Kildalkey revive their hopes as they overcome Kilmessan
Lively and enterprising in the opening half Kildalkey were somewhat subdued after the break yet they still did enough to get the better of Kilmessan in the SHC at Pairc Tailteann this evening.
Not that this was a vintage display by the reigning champions who needed to win more than anything to hold onto their crown after losing to Ratoath the previous week.
They did just that but their joint managers Daire Lahart and Pat O'Halloran will know there is a lot of work for them to do before they face Trim in the semi-finals.
The victory was all but secured at the break when Kildalkey led 3-12 to 0-8 with the goals scored by Niall McNally, David Harmon and Nicky Potterton with the latter dancing his way past defenders before firing home for a sensational individual strike.
However Kildalkey seemed to loose considerable momentum in the second-half as Kilmessan mounted a mini-revival that helped to put a better reflection on the scoreboard but little else.
Patrick Conneely was Kildalkey's chief marksman with ten points including one memorable score from out near the touchline in the second-half. Luke Rickard, Sean Heavey, McNally and Brin Kelly were others to point for the Village.
Kilmessan conceded soft opening goal scored by McNally when Cian O'Neill's puck out was intercepted and they struggled from their on, the concession of that goal seemingly undermining their morale.
Declan Smyth did extremely well to engineer a goal for Kilmessan in the second-half making the most of some slackness in the Kildalkey defence to hit the target but it proved to be no more than a consolation.
Marksman Luke Horan hit eight points, all from placed balls, for Kilmessan but nobody scored more than a point from play and that statistic says a lot about how this game unfolded for them.
Kilmessan are out, Kildalkey stay in the championship but bigger challenges are ahead. Much bigger challenges.
SCORERS
Kildalkey - Patrick Conneely 0-10 seven frees, one '65'; Niall McNally 1-2; David Harmon 1-0; Nicky Potterton 1-0; Luke Rickard 0-3; Sean Heavey 0-2; Brin Kelly 0-1.
Kilmessan - Luke Horan 0-8 seven frees, one '65'; Declan Smyth 1-0; Alex Smith 0-1; Joey Keena 0-1; Kyle Donnely 0-1; Stephen Clynch 0-1.
TEAMS
Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; David Conneely, Gary Kelly, Mairtin Doran; Brendan McKeon, David Harmon, Conor Fitzgerald; Kevin McKeon, Patrick Potterton; Conor Kearney, Luke Rickard, Sean Heavey; Nicky Potterton, Patrick Conneely, Niall McNally. Subs - Paudger Geoghegan for P Potterton, Evan Fitzgerald for Kearney, Brin Kelly for Heavey all 42 mins, Ross Flynn for K McKeon 54m, Martin Healy for N Potterton 55m.
Kilmessan - Cian O'Neill; Dylan Swan, Shane Brennan, Pauraic Burke; Paddy Lally, Malcolm Doyle, Darren Reilly; Alex Smith, Declan Smyth; Luke Horan, Joey Keena, Kyle Donnelly; Jack Cottrell, Steven Clynch, Kevin Keena. Subs - Conor Harkin for , Cathal Murphy for K Keena 40 mins.
Chronicle Choice (Man of the Match) - Patrick Conneely (Kildalkey).
Referee - Marcus Quinn (Clann na nGael).