Leinster Club IHC quarter final: Castletown hold on against Kilmessan in Trim thriller

Castletown's Jack Breen with Noah Conroy Kilmessan during the Leinster Club IHC quarter final at Lomans Park Trim

Kilmessan (Meath) 1-20 Castletown (Laois) 2-19

Castletown left it late to see off the challenge of Kilmessan in this very entertaining Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter final played in front of a big crowd at Lomans Park Trim.

The Laois Intermediate champions got a great start with a Jack Breen point and the games first goal from Tom Og Phelan. The Meath senior champions struggled in the opening quarter as the visitors opened up a 1-4 to 0-2 lead. Will Byrne and a brace from Seanie Doyle got the home support going and the lead was down to two. A goal from full forward Doyle had the game all square, 1-5 each, with ten minutes remaining in the half. Castletown were back in front by four minutes later thanks to 1-1 from Phelan. Jack Cottrell, Lorcan Byrne and Kris Gorman kept the scoreboard ticking for Kilmessan but Castletown went to the break 2-10 to 1-9 in front. 

The Laois side were five to the good by the end of the third quarter and looked set for victory. Kilmessan had other ideas. Four unanswered points from Gorman, Lorcan Byrne, Lorcan O’Connor and Will Byrne had the lead down to one. With eight minutes remaining the sides were level 1-19 to 2-16, thanks to the accuracy of Doyle and the visitors looked in trouble. But they found an extra gear. Jack Breen and the impressive Kyron Cuddy put them two up. Mark Horan replied for the Meath men to leave one in it but any hopes of extra time were extinguished when substitute Conor Doran sent over a brilliant point and seal victory for Castletown.

Castletown scorers: Kyron Cuddy 1-5, Jack Breen 0-6, Tom Og Phelan 1-2, Conor Phelan 0-2, Ryan Mullaney 0-1, Conor Walsh 0-1, Martin Phelan 0-1, Conor Doran 0-1

Kilmessan scorers: Sean Doyle 1-6, Kris Gorman 0-3, Will Byrne 0-3, Lorcan Byrne 0-3, Jack Cottrell 0-2, Lorcan O’Connor 0-1, Finn Conroy 0-1, Mark Horan 0-1

Referee: Brian Kearney Kerry