SHC: Thrilling opener ends level
July 01, 2016
Killyon's Ray McKeown makes a brilliant block on Mickey Burke's (Longwood) shot for a goal during the opening round of the Meath SHC in Boardsmill. TO VIEW A SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS GAME CLICK HERE
The Ted Murtagh SHC opened on a thrilling note as local rivals Killyon and Longwood played out a draw in this Group A fixture at Boardsmill on Thursday night.
Killyon ............ 1-17
Longwood ......... 0-20
The scores were tied 10 times over the hour with Aaron Ennis' stoppage time point earning a deserved draw for outsiders Longwood. Last term Killyon lost narrowly to Dunboyne at the quarter-final stage while their neighbours struggled to maintain senior status.
Moments earlier Killian Canavan's point looked to have given Killyon the spoils.
The firm pitch stood up well to the intermittent showers that frequented the venue throughout the day and early evening.
Listed at wing-back, county footballer Mickey Burke spent most of the hour at centre-half-forward. Sean Coloe's eight-point haul from placed balls went some way to securing something from this fixture for the team clad mainly in white.
Having been on level terms three times in the opening quarter, Longwood moved three points clear by the 18th minute.
Longwood endured a 20th minute body blow when Keith Keoghan's free was flicked to the net by Calvin Ryan to tie the scores for the fourth time, 1-6 to 0-9.
Longwood's positive response was a pointed Sean Coloe free. Their midfielder finished as their top scorer with eight points from placed balls.
A Johnny Furey interception led to the corner-back pointing Longwood to a slender, 0-12 to 1-7, half-time lead.
Ryan Moore extended Longwood's lead within a minute of resumption. Burke's promptings and 35th minute point moved them two clear by the 41st minute.
The pick of Adam Gannon's four points from play levelled matters, 1-12 to 0-15, midway through the second-half.
Longwood replied with points from Coloe (free) and Ryan Moore. Keith Keoghan's seven-point haul from frees did much to avert a shock outcome.
Killyon reasserted themselves in the final quarter with a Keoghan free leveling matters, 1-16 to 0-19, in the 57th minute. Then Stefan Kelly placed Canavan for the lead score for the team in red and green. Ennis ensured Longwood wouldn't finish empty-handed.
Killyon - Stephen Quinn; Andy Feeney, Ray McKeown, Brendan Quinn (0-1); David Kennedy, Adam Farrell, David Raleigh (0-1); Clayton Keegan, Adam Gannon (0-4); Killian Canavan (0-1), Stefan Kelly (0-1), Keith Keoghan (0-7 fs); Ray Massey (0-1), Calvin Ryan (1-0), Thomas Raleigh. Subs - Christopher Dunne (0-1) for Massey (42), Marcus Coogan for Feeney (50).
Longwood - Mick Healy; Johnny Furey (0-1), Enda Dixon, Chris Cusack; Mickey Burke (0-1), Joe Stenson, Chris Lynch; Sean Coloe (0-8, 7fs, 1 65), Karl Ennis; Ryan Moore (0-5, 4fs), Damien Healy (0-1), Mark Lynch; Coran Byrne (0-1), Aaron Ennis (0-3), James Giles. Subs - James Dorran for Giles (45), J P Mullen for Lynch (55).
Referee - Fergus Smith (Kilcock)
