Killyon on the up
November 27, 2010Killyon had two past stalwarts, Martin Massey and Thomas Duignan, in charge as they set out in search of a first senior championship title since 2005 and they began on a high note with an unexpected 1-12 to 0-13 victory over Dunboyne in a Saturday evening clash at Pairc Tailteann.
Remarkably that was a first victory at the county ground for the Hill of Down club since the 1991 SHC final win over Trim and a goal from former Meath netminder Mark Gannon with eight minutes left proved to be the decisive score. That left Killyon leading by four points and although the advantage was subsequently halved, some stern defending enabled them to hold out for the brace of points.
County under-21 Keith Keoghan contributed seven points, all from frees, and nine of Killyon's white flags were raised from placed balls with Paddy Ryan slotting over a free and a 45.
The team in red and green were just in arrears (0-7 to 0-8) at the break before resuming with well with points from Cillian Canavan and Keoghan. The minimum margin still separated the sides before veteran Gannon latched on to a delivery from Clayton Keegan and fired to the net.
The dismissal of Paddy Ryan on receiving a second yellow card from Dick Morris near the end did not mar what was an exciting start to the campaign for Killyon. There was a remarkable turn around from a league clash a few weeks earlier which Dunboyne won with some 27 points to spare!
Killyon made it two wins from as many outings when outscoring Navan O'Mahonys by 0-15 to 1-9 in a Thursday evening tussle at Kildalkey. Right half-forward Keith Keoghan again shot seven points, this time three from play, three frees and a 65.
After Killyon held a lead of three points, O'Mahonys improved to just be ahead by 1-6 to 0-8 at the break. However, the south county side regained control with scores from Adam Gannon, Keoghan (free) and David Kennedy giving them a three-point lead which they held to the finish with Keoghan completing the winning total as he put three more shots between the posts.
Kildalkey ended Killyon's winning 'run' when defeating them by 1-16 to 0-15 in a Pairc Tailteann encounter dominated by scores from placed balls. Keith Keogan continued his impressive accuracy with a return of 0-14, 11 frees and a 65, while Niall Kirby hit 13 points for the defending champions.
Adam Gannon and substitute Ambrose Connolly were the losers' only other scorers and it was 1-7 to 0-10 at the break, Gary Kelly getting the touch for the goal although Killyon players claimed that the sliotar had not crossed the line.
Killyon got back on the winning trail with a comfortable 1-16 to 0-9 success over neighbours Longwood in a Monday evening clash at Boardsmill to ensure themselves a place in the closing stages.
The winners could afford 11 wides and win with plenty in hand. Brian Perry, David Raleigh and David Kennedy were praised for their efforts and Keith Keoghan added 1-9 to his total, eight points from frees.
Cillian Kennedy and Calvin Ryan both drove over three points and after Ray McKeown was sent off for a second yellow card offence in the last quarter, Killyon were not affected by the setback as they added four points with reply.
Meath minor captain Thomas Raleigh took the scoring honours with a contribution of 1-7 as Killyon concluded their SHC group schedule with a 2-15 to 1-8 win over Clann na nGael at Longwood to chalk up a fourth win from five outings.
After being in arrears by 1-7 to 0-8 at the break, the side in green and red took emphatic control after the switching of ends to finish up with 10 points to spare. Paddy Ryan also found the net, Keith Keoghan shot four points and at the other end county senior 'keeper Stephen Quinn did well.
Kildalkey, Dunboyne and Killyon all finished on eight points and in that order on score difference, leaving Killyon in third place and looking forward to a tilt with Trim, second in Group A, in the quarter-finals.
Killyon only held the lead for a brief spell in the opening quarter in the Pairc Tailteann clash which finished up 0-16 to 0-7 in favour of the town team who outscored their opponents by 0-6 to 0-0 in the last quarter.
It was 0-7 to 0-4 at the break after two well-hit points from midfielder Padraig McKeown put Killyon ahead for a short spell. Although two Keith Keoghan efforts reduced the deficit to the minimum on the restart, a point from Adam Gannon was all they managed after that as their championship bid petered out
Earlier in the summer Killyon captured the under 21 B hurling title with a 3-21 to 4-11 final victory over the Moylagh/Kilskyre combination at Trim. In the earlier rounds of that competition they enjoyed comfortable successes over Clann na nGael and Donaghmore/Ashbourne before Kildalkey gave a semi-final walk-over.
Thomas Raleigh netted the winners' three goals in the final as well as putting over four points and Keith Keoghan hit eight points. Killyon led by 1-11 to 0-8 at the break and although both sides scored freely in the second period, the leaders stayed away to have seven points to spare at the end.
Killyon netminder Tommy Quinn made some crucial saves, Conor Foley and David Kennedy did well in defence and Sean Bell, David Raleigh, Ger Foley and Adam Gannon also got among the scorers.
Killyon team in the final: T Quinn; C Foley, M Coogan; S Farrell, D Kennedy, A Feeney; S Bell (0-3), G Foley (0-1); J Ryan, K Keoghan (0-8), T Raleigh (3-4); A Gannon (0-1), D Raleigh (3-4). Subs: M Keegan for Ryan, J Fahy for Keegan, A Rowe for D Raleigh.
Killyon were joined with Boardsmill for minor hurling in 2010 and the combination reached the MHC final in which they lost by the minimum margin to Trim who took the title on a 1-12 to 1-11 scoreline at Pairc Tailteann back in March.
After getting the better of holders Kiltale in the penultimate round, Killyon/Boardsmill, managed by Pat Gannon, were on level terms with Trim seven times before Damien McGee sealed the victory with his sixth converted free. The combined side led by 1-9 to 1-7 at the break after playing with wind advantage, Adam Gannon having netted their goal.
But they relinquished the lead at the start of the last quarter when McGee left the scores 1-10 each and were just edged in a close finish.
The Killyon/Boardsmill team in the MHC final was : E Dixon; J Dowdall, A Flanagan, C Darby; S Farrell, T Raleigh, J Maguire; N Weir, G Foley; J Ryan, J Bird, A Farrell; V Dwyer, A Gannon, F Flattery. Subs: F Flattery for Ryan, S Kelly for Maguire, Maguire for Kelly.
Despite the nine-point defeat in the SHC quarter-final, goalkeeper Stephen Quinn, also the county senior netminder, feels that 2010 was a good year for the club. "Hopes were not too high before the start of the championship, from the 2009 team we were without one of the main men, Ray Massey, who went off to Australia.
"Before playing Dunboyne in the first round we had suffered a very heavy home defeat to them in the league. We had a stronger team for the championship clash and when only one point behind at half-time, we knew we were in with a chance, our confidence rose and after Mark Gannon's goal, we held out for the win," he said.
Apart from Martin Massey and Thomas Duignan, Killyon had Kit Mitchell, Derek Murray, Seanie Ryan and PJ Keoghan as selectors and Quinn said the training went well. "A few of the hurlers also play football with Ballivor and the training schedules are juggled around to suit both teams and the hurlers were happy once they got one good session per week," said the 'keeper.
"The win over Dunboyne was a big boost and apart from losing to Kildalkey, we won all our group games and went into the quarter-final against Trim in reasonably confident mood.
"Things were going well for us before that match but we didn't get going on the day. We had a young side and so had Trim but they were a little bit physically stronger than us," he added.
Stephen Quinn has been Killyon's number one number one since 2001 and was part of the SHC winning side in 2005. His father, Paddy, gave outstanding service as a goalkeeper, picking up five SHC medals (the first as a substitute) between 1979 and '91 and being captain for two of the successes.
With Killyon players figuring prominently on county underage teams this year, Quinn junior has reason for hope that the club can challenge strongly for the Jubilee Cup in the next couple of years.
"We had lads on county sides and they were all on our senior side. Those lads should be getting stronger over the next couple of years and help us build on what we achieved this year," concluded Stephen. Tweet
