Kiltale's hard-fought win over Na Fianna edges them ahead of Ratoath

Kiltale now hold a single point advantage over Ratoath on points difference in Group B

Kiltale 0-27

Na Fianna 0-16

This was by no means a stand-out performance by Kiltale but Mark Lynch’s side came good in the last quarter to overcome Na Fianna by a comfortable enough margin in Batterstown on Sunday afternoon. However, more significantly, the win puts Kiltale ahead of Ratoath in Group B on points difference by one single point.

Kiltale struggled for large parts of this game. A Rory Fagan point just after halftime put Na Fianna five points to the good. Kiltale though got their act together in the last quarter by scoring the final 14 points of the match and in doing so, they held Na Fianna scoreless from the 40th minute right up to the final whistle.

To their credit, Na Fianna were very hungry from the get-go. However, fatigue and injuries played its part as they wilted completely out of the contest in the last 20 minutes.

Everything was going to plan for Kiltale in the opening five minutes and they built up an early three-point lead courtesy of points from their two midfielders Padraig Kelly and Jack Bannon along with one from Peter Durnin.

Na Fianna then found their feet and over the next fifteen minutes showed what they can do at their very best by outscoring Kiltale 10 points to one. Their two wing forwards, Rory Fagan and Kean Slattery accounted for five of those scores. The highlight of that period though was Shane McGann’s fantastic save to deny Barry Slevin from rattling the net. After 20 minutes Na Fianna led 0-10 to 0-4.

Daragh O’Doherty settled the ship for Kiltale with a well-taken score before Fagan and Evan Mulally extended Na Fianna’s lead to seven. It took Kiltale’s talisman 24 minutes to register a score but his first of the afternoon was well-struck and Durnin followed it up a minute later to reduce the gap back to five.

With the last puck before halftime, Regan pulled another score back for Kiltale as Na Fianna went in at the break holding a 0-12 to 0-8 advantage. Not a halftime scoreline that many would have predicted

Rory Fagan came out in the second half firing on all cylinders and he secured three points, two of which were from play in the opening five minutes. However, Fagan’s points were cancelled out by a Philip Garvey and a brace from Durnin.

Regan and Garvey then reduced the gap back to two before Fagan responded with a free. That free came in the 40th minute and unfortunately for Na Fianna, they were unable to register another score in the contest.

Kiltale’s half-time substitute commenced what turned out to be a run of 14 consecutive points. Padraig Kelly had a nice purple patch at the start of the final quarter as he knocked over two consecutive points. However, it was Jack Fagan and Peter Durnin who really stole the show. Between them, the pair accounted for nine of Kiltale’s last 10 scores.

In an outcome that looked unlikely at half-time, Kiltale ran out comfortable victors and in doing so edged themselves ahead of Ratoath in Group B.

With only one solitary point separating the two sides on points difference at the moment, all eyes will be on the Ratoath and Kiltale in their respective final group stage clashes as both sides look to take that top spot which gains automatic qualification for the semi-final.

With dual players involved on both teams, the prize of one less game in the championship provides mighty motivation. For now, though, Kiltale have some work to do to ensure that they get off to a better start in their crunch final group game against Longwood than they did in Batterstown on Sunday.

Kiltale – Shane McGann; William Mahady, Iarla Hughes, David Donoghue; Eoin Corrigan, Philip Garvey(0-2), Eamon Ryan; Padraig Kelly (0-3), Jack Bannon(0-1); Conor Ryan (0-1), Cathal McCabe, Jack Regan (0-10, seven frees; Luke O’Halloran, Peter Durnin (0-8), Daragh O’Doherty (0-1). Subs - James Kelly(0-1) for Corrigan HT, Conor McNally for O’Halloran, Craig Gilsenan for McCabe both 42m.

Na Fianna – Adam Farrell; Eoin Coffey, Anthony Healy, Oisin Bright; Alex Healy, Peter Slevin (0-1), Evan Mulally (0-1); Eoin Bright (0-1), Kean Flynn; Kean Slattery (0-2), Barry Slevin (0-1), Rory Fagan (0-8 four frees); Michael Heffernon (0-1), Patrick Jordan (0-1), Will Flynn. Subs – Johnny McCloscky for Alex Healy 12m, Luke Bobbett for Will Flynn 29m, Stephen Slevin for Slattery 55m.

Referee – Ciaran Flynn (Kilmessan)