Kildalkey  6-18
Blackhall Gaels  0-9

A second-half goal blitz saw Kildalkey subdue Blackhall Gaels in this SHC Group B second round fixture at Trim on Sunday evening.

Playing into the town goal with the wind and sun at their backs, Blackhall matched their fancied opponents in the first-half and were just three points off the pace at the break, 0-6 to 0-9.

It was Kildalkey's second win of the round-robin stage following their minimum margin win over Killyon in round one. Padraig Geoghegan's 38th minute goal was their first of the campaign and owed much to the efforts of Mairtin Doran, Martin Healy and Paddy Conneely.

Conneely matched Blackhall's tally from play and frees while Jonathan Meyler - who outscored O'Mahonys on his own in their round one win over the Navan side -   accounted for all bar three points of the 'Gaels total.

Within 20 seconds of resumption, Martin Healy's point left more than a goal between the sides for the first time. That score was countered by a fine Dan Carty effort. He was only Blackhall forward apart from Meyler to trouble the scoreboard operator.

Derek Doran finished with 4-2 to his credit. All the goals coming in the final third of the hour. The number 15's pace and persistence seriously underminded Blackhall hopes of getting something from this fixture.

Sean Heavey provided the assist before Doran's one-handed stroke left it 2-12 to 0-7 after 43 minutes. A further brace of Meyler points (one free) interupted Kildalkey's final quarter procession.

The final margin would have been greater but for the efforts of Blackhall 'keeper Emmet Dalton. The Gaels were unable to stem the goal tide as Doran tagged on another three goals in the final five minutes.

The sequence was interupted by a Martin Healy goal that left it 5-16 to 0-9 in the 58th minute.  By the end seven different players had scored from play for Kildalkey. Meyler's contribution apart, single point contributions from Tom Murphy, Colm Whitty and Dan Carty completed Blackhall Gaels' tally.

Meyler opened the scoring from play. It was the only time Blackhall led during the game. Having fallen two points in arrears twice in the early stages, the Batterstown-Kilcloon side levelled matters twice.

A Meyler point courtesy of a Stephen Morris assist tied the scores for the third and final time, 0-5-all, after 17 minutes. Gradually, Kildalkey began to put some distance between themselves and Blackhall Gaels outscoring them by 0-3 to 0-1 in the run-in to half-time when last year's beaten semi-finalists led by 0-9 to 0-6.

Both sides were more wasteful when playing with the elements. Blackhall hit eight first-half wides while Kilmessan topped that with 11 after the change of ends. By the end the wide count was 13-12. The winners marginally more wasteful.

Before the throw-in a minute's silence was observed in memory of Lorna Carty, Dunderry who was killed in Friday's massacre of holidaymakers in Tunisia.

Kildalkey - David Harman; David Conneely, Enda Fitzgerald, Eoin Potterton; Maurice Keogh, Sean Corrigan, Mairtin Doran; Padraig Geoghegan (1-1), Patrick Potterton (0-1); Sean Heavey (0-3), Paddy Conneely (0-9, 6fs), Mark Healy; Martin Healy (1-1), Padraig Keogh (0-1), Derek Doran (4-2). Sub - Johnny Murray for Mark Healy (42).

Blackhall Gaels - Emmet Dalton; Niall Kelly, Conor Delany, David McGowan; Paul Kelly, Thomas Delany, Tom Murphy (0-1); Stephen Morris (0-1), Colm Whitty (0-1); Dermot Carty, Jonathan Meyler (0-6, 2fs), Hugh Smith; Nigel O'Hora, Alan Nestor, Dermot Carty. Subs - Tommy Coyle for Dermot Carty (42), Darren O'Loughlin for Nigel O'Hora (42).

Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael)

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