Victory not enough to seal top spot for Kiltale
Rarely, if ever, do you see both teams disappointed at the final whistle of a big championship match.
However that was the case at Athboy today as Kiltale defeated Longwood (2-19 to 1-11), but not by a wide enough margin to secure a place directly into the SHC semi-finals.
Kiltale went into today's game knowing they had a six-point better scoring difference than fellow table-toppers Ratoath who took on Na Fianna in Pairc Tailteann at the same time.
All they needed to do was match Ratoath's result and ensure their winning margin was no less than five fewer than Mike Cole's sides.
Throughout this contest several of the Kiltale officials kept half an eye on what was transpiring in Navan and when it became obvious that the last four spot was slipping from their grasp John Donoghue's started going for goals.
Those extra goals never came as Mark Kennedy made a string of fine saves and Kiltale were wayward with their shooting.
To further compound their misery, and make their chances of topping the group even more remote, Kiltale conceded two penalties in injury-time and when Anthony Healy converted the second one (he blazed the first right and wide) it resigned Kiltale to their fate.
Longwood were not in contention for making the top three and without their star player Sean Coloe they were always going to be up against it.
Despite Coloe's absence Longwood battled hard and made life as difficult as they could for Kiltale, but many of the winner's problems were of their own doing.
They hit 13 wides and struck the upright with another effort in a sloppy opening half. They added just four wides after the break, but many of their final quarter attacks were with the aim of finding a goal.
Try as they might Kiltale could not add to their two first-half goals, the first a powerful drive from Peter Durnin and the second a point attempt that looped over Kennedy and into the far right-hand corner.
Those goals along three frees from Jack Regan as well as points from Durnin, Eamon Ryan (two) and Conor Ryan ensured a 2-7 to 0-5 interval lead for Kiltale with Longwood's scores coming from two Anthony Healy frees and long range scores from Damien Healy (two) and Mickey Burke.
Longwood didn't score again from play in the second-half with Anthony Healy converting five frees and a '65' along with his goal from a penalty with the very last puck of the game.
Kiltale extended their lead to 2-14 to 0-7 with points from Regan (two '65s', one free), Darragh O'Doherty, James Kelly, Philip Garvey and Padraig Kelly before they started turning their attentions to going for goals in the final quarter.
As chance after chance went awry Kiltale settled for points from Regan (a free and a '65'), James Kelly, Durnin and Eamon Ryan, but it wasn't enough to ensure top spot in the group and now they must negotiate champions Kildalkey in the quarter-finals to stay in the hunt for the Jubilee Cup.
Kiltale - Shane McGann; William Mahady, Iarla Hughes, David Donoghue; James Kelly (0-2), Philip Garvey (0-1), Eamon Ryan (0-3); Padraig Kelly (1-1), Conor McNally; Conor Ryan (0-1), Cathal McCabe, Jack Regan (0-8 five frees, three '65s'); Craig Gilsenan, Peter Durnin (1-2), Darragh O'Doherty (0-1). Subs - Luke O'Halloran for Gilsenan 38m, Mark O'Sullivan for McCabe 44m, Eoin Corrigan for Ryan 48m,
Longwood - Mark Kennedy; Adam Leacy, Damien Healy (0-2), Joey Stenson; Brian Stagg, Mickey Burke (0-1), Ross Kerrigan; Billy Hogan, Conor Dixon; Bob Maguire, Karl Ennis, Gavin Griffith; Anthony Healy (1-8 1-0 penalty, seven frees, one '65'), Ryan Moore, Malachy Fisher. Subs - Ben McLoughlin for Fisher 41m, Thomas Dorran for Griffith 45m, Kieran Murtagh for Ennis 57m, Fionn Hannon for Stagg 58m.
Referee - Stephen Masterson (Kildalkey).