Flynn, Rory Fagan (1-3 1-0 penalty, two frees), Michael Heffernan (0-1); Seanie Martin (0-4 two frees, one '65'), Patrick Jordan (0-2), Will Flynn (0-1). Subs - Eoin Bright (0-1) for O Bright 31m, Cian Slattery for Flynn 32m, Stephen Slevin for Martin 37m, Johnny McCloskey for Slattery 43m,

Referee - Kevin Brady (Louth).