Eleven points for veteran Tony Fox proved crucial as Kildalkey claimed the Meath Junior 2 Hurling Championship title in perfect conditions under lights at Ashbourne.

Kildalkey 2-15 Kiltale 1-10

Kiltale made all the early running and were five points to one ahead inside the opening ten minutes. County minor Adam Murphy and Moynalvey senior footballer David McLoughlin dominated around the middle sector and the scores followed. Murphy hit three of those opening scores, McLoughlin one and another from TJ Lynch to put Paddy Kelly's charges in control.

Slowly but surely Kildalkey worked their way in to the game. Indiscipline in the Kiltale defence proved costly and Kildalkey captain Tony Fox punished them. The veteran hit seven points in the opening half, six coming from placed balls. The impressive Tiarnan Bird, who replaced new county senior hurling manager Nick Fitzgerald before the throw in, also got in on the scoring act with two great points as Kildalkey went in at the break 0-9 to 0-6 in front.

Murphy narrowed the gap with the opening score of the second half but the next ten minutes would see Kildalkey put the game to bed. A speculative shot from Bird found its way to the Kiltale net for the games opening goal and minutes later the impressive Brendan McKeon weaved his way through the Kiltale defence to kick the ball to the net and put 'The Village' eight points in front.

Fox added another four points to his impressive tally, all from placed balls while Murphy was Kiltale's only scorer in the second half. The young midfielder gave Kiltale some hope with five minutes remaining when firing a free to the Kildalkey net but the winners responded in style with points from Steven Murray and Fox with the last score of the game to seal a memorable win for the men in 'Blue and White'.

With ten minutes remaining Kildakey introduced Nick Fitzgerald and the new Meath senior hurling hurling manager had the ball in the Kiltale net minutes later but it was disallowed by referee Gerard Smith for a square infringment.

It was an all Kildalkey affair after the game as Anthony Monaghan presented the Foran Cup to captain Tony Fox.

Kildalkey: Thomas Masterson, Conor McGouty, Cathal Egan, Eoin Redmond, Cathal Reynolds, Michael Potterton, Fintan McLoughlin, Shane Curran, John Murray, Jordan Walsh, Tony Fox 0-11, Brendan McKeon 1-0, Colm Kane, Tiarnan Bird 1-3, David Brady. Subs: Gerard Geoghegan, Steven Murray 0-1, Nick Fitzgerald, Conor Smith.

Kiltale: Robert Donovan, Sean Ryan, Sean Carroll, John Carey, Anthony Brien, Shane Browne, Alan Donnelly, Adam Murphy 1-7, David McLoughlin 0-1, Darren Brennan, Donal Smith, Damien Dixon, Jamie Farrelly, Andrew Jackson 0-1, TJ Lynch 0-1. Subs: Quinten Ashe, Tommy Regan.

Referee Gerard Smith

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