Kiltale  3-16
Kilmessan  2-13

Champions Kiltale outlasted Kilmessan in a thrilling SHC Group A round two clash at Trim on Monday evening.

Just as in the previous round robin meeting between the sides, 52 weeks ago, Kiltale finished on the front foot to take the points in what was the game of the SHC to date.

Kiltale have two wins while Kilmessan have the opposite. Scores were tied six times while the lead changed hands four times over the hour. The Jubilee Cup holders saw out the hour outscoring their neighbours by 2-2 to 0-0 in the final 10 minutes.

The outcome was decided around the 54th minute. First Ross Ryan goaled for Kiltale from close range at the town end. However, there appeared to be two fouls on Kilmessan players further out the field in the build-up. That left it 2-14 to 2-13.

Seconds later Nicky Horan was off target with a 60-metre from a central position that would have levelled matters for the sixth time.

In the 49th minute the experienced campaigner placed Darren Reilly for a goal chance that skied over the bar and left Kilmessan ahead, 2-13 to 1-14. It proved to be their final score as the Blues were undone in the latter stages for the second game running.

Kiltale's win owed much to their persistence, even when things were not going for them, as when they hit three wides in quick succession just after the three-quarter mark.

Jack Regan scored 0-10, half of his tally came from play. Some of his scores were top class. In all eight different players were on the scoresheet for the men in maroon.

There was a 12-point turnaround from the 34th minute to the end. Joey Keena's run through the Kiltale rearguard was rewarded with a goal that left it 2-10 to 1-7.

From there to the end the men in maroon outscored the Blues by 2-9 to 0-3. As Kilmessan battled to retain their grip on proceedings there were hindered by a couple of instances of dissent that saw frees moved to more favourable positions.

By the 45th minute the scores were level for the fifth and final time, 1-14 to 2-11. Kilmessan then had a brief spell in the ascendancy before Kiltale's fitness, epitomised by an excellent Anthony Forde score on the run left it 2-16 to 2-13 with 56 minutes gone, proved decisive. The pacy midfielder then placed Brendan Dixon for Kiltale's third goal.

Within a minute of the off Kiltale goaled when Padraig Kelly's underhit effort found the net thanks to two deflections off Kilmessan defenders.

By the eighth minute the scores were tied thanks to efforts from Nicky Horan (the first of five first-half pointed frees), Darren Reilly - from an acute angle at the town end - and a Kevin Keena effort from distance.

The champions hit the front on three further occasions before the break while Kilmessan took the lead for the first time (0-7 to 1-3) with Nicky Horan's third pointed free, in the 17th minute.

There were two further swings before the break. Three Regan points on the bounce restored Kiltale's lead. Then in the 25th minute, Kilmessan goaled when Darren Reilly netted from close range after Joey Keena's effort was blocked and his side led by 1-9 to 1-7 at the break.

Kilmessan restarted on the front foot but was unable to maintain that momentum and face an uphill task to reach the knockout stage.

Before the throw-in, a minute's silence was observed in memory of Lorna Carty, Dunderry who died in a terrorist attack on Friday. Jim Harlin, brother of Laura, is chairman on Kilmessan Hurling Club.

Kiltale - Shane McGann; Kevin Ryan, David Donoghue, Ciaran Ennis; Eamonn Ryan (0-1), Ronan Ryan, Cathal McCabe; Anthony Forde (0-1), Padraig Kelly (1-0); Jack Regan (0-10, 4fs, 1 65), Brendan Dixon (1-0), Peter Durnin (0-2); James Kelly (0-2), Fergal McCabe, Ross Ryan (1-0).

Kilmessan - Mark Brennan; Padraig Maguire , Peter Farrell, Kevin O'Reilly; Ryan Montague, Alan Kelly, Pauric Burke; Shane Brennan (0-2), Kevin Keena (0-2); Malcolm Doyle, Nicky Horan (0-5fs), Marty Mulhall (0-1); Darren Reilly (1-2), Joey Keena (C) (1-0), Sean Doyle (0-1). Subs - Declan Smyth for Doyle (47), Steven Clynch for Doyle (56).

Referee - Nick Fitzgerald (Kildalkey)

Kiltale Report

Kiltale  3-16 Kilmessan  2-13

A huge crowd turned out in Trim last night to see neighbours Kiltale take on Kilmessan in the 2nd round of Meath senior hurling championship.

Kiltale introduced county minor stars twins Ronan and Ross Ryan for their first outing this year and the lads had big shoes to fill with Ronan stepping in for Kiltale stalworth John Donoghue at centre back and Ross taking over from injured Mark O'Sullivan in the full forward line.

Kiltale lined out with 11 of their starting 15 under 25 years of age and they got off to a great start with a goal from midfielder Padraig Kelly after a great run through the middle.

Kelly followed up with a point before Kilmessan got off the mark with two pointed frees by Nicky Horan and points from Kevin and Joey Keena.

The ball winning ability of James Kelly proved a constant threat for the Kilmessan rearguard and numerous fouls resulted in points from frees from Jack Regan.

Kilmessan got a goal following great work by Joey Keena and Kiltale should had one at the other end following a great run by Peter Durnin who kicked narrowly wide.

Kilmessan with the strong wind went in at half time two points clear.

Kilmessan started brightly and half way through the second half were 6 pts clear and could have been more after Daren Reilly blazed over from close range.

Kiltale like true champions stormed back into the game with a great individual goal from Ross Ryan followed by another from Brendan Dixon following a great run by Anthony Forde.

Jack Regan hit some huge points and James Kelly won a huge amount of ball again from Puck outs and Kiltale should got further goals but Peter Durnin was denied by great save from Sean Power.

Kiltale had great performances from brothers Eamon and Kevin Ryan in defence along with Cathal Mc Cabe and Ciaran Ennis and young Ronan Ryan showed maturity beyond his years at centre back breaking up numerous Kilmessan attacks.

Padraig Kelly and Anthony Forde but in a good hour at midfield.

Up front Kiltale had leaders in James Kelly and Jack Regan and these were greatly assisted by Ferghal Mc Cabe the hard working Brendan Dixon and Ross Ryan showed a really threat everytime he got on the ball.

This was a great win for Kiltale who started without 3 donoghues John,Padraig and Stephen and alot of people would have thought the loss of star forward Mark O'Sullivan would have been too much but it showed great depth in the Kiltale panel and the younger players stepped up to the challenge.

Kiltale - Shane McGann; Kevin Ryan, David Donoghue, Ciaran Ennis; Eamonn Ryan (0-1), Ronan Ryan, Cathal McCabe; Anthony Forde (0-1), Padraig Kelly (1-0); Jack Regan (0-10, 4fs, 1 65), Brendan Dixon (1-0), Peter Durnin (0-2); James Kelly (0-2), Fergal McCabe, Ross Ryan (1-0).

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