SHC: Kildalkey outlast Navan O'Mahonys
July 23, 2016
O'Mahony's Richie Hogan with Seanie Heavey Kildalkey
Last year's runners-up Kildalkey extended their unbeaten Ted Murtagh SHC Group A run to three games at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening when outlasting O'Mahonys.
Kildalkey ....... 0-22
O'Mahonys .... 1-13
Having fallen behind to Mikey Kelly's 43rd minute goal, Kildalkey responded with eight unanswered points to seal their second win from three starts.
Kildalkey's second win of this stage was achieved with 11 different scorers. Top scorer Conor Kearney finished with eight points to his credit (six frees).
Kildalkey bounced back from their draw with Killyon in the previous round to build on their opening round win over Trim, at this venue.
Kelly's goal gave the underdogs the lead for the fourth and final time in the game. The sides were tied eight times over the hour.
Having lost to Kilmessan and Trim in previous outings, this was an improved O'Mahonys' performance
Operating from centre-half-back Jack Walshe posted eight points from frees (half of O'Mahonys' tally) but couldn't prevent his side from falling to their third loss of the campaign.
When Kildalkey sub Gary Kelly made it 0-20 to 1-13 in the 59th minute, it was the first time that more than a goal separated the sides.
Scores flowed freely in the opening quarter during which time the sides were level on four occasions.
Conor Kearney pointed five times in fhe first thirty minutes. He opened the scoring from a pointed free in the first minute and soon doubled it in similar fashion.
A Shane Crosby effort from play halved the deficit. Though Paddy Conneely restored Kildalkey's two-point lead, O'Mahonys were on level terms for the first time in the eighth minutes with scores from Walshe (free) and Barry McEvoy.
Duggie Dillon was the provider as Mikey Kelly gave O'Mahonys the lead for the first time, 0-4 to 0-3, nine minutes in.
O'Mahonys hit the front on two further occasions in the first-half. Jack Walshe's accuracy from distance was one of the reasons for this. The number six landed two frees from close to his own 45.
The teams were level five times in the opening 20 minutes. Four Walshe points on the spin propelled O'Mahonys to a wind-assisted interval lead.
O'Mahonys - having played towards their own clubhouse in the opening half - led by 0-10 to 0-9 at half-time.
Despite leaking the first score after the change of ends, O'Mahonys maintained the momentum gained in the run-in to the break.
A brace of Sean Heavey points helped Kildalkey keep with the pace-setters. When David Harman pointed in the 40th minute the team in royal blue jerseys were 0-14 to 0-11 clear.
Two Walsh pointed frees revived O'Mahonys before Kelly goaled with help from Barry McEvoy. That lead lasted seven minutes. Kildalkey were back on terms by the 50th minute. This time they didn't fall behind.
In round four, Kildalkey face Kilmessan while O'Mahonys face Longwood.
Kildalkey - Conor Flynn; David Conneely, Enda Fitzgerald, Padraig Geoghegan; Mark Keogh (0-1), Sean Corrigan, Mairtin Doran (0-1); Sean Heavey (0-2), Mark Healy; Patrick Potterton (0-1), Gary Watters (0-1), Paddy Conneally (0-4); Conor Kearney (0-8, 0-6fs, Padraig Keogh (0-1), David Harman (0-1). Subs - Gary Kelly (0-1) for Potterton (49), Andrew Fagan (0-1) for Harman (51).
O'Mahonys - John Gleeson; Paddy Dillon, Cormac Reilly, Mark Usher; Dermot McKenna, Jack Walshe (0-8 fs), Patrick Leahy; Duggie Dillon, David Quirke (0-1); Stephen Quirke, Ciaran McGuinness, Barry McEvoy (0-1);Andrew Gilmore, Shane Crosby (0-1), Mikey Kelly (1-2). Sub - John Foley for McGuinness (46).
Referee - Marcus Quinn (Clann na nGael)
