Killyon subdue spirited Gaels - eventually

Killyon...0-24

Blackhall Gaels...1-9

Down the years Killyon have always managed to produce top quality goalkeepers. Players like Paddy Quinn, Mark Gannon and Stephen Quinn. The current incumbent is Aaron Dunne and he was a busy man at Rathmolyon this eveneing making a number of top drawer saves as his side secured their third victory in the SHC from four played.

That fact alone said something significant about this encounter. It indicated how despite the scoreline Blackhall Gaels (who have lost all their games in the SHC to-date including a few by hefty scorelines) stayed in this game until the closing stages when Killyon pulled away.

It indicates also that the Gaels, firm underdogs, played with a certain resoluteness and spirit - and carved out some decent opportunities.

Not, we should quickly emphasise, that there was never any real possibility there would be a shock in this game and the Gaels would prevail - although you would have to wonder if they had coverted some of those goal chances.

Killyon, as expected, won after leading all the way. They were in front 0-10 to 0-5 at the interval and pushed on from there. They were capable of imposing themselves physically yet also producing at times high-tempo, skilful hurling with eight players getting on the scoresheet. It's a decent spread of scores that should make opponents they will face later in the campaign sit up and take notice.

They are a team who will pose problems for anybody with their range of scoring. Not surprisingly their top marksman was Keith Keoghan with 10 points, seven frees, two 65. James Connolly was next in line with four sweet scores from play with Dylan Farrell , Daivd Raleigh, Justin Coyne and Paddy Coyne others who were able to switch on their radars and fire between the posts.

Another Killyon's point-getters was none other than Adan Gannon. He missed the club's opening games but has now returned and when he came on for the second-half he brought a certain quality and elan to the Killyon cause. They are a better team when he is in their ranks. He too marked his return with two fine scores.

What will concern the Killyon management is the fact that Dunne was so busy between the posts. The best of his saves was a super point-blank block in the first-half from Shane Whitty who latched onto a clever Stephen Morris sideline cut and looked certain to find the net but Dunne's reflexes were as sharp as a blade.

Blackhall Gaels will be encouraged by the way they battled and created openings with Whitty, Paul Kelly, Luke Jennings, Dermot Carty among those denied by Dunne's acrobatics. There was, however, little the Killyon custodian could do when midway through the second-half the pacy Morris raced through the Killyon cover and kicked the ball to the net for the only goal of the game.

Carty was Blackhall's main source of scores with all his eight points from placed balls. Their only point from play was slotted over by Kelly after the break - that too told a tale.

With players such as Tom Murphy, Whitty, Carty, Kelly and Conor Burke always willing to battle for the cause, Blackhall Gaels at least didn't endure the heavy defeats of earlier games. If they had covered their goal chances, however, they would have really caused Killyon problems.

That's something for the Gaels to build on moving forward. Killyon have other, loftier ambitions right now.

Killyon - Aaron Dunne; Jamie Smyth, Brian O'Reilly, Harry Smyth; Justin Coyne (0-1), Evan Burke, Jacob Ryan; Paddy Coyne (0-1), Kian Douglas; Keith Keoghan (0-10, seven frees, two 65s), Adam Farrell (0-1), Dylan Farrell (0-4); Cathal McKeon, James Connolly (0-4), David Raleigh (0-2). Subs - Adam Gannon for McKeon half-time, Ciaran Dowling for Burke 41m, Brendan Quinn for Jacob Ryan 49m.

Blackhall Gaels - David Farrell; Hugh Smyth, David McGowan, Colm Fitzgergald; Tom Murphy, Conor Delany, Colm Whitty; Stephen Morris (1-0), Shane Whitty; Paul Kelly (0-1), Mark Nicholson, Luke Jennings; Dermot Carty (0-8 seven frees, one 65), David Sheerin, Conor Burke. Subs - Cathal Cunningham for Sheerin 49m, Mark Mullally for Nicholson 51m.

Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna).