Moylagh/Kilskyre best in dramatic minor decider
by Conall Collier Updated: Wednesday, 27th October, 2010 4:47pm
Moylagh/Kilskyre 2-14, Kildalkey 2-12
Fé 18 assistant-secretary Ken McKenna presented the MHL B trophy to Moylagh/Kilskyre captain Euan Feeney on Saturday.
Moylagh/Kilskyre won the MHL B title in dramatic circumstances at Trim on Saturday afternoon when Kildalkey’s injury-time penalty was sensationally saved.
Willie McGrath made the vital block and then cleared the danger seconds ahead of the final whistle.
McGrath was a key player for the combined side and finished with seven points to his credit, but that only represented a small fraction of his overall contribution to this victory.
This was the type of game which either side could have, and would probably have deserved, won and the combined forces from the hurling outposts of north Meath prevailed on this occasion.
There were players from Kilskyre, Moylagh, Ballinlough, Oldcastle, Carnaross and Ballinacree on the team according to manager Michael Geraghty who was thrilled for the players.
“This victory will be a major boost for hurling in our area, a lot of these lads probably wouldn’t get to play at all only for the tremendous co-operation that goes into getting this team on the pitch,” the manager told the Meath Chronicle.
Moylagh / Kilskyre had heroes all over the pitch as they traded point-for-point with Kildalkey who briefly threatened to pull clear in the third-quarter.
Moylagh / Kilskyre opened the scoring from McGrath’s first minute free, but Kildalkey forged ahead through David Harmon (free) and a well-taken Francis Doran point from play after Gavin Mullen made the opening.
The north Meath boys were back on terms from Sean Geraghty and then Niall Farrelly gave them the advantage before Harmon drew the sides level for the third time in the 12th minute.
That pattern remained as Charles Brogan and Patrick Conneely ('65’) split the posts before the end of the opening quarter.
Soon after McGrath sent over an excellent free for Moylagh /Kilskyre from his own 65-metre line against the wind and then made the opening for Kieran Hannon’s goal following a fine run.
That sparked a Kildalkey response and within a minute they had the ball in the net at the other end when David Conneely finished for what looked like a rather soft goal.
Mullen drew Kildalkey level again before McGrath and Harmon traded frees.
Close to the interval McGrath unleashed a fierce drive which brought an excellent save out of Kildalkey ’keeper Conor Flynn, but Ryan Tighe pounced on the loose ball and pointed.
That gave Moylagh / Kilskyre a 1-7 to 1-6 interval advantage.
Kikldalkey dictated the early second-half exchanges and reeled off four unanswered points from Harmon (two frees), John Murray and Andrew Fagan inside eight minutes.
Moylagh/Kilskyre bounced back again when Brogan, the Carnaross influence on the team, pointed and Hannon followed suit.
Hannon then embarked on a mazy run and unleashed a fine shot which deflected off Kildalkey’s Doran for a fortunate goal and a 2-9 to 1-10 lead.
Kildalkey rallied with another David Conneely goal and when Harmon added a point, it looked good for the club that won the senior Jubilee Cup a couple of weeks ago.
North Meath spirit was required and it duly surfaced as Sean Geraghty and McGrath points drew the sides level for the for the eighth time with eight minutes remaining.
Brogan made an opening for Tighe and a goal chance loomed, but the danger was averted and Kildalkey survived until McGrath popped up again with the lead point.
Under-pressure from a series of Kildalkey raids, Moylagh/Kilskyre engineered another point from a Colm Melia clearance which found Brogan who set up McGrath.
Kildalkey’s centre-back Patrick Conneely left the minimum in it again when he converted a '65’ which inspired Brogan to make another surge forward. The Carnaross player found McGrath who unleashed a fierce drive, Flynn made a fine save, but the sliotar deflected over the bar.
Injury-time was ticking at this stage and when Ratoath referee Sean Coulter signalled for a Kildalkey penalty, the north Meath supporters released a collective groan of disappointment.
Patrick Conneely took responsibility, but his shot was blocked and cleared by McGrath.
While Kildalkey lost the game, hurling was the real winner on this occasion. There was sufficient talent on display to suggest that the future of the game is looking good in the short to medium term at least.
SCORERS
Moylagh/Kilskyre - W McGrath 0-7 four frees; K Hannon 2-1; S Geraghty 0-2; C Brogan 0-2; N Farrelly 0-1; R Tighe 0-1.
Kildalkey - D Harmon 0-6 five frees; D Conneely 2-0; P Conneely 0-2 one '65’, one free; G Mullen 0-1; F Doran 0-1; J Murray 0-1; A Fagan 0-1.
THE TEAMS
Moylagh / Kilskyre - Gary Reilly; Michael Brogan, Colm Melia; Michael Geraghty, Jonathan Reilly, Euan Feeney; Mark McCullagh, Sean Geraghty; Niall Farrelly, Charles Brogan, Kieran Hannon; Willie McGrath, Ryan Tighe. Subs - Emmet Smith for Reilly 32 mins; Ciaran Cullen for McCullagh 55m.
Kildalkey - Conor Flynn; Brian Reilly, Matt Rickard; Luke Rickard, Patrick Conneely, Mark Chesser; Francis Doran, Gavin Mullen; Mark Healy, Davib Harmon, John Murray; Andrew Fagan, David Conneely. Sub - Sean Kirk for Reilly half-time.
REFEREE
Sean Coulter (Ratoath)
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