Brendan Davis Cup: Success-hungry Kildalkey land more silverware

Another weekend. Another trophy or two for Kildalkey. That's the way it is these days.

Just a week after completing a treble of championship triumphs Kildalkey hurlers did a double last weekend. On Saturday the intermedaite side won the Billy Byrne Cup at Ballinlough and on Sunday the senior team claimed the Brendan Davis Cup on their home patch.

There is a very good reason why the Brendan Davis Cup final is played at Kildalkey. The trophy is named after a legend of the club. Brendan helped to sustain Kildalkey through many lean years and would be delighted at how far his beloved club has evolved in recent years.

Sunday was about remembering heroes of the past. Heroes such as Brendan as well as John D Flynn who turned out in the blue and white of Kildalkey many times during his playing career. He sadly passed away at a young age and before Sunday's final got underway there was a minute's silence to remember him also. It all ensured the victory over Kiltale, achieved before a couple of hundred spectators, was a bitter-sweet occasion for the victors.

Because of the heavy rain the day before, the game was held on Kildalkey's back pitch. That fact too is an indication of how far the club has travelled. Now the club has two full-sized pitches, as well as a floodlit hurling wall.

Kiltale, winners of the trophy for the previous two years, wanted to end their year with a piece of silverware. Kildalkey wanted to win for all sorts of reasons not least because the squad is composed of a contingent of individuals who clearly hate to lose.

They are competitive people, as is their manager Nick Fitzgerald, who patrolled the sideline on Sunday urging on his charges to maintain their high standards. The scenario gave an insight into why Kildalkey are champions. They are a driven bunch of individuals, urged on by a manager who knows a thing or two about hurling and is also hungry for more success.

Not that Kiltale weren't eager for victory too. They were. They just found Kildalkey's passion and ability to carve out and take chances too much to handle.

Kildalkey certainly took a firm grim on this game, surging into a lead early on they never relinquished. The soft going meant that free-flowing hurling was difficult, if not impossible. Frequent rucks developed and referee Martin Dawson had to be alert to ensure these rucks didn't mutate into full-blown rows. A few cards were shown although no red.

The newly-crowned senior champions led 0-6 to 0-2 after 12 minutes. That was transformed into a 0-11 to 0-6 advantage at the interval. While Kiltale showed improved form after the break they were unable to halt the home team's march.

Kildalkey, who of course have an upcoming date with the Offaly side Clodiagh Gaels in the Leinster Club IHC, built this particular success on their tigerish tackling and closing down allied to their tenacious defending with captain David Conneely along with David Harmon, James McNally, Mark Healy, Martin Healy and Conor Fitzgerald, forming a veritable Wall of China that gave Kiltale few glimpses at their posts.

Kiltale did get the only goal of the game but that arrived just before the end. Jack Regan played the ball into the Kildalkey goalmouth. The sliotar was flicked on and there waiting at the far post was Chris Reilly. He stuck with an acrobatic, quick-thinking overhead puck to the back of the net.

This was a real test of stamina and character for Kildalkey ahead of their Leinster adventure and they showed some very good traits and some not so good. They shot 15 wides but garnered some great scores too. Encouragingly for them eight players got on the scoresheet, ace marksman Nicky Potterton bagging eight points, six frees. Evan Fitzgerald, Paddy Conneely, Brian O'Halloran, Brian Conneely, Paddy Barnwell and Patrick Potterton all pointed.

Regan, as usual, led the way for his team with a flurry of scores while Reilly, Darragh O'Doherty, Craig Gilsenan and James Kelly also pointed. Kiltale, however, needed more.

Afterwards the trophy was presented to winning captain David Conneely by former Kildalkey player Cathal Davis, Brendan's son. Cathal pointed out how over the last 15 years Kildalkey and Kiltale had won 12 SHC titles between them. He also praised the many people involved in ensuring Kildalkey are on a roll right now. His father would be proud indeed.

SCORERS

Kildalkey - Nicky Potterton 0-8, six frees; Paddy Conneely 0-4 two frees; Brian Conneely 0-2; Evan Fitzgerald 0-2; Brian O'Halloran 0-1; Paddy Barnwell 0-1; Patrick Potterton 0-1.

Kiltale - Jack Regan 0-7 frees; Chris Reilly 1-1; James Kelly 0-1; Craig Gilsenan 0-1; Darragh O’Doherty 0-2.

Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; David Conneely, David Harmon, James McNally; Mark Healy, Martin Healy, Conor Fitzgerald; Evan Fitzgerald, Patrick Potterton; Paddy Barnwell, Luke Rickard, Brian Conneely; Brian O'Halloran, Paddy Conneely, Nicky Potterton. Subs - Niall McNally for P Potterton, Cian Colhoun for James McNally, Tiernan Bird for D Conneely, Matty Cully for B Conneely, Gary Kelly for C Fitzgerald, Derek Doran for O'Halloran, Mairtin Doran for Martin Healy.

Kiltale - Shane McGann; Anthony Donnelly, Gavin McVann, Willie Mahady; Conor McNally, Padraig Kelly, James Kelly; David Donoghue, Fearghal McCabe; Phily Garvey, Stephen Donoghue, Jack Regan; Chris Reilly, Conor Ryan. Subs used - Darragh McVann, Charlie McCormack, Craig Gilsenan, Darragh O'Doherty, Sean Hughes, Cathal Brien, Conor Quinn.

Referee - Martin Dawson (St Michael's).