Kildalkey finish with a flourish to claim victory

When they needed to most Kildalkey found an extra gear to chalk up a 3-17 to 1-20 victory over Ratoath in the SHC at Pairc Tailteann tonight. 

The Village side badly need this victory after losing to Kiltale in the opening round - if only to repair some damaged morale and they did the business. . 

Kidlakey led 2-8 to 1-9 at the interval with the help of goals from Niall McNally and Mark Healy with Gavin McGowan finding the net for a Ratoath side that produced some quality hurling in that opening half. 

However with 56 minutes played Ratoath were in front by 1-19 to 2-14 and looked to be on their way to a second successive victory.

Then Kildalkey  upped the gears with a brilliant pitch-length move that was finished off when the excellent Nicky Potterton passed to Evan Fitzgerald who fired home. for a super goal. Healy and Potterton (two) added two more points to apply the finishing touches. 

James McNally, Brin Kelly, David Harmon, Fitzgerald, Niall McNally and Paddy Conneely were others to point for Kildalkey over the hour. 

Darragh Kelly and Sean O'Hanrahan contributed 11 points to Ratoath's tally between them while Gavin McGowan got 1-4 while Tadgh McCann, Ben McGowan, Jack McGowan, Daithi McGowan and Padriag O'Hanrahan were others to garner scores but there was simply no stopping a fired up Kildalkey side who are very much back in this championship. 

SEE MATCH REPORT IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE