O'Halloran's hat-trick helps reigning champions to deserved victory
Kildalkey recover from defeat to Trim in round one to overcome Kilmessan
Kildalkey...3-12
Kilmessan...2-10
When they needed to most. When their hold on the championship was threatened, however remotely, Kildalkey came up with a positive response - as reigning champions in such situations tend to do.
After the defeat to Trim in round one this victory was just the tonic for Nick Fitzgerald's troops.
They led from start to finish in this SHC encounter at Trim this evening. They were in front 1-5 to 1-3 at the interval before pushing on to win with relative comfort with Meath footballer Brian O'Halloran helping himself to a hat-trick of goals.
O'Halloran's surging runs were, as his haul of majors indicate, a prominent feature of this game with the midfielder repeatedly ransacking the Kilmessan defence with his surging forays.
His first goal arrived on 21 minutes. Kildalkey's towering Luke Rickard won the ball from a Kilmessan puck out, passed to O'Halloran who showed his blistering pace before shooting home.
His second was bagged early in the second-half. This time he received a neat pass from Gary Kelly before surging through to blast to the net.
His pace was again a big factor in helping complete his hat-trick on 53 minutes. He was at times unstoppable.
Those goals were real hammerblows to Kilmessan's hopes. Just when it seemed Nicky Horan spirited, skilful young side were about to seize the initiative, Kildalkey in general and O'Halloran in particular, could conjure up something just a little special. It's what champions do.
It was just as well from a Kildalkey perspective, O'Halloran was able to find the space and speed to bag the goals because he was one of only three players on his team who made it onto the scoresheet.
The other major scoring contributor was Nicky Potterton who hit 11 points, seven frees, one '65'. Among his haul were three sweet efforts from play, including two from near impossible angles.
Mark Healy capped his enterprising display with a sweet score just after the break but the fact that only three of their players fashioned scores may cause the Kildalkey management to pause and ponder.
Paddy Barnwell also fired to the net early in the second-half but the 'goal' was chalked off for an infringement.
Kilmessan at least had four scorers with Luke Horan showing the way with his seven points, six frees. Eoin Harkin ended with 1-2, his goal scored after a mix up in the Kildalkey defence on 14 minutes. It was his team's first score of the evening. Darren Reilly grabbed a second goal in the closing minutes of the game after the ball rebounded off the upright with Sean Doyle also helping himself to a point in the opening half.
Kilmessan are an evolving, emerging team but their lack of experience and defensive solidity was seen in the concession of the goals. They left the space for O'Halloran to exploit. Several times they got within two points of their rivals but couldn't push on.
Kildalkey had big displays from the likes of David Harmon, Paddy Barnwell, Martin Healy, Potterton, Mark Healy, O'Halloran and Paddy Conneely. Kilmessan had their heroes too such as Kris Gorman, Horan, Harkin and Noah Conroy but they were unable to stop the reigning champions from reasserting their control.
Kildalkey did what champions do and dug out a victory when it was needed most.
Kildalkey - Caemerhon Smyth; David Conneely, Conor Fitzgerald, Brendan McKeon; Martin Healy, David Harmon, Brin Kelly; Mark Healy (0-1), Brian O'Halloran (3-0); Luke Rickard, Patrick Conneely, Patrick Barnwell; Nicky Potterton (0-11, seven frees, one 65), Gary Kelly, Niall McNally. Subs - Jamie Kavanagh for Harmon 50m.
Kilmessan - Steven Clynch; Harry Cahill, Shane Brennan, Cian O'Sullivan; Kris Gorman, Joey Keena, Noah Conroy; Declan Smyth, Malcolm Doyle; Luke Horan (0-7 six frees), Eoin Harkin (1-2), Darragh Horan; Sean Doyle (0-1), Mark Horan, Adam O'Neill. Subs - Peter Farrell for M Doyle 34m, Kevin Keena for O'Neill 50m, Darren Reilly for Doyle 54m, Marty Mulhall for Smyth 60m.
Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael).