Kildalkey's emphatic win over Rathmolyon at Pairc Taitleann on Saturday evening ensured them of second spot in Group A and marks them down as serious contenders in the Ted Murtagh SHC.
Kildalkey ......... 5-19
Rathmolyon ..... 0-7
With Enda, Padraig and Maurice Keogh to the fore, Kildalkey had a fourth of the campaign in the bag at the break when leading by 14 points.
A tally of 16 wides - twice that of Rathmolyon - gives Pat O'Halloran's men something to work on ahead of the quarter-finals.
Padraig Conneely led the way with 2-6 - all bar his second goal came in the first-half. By the end 10 different players were on the scoresheet for Kildalkey
Clad in their royal blue jerseys, breeze assisted Kildalkey were first to show and Derek Doran pointed them in front with an effort from 65 metres three minutes in.
Parity was restored for the only time two minutes later when Mikey Cole pointed a free from distance into the old swimming pool end.
Rathmolyon's status was secure following their win over Navan O'Mahonys in the previous round but they unable to compete with a superior Kildalkey whose only setback to date came in the minimum margin second round defeat to Trim.
Kildalkey struck for two goals inside three minutes before the end of the opening quarter. Full-forward Enda Fitzgerald netted the first from close range in the 11th minute following a Derek Doran surge through the middle that unhinged the Rathmolyon rearguard.
The second goal arrived in the 13th minute when Paddy Conneely stole in behind the Rathmolyon defence and the nearby scoreboard read 2-1 to 0-1.
Rathmolyon lost two members of their defensive unit to injury in the opening quarter. Centre-half-back Aaron Fagan was first to depart to be followed by goalkeeper Joey Gantley.
Playing within themselves Kildalkey tagged on eight unanswered points before the end of the opening half. By half-time Conneely had 1-6 to his name.
But for registering nine first-half wides Kildalkey would have led by more than 14 points at the break while Rathmolyon efforts to add to Mickey Cole's fifth minute free were undone by four wides in the opening 30 minutes.
A pointed Mickey Cole 65 within two minutes of the restart temporarily halted the one-way traffic. Though Rathmolyon improved their scoring rate when wind-assisted the outcome was never in doubt.
Conneely's sole second-half score came in the form of Kildalkey's third goal to leave it 3-14 to 0-4 after 40 minutes. Sub Andrew Fagan netted the fourth early in the thrid quarter.
Kildalkey used their full compliment of replacements and the final one, Mark Healy, got their fifth goal in the 58th minute. Just before that goalkeeper Conor Flynn pointed a 'penalty'
Kildalkey - Conor Flynn (0-1f); Sean Corrigan, Stephen Forde, Eoin Potterton; Padraig Geoghegan,Enda Keogh, Mairtin Doran; Sean Heavey (0-1), Maurice Keogh (0-1); Francis Doran (0-1), Derek Doran (0-1),Gary Kelly (0-3) ; Padraig Keogh, Enda Fitzgerald (1-2), Paddy Conneely (2-6). Subs - Tony Fox for M Doran (43), Luke Rickard for Heavey (43), Andrew Fagan (1-0) for F Doran (44), David Harmon (0-2, 1 65) for Conneely (44), Mark Healy (1-1) for D Doran (44).
Rathmolyon - Joey Gantley; Jack Davis, David Morgan, Anthony McEnroe; Danny Mulligan (0-1), Aaron Fagan, Tommy Cosgrave; Tommy Lynch,Jack Payne (0-1); Daniel Whelan, Gary Cole, Gary Doherty (0-1); John Farrell, Mike Cole (0-3, 1f, 1 65) Jack Fagan (0-1). Subs - Graham Whelan for Fagan (6), Stephen Ennis for Gantley (11), Vinny O'Brien for McEnroe (ht),
Tom Henderson for Doherty (40)
Referee - Donal Smyth (O'Mahonys).
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