Calvin Ryan's stoppage time point secured a minimum margin round four win for Killyon over Trim in an exciting Ted Murtagh SHC clash at Kildalkey on Saturday evening.
Killyon ....... 0-18
Trim .......... 1-14
Killyon's top scorer from play Adam Gannon provided the crossfield pass for the match-winning score in the last action of the game. Seconds earlier a Keith Keoghan free tied the scores for the 12th time.
In addition to the assist for the match-winning score, Gannon maintained his good form with five points from play.
The result moves Killyon to the head of the group and keeps their unbeaten record intact. Trim's second defeat of the campaign sees them in fourth place and leaves them with an uphill task to reach the knockout stage.
Killyon face Navan O'Mahonys in the final round of group stage while Trim take on Kilmessan.
Calvin Ryan reprised his sweeper role and Killyon shaded the second-half moving three points clear, 0-15 to 0-12, by the 55th minute. Then James Toher netted from close range with help from Damien McGee and Neil Heffernan.
Toher regained the lead for Trim for the first time since the 39th minute when an Alan Douglas goal attempt skied over the bar. With Killyon holding a 0-13 to 0-12 lead in the 51st minute, Killyon 'keeper Stephen Quinn saved a Toher penalty well having anticipated where the rasper was heading.
Killyon's response was to tag on two points before Toher goaled.
It was good evening for hurling, well-manicured pitch, dry and not too much sun. A Keoghan (free) opener was cancelled by a Douglas effort from play. The lead changed twice in the opening half
Scores were tied six times in the opening 20 minutes. Wing-back David Kennedy ignited a mini-scoring burst for Killyon with a fine effort from distance. Another Gannon point followed before Keoghan pointed a free from inside his own 65 to leave Killyon three points ahead, 0-9 to 0-6.
Damien McGee (free) and Ryan Andrews pointed to trim the deficit to the minimum by half-time, 0-8 to 0-9.
Two more points (McGee 65 and James Andrews) restored Trim's lead by the 34th minute. The scores were level on two further occasions before Killyon edged themselves three points ahead with wing-back Thomas Raleigh starting the sequence in the 43rd minute.
Gannon made it 0-13 to 0-11 heading into the final quarter of a fixture that showed a plethora of scores is not a requirement for an engrossing contest.
Killyon - Stephen Quinn; Andy Feeney, Brian Perry, Brendan Quinn; David Kennedy (0-1), Ray McKeown (0-1), Thomas Raleigh (0-1);Keith Keoghan (0-7, 6fs), Clayton Keegan; Killian Canavan, Ray Massey (0-2),Calvin Ryan (0-1); Stefan Kelly, Adam Gannon (0-5), David Raleigh. Subs - Ger Foley for Canavan (38), Christopher Dunne for Raleigh (55).
Trim - Brian Carley; Ciaran O'Rourke, Damien Loran, Neil Cole; Ryan Andrews (0-1), David Foley, Peter Farrell; Alan Douglas (0-2), James Toher (1-3, 1f); Sean McGee, Damien McGee (0-3, 1f 1 65), Luke Moran; James Andrews (0-2), Neil Heffernan, Miley Cullen (0-3). Subs - Ciaran Joyce for Loran (ht), Dimmy Higgins for S McGee (47).
Referee - Nick Fitzgerald (Kildalkey)