After being surprised by neighbours Kiltale in the previous year's decider, there was no slip-up by Kilmessan in the 2008 M. Donnelly Meath Senior Hurling Championship with Kildalkey being overcome at the second attempt as the title was annexed for the 28th time. By Noel Coogan. Martin Curran's charges went through their eight-match campaign without suffering defeat with won seven, drew one and lost none being their record. Although no betting lists on this championship were to be seen, Kilmessan were the favourites of most people interested in the eventual outcome and in a Weekender poll back in January five of the eight 'experts' who took part gave them their vote. After Tommy Horan and James Battersby had been in charge in the previous two years, Martin Curran came in and had Tony Donnelly and Ger Dineen as his assistants. They appeared to be drawn in the tougher group with their keenest rivals Trim, 2006 winners Rathmolyon, 2005 victors Killyon, Kildalkey and Clann na nGael also in it. The opening outing against Trim was one of their closer contests with 0-11 to 1-7 being the final score in the Friday evening tussle in Athboy with Joey Toole accounting for the entire losing total. For the winners Nicky Horan came closest to that total with 0-6 and unsurprisingly he finished up as the new champions' main marksman. Horan put over the first five scores and Kilmessan had seven on the board before Trim, who did not register from play, erased their blank. It was 0-7 to 1-1 at the break, the sides were level eight minutes into the second half and again after 57 minutes before Kevin Keena put over the winner with his third point. Kilmessan had matters a bit more comfortable in their second round outing at Boardsmill as Killyon were outpointed by 0-21 to 0-11. After leading by 0-11 to 0-7 at the halfway stage, Curran's charges outscored their opponents by eight points top two in the last 20 minutes. Nicky Horan put over five points, one of them from play, and Ger O'Neill and Kevin Keena contributed four points from play each. County minor Malcolm Doyle struck two points near end and the final score was a great long-range effort by centre back Stephen Clynch. After making his name as a forward, Clynch was deployed in the number six berth this year and while the scoring power of the attack was reduced, the county player turned in some brilliant displays in his new position. It was three wins from three outings for Kilmessan when promoted Clann Na nGael were defeated at Boardsmill. Although not near their best, they outscored the Athboy opposition by 0-18 to 1-11. The Blues started strongly with Joey Keena, Nicky Horan and Malcolm Doyle putting over points and they were 0-6 to 0-1 to the good by the end of the opening quarter. It was 0-11 to 1-4 at the break before both sides added seven points in the second period and the sides were on level terms before Horan shot four points to bring his evening's total to 11. After the 'close season' lasting 12 weeks it was back to SHC action on the third weekend of August as Kilmessan's winning run was extended with an emphatic 2-17 to 1-8 victory over Rathmolyon in Athboy, having led by 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval. Peter Reynolds and Kevin Keena netted the goals and Joey Keena and Malcolm Doyle shot four and three points respectively from play. In the last round of the group stages the two eventual finalists met in a Saturday evening tussle at Longwood which Kilmessan won by 1-11 to 0-10. Stephen Clynch, who converted a massive long-range free, was in commanding form and Ger O'Neill, Peter Reynolds and Malcolm Doyle impressed in front of him. The margin was also four points (1-6 to 0-5) at the break and Kildalkey did not manage to get any closer in the second period. Ger O'Neill netted the goal following a pass from brother Anton who hit a fine point at the start of the last quarter. Anton O'Neill made his presence felt in a big way in 3-15 to 1-10 semi-final success over Dunboyne in the opening course of a triple-decker at Pairc Tailteann on the first Sunday of October with the full forward scoring 3-1. The game was only close in the opening quarter at the end of which the board read 1-4 to 0-3, the 36-year-old veteran having grabbed his first goal after six minutes. It was 2-9 to 0-5 at the break and the lead was increased in the second half with the winners finishing up with eight scorers. The second of the three clashes with Kildalkey ended 1-7 each with a point in added time from substitute Charlie Keena giving Kilmessan a second bite at the final cherry. They looked to be in a strong position when leading by 1-2 to 0-4 at the break, having played against the breeze. After finding the net three times in the semi-final cruise against Dunboyne, Anton O'Neill had the goal touch again, raising the green flag with a close-range effort after 17 minutes. Malcolm Doyle and Nicky Horan (free) put over the Kilmessan points in the first half and many in the crowd would have expected them to stroll to the title after the resumption. However, they got little soft from their determined opponents and depended too much on Horan frees for scores. While the number 10 converted four in all, he was also off target with three attempts. Ger O'Neill scored in the third quarter and with time running out Charlie Keena gave both sets of supporters another day out. Kilmessan manager Martin Curran was a relieved man after the final whistle and blamed the windy and rainy conditions for both sides missing so many scoring chances. "A draw is not the worst outcome, I think the game will bring us on a bit more, our semi-final was a cakewalk," he said. Curran suggested that Kildalkey were a very good team and it would take a good team to beat them, adding, "I think we are a good team." Martin's men proved that in the replay seven days later to outstay their opponents in the home straight and carve out a 0-13 to 0-8 victory. Kilmessan were only headed inside the opening 10 minutes and after the sides were on level terms four times, they pulled clear to lead by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break. Strong finishes to both halves earned the aristocrats of Meath hurling the Jubilee Cup for the first time since 2004. Although the 'Messan men were held scoreless for 18 minutes in the second half and their opponents appeared to have a strong impetus when reduced the deficit to the minimum. However, Curran's charges found that bit extra under pressure with a mighty score from 'man of the match' Stephen Clynch pointing them back in the right direction before Nicky Horan and Joey Keena (twice) shot over in the closing minutes. Nicky Horan was easily the new champions' chief marksman, finishing up with a total of 0-47. Joey Keena did well with 17 points from play and team captain Ger O'Neill scored 1-13. Afterwards Martin Curran said the triumph meant an awful lot to the players, remarking, "we hurled really well, better than last week, I told them to go out and enjoy themselves and that's what they did, they didn't panic when Kildalkey came back strongly." He added "that puts last year's disappointment to bed, they are a great bunch of lads and with a bit more belief in themselves, they can do even better." The post-final celebrations were tempered by the death the following day of a great Kilmessan stalwart of other decades, Dinny Donnelly, father of full back David, substitute Paul and selector Tony. The Kilmessan team and scores in the 2008 SHC final replay : Mark Brennan; Patrick McGovern, David Donnelly, Vinny Reilly; Martin Horan, Stephen Clynch (0-1), Mark Reilly; Ger O'Neill (0-1), Peter Farrell; Nicky Horan (0-6), Peter Reynolds, Joey Keena (0-3); Malcolm Doyle, Anton O'Neill (0-1), Kevin Keena (0-1). Subs - Charlie Keena for V. Reilly, Kevin Reilly for A. O'Neill, also Christopher Curtis, Darren Reilly, Eddie O'Brien, Paul Donnelly, Mark Munnelly, Paul Grimes. Having lost to St Patrick's in the previous year's decider, Kilmessan won the JHC title for the first time since 1990 when defeating Ratoath by 1-15 to 1-7 in Ashbourne on the second Sunday of August. The team managed by Tony Grimes took emphatic control in the second half after leading by 1-7 to 1-6 at the break. They lost team captain Leon Maguire, who had to retire with a hamstring injury after only four minutes, and seconds later conceded a goal. Kilmessan recovered from those blows to take the lead midway through the first half when Shane Clarke finished a free from Christopher Curtis to the net and they were not subsequently headed. Darren Reilly put over eight points and Christopher Curtis, Eddie O'Brien and Darren Maguire were others to impress for the winners. Although disappointed over having to retire so early, Leon Maguire was delighted to receive the Royal Meath Association Cup after the final whistle. The Kilmessan team and scorers in the 2008 JHC final : M. Bissett; T. Horan, C. Curtis (0-2), E. Horan; M. Lynch, T. O'Brien, M. Munnelly; K. Reilly (0-1), M. Dennehy (0-1); E. O'Brien (0-1), Darren Maguire, D. Reilly (0-8); Danny Maguire (0-1), D. O'Donoghue (0-1), L. Maguire. Subs - S. Clarke (1-0) for L. Maguire, S. Cummins for Lynch, S. Horan for Darren Maguire. Kilmessan's bid to complete a four-in-a-row sequence of success in the Meath senior camogie championship came a cropper in the final in Ashbourne as Blackhall Gaels scored a minimum margin victory (3-7 to 2-9) to take the title for the first time. The sides were on level terms (1-5 each) at the break with Jenny Cusack scoring the Kilmessan goal. With Stephanie Horan netting their second goal, the holders led by 2-8 to 1-6 after 50 minutes but then only managed to add one point as Jane Dolan accounted for the entire winning total. The Kilmessan team and scorers in the 2008 Meath senior camogie championship final - N. Sheridan; E. Doyle, A. Lynch, N. Lynch; S. Ross, A. Donnelly (0-6), K. Ward; M. E. Sheridan, F. Lynch (0-1); S. Horan (1-1), L. Tyrell, S. Curtis; O. Doyle, M. Doyle, J. Cusack (1-1). Subs - C. O'Leary for O. Doyle, D. Fitzgerald for Curtis. Tweet

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