Referee Richard Morris withthe Kilmessan and Ratoath captains.

Kilmessan shade first round verdict against Ratoath

What turned out to be the decisive score in a keen contest arrived on 21 minutes when Seanie Doyle finished to the net for Kilmessan.

The goal was created by a touch of class from Steven Clynch who delivered a perfect crossfield pass into the path of Doyle who still had a lot of work to do but his stinging drive ended up in the net.

It was a combination of hard graft and the kind of quality that players such as Clynch and Joey Keena brought to the table that carried Kilmessan across the line.

The side managed by Paul Reilly and Anton O’Neill didn’t make the best of starts conceding the opening three points to Ratoath’s Padraig O’Hanrahan (two) and Gavin McGowan.

At the interval Kilmessan trailed 1-6 to 0-10 yet showed enough spirit, skill and know-how to subue their opponents in the second-half and get their campaign off to a winning start.

The Kilmessan midfield duo of Padraig Burke and Keena helped themselves to two points apiece with Darren Reilly getting five including one booming free from inside his own half.

Reilly also did a lot of good work in open play. Clynch clipped over two himself with Ger O’Neill also bagging one.

The lead changed hands a number of times and Ratoath certainly weren’t out-muscled in their return to the top table.

They had excellent performances from Darragh Kelly, Bobby O’Brien, Gavin McGowan and full-forward Padraig O’Hanrahan who ended up with eight points, including three from play.

Gavin McGowan (three), O’Brien and Ben McGowan also contributed points to the Ratoath cause as they stayed in contention right to the end.

Ratoath arguably deserved something from this game but if they didn’t know it before they know now that victories or draws have to be earned the hard way at this level.

Kilmessan - Sean Power; Mark Munnelly, Shane Brennan, Peter Farrell; Kevin O’Reilly, Alan Kelly, Mal Doyle; Padraig Burke (0-2), Joey Keena (0-2); Darren Reilly (0-5 three frees), Paul Grimes, Steven Clynch (0-2); Sean Doyle (1-0), Ger O’Neill (0-1), Kevin Keena (0-1). Subs – Charlie Keena for Grimes 16 mins, Darren Maguire for O’Neill 57m.

Ratoath – Gearoid Crowley; Paddy Dowd, Brian Murphy, Sean McCann; Colm O’Riordan, Darragh Kelly, Conor Ward; Jack McGowan, Bobby O’Brien (0-1); Gavin McGowan (0-3), Ben McGowan (0-1), Sean O’Hanrahan; Niall Murphy, Padraig O’Hanrahan (0-8 four frees, one ’65’), Kevin Laffey. Subs – Cormac Butler for McCann 46m, Sean Keogh for Murphy 48m.

Referee – Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels)