Kilmessan shade verdict in a thrilling decider

Kilmessan laid the foundations for this u-21 HC final victory in the opening period, but they had to hold on before fending off Killyon's challenge at Trim on Saturday afternoon. It was a solid team display from the winners, but they had to rely heavily on the exceptional goalkeeping skills of Matthew Bissett to ensure they fell over the line with a narrow margin to spare. Bissett was in inspirational form between the posts for Kilmessan. He produced at least five top class saves and almost singlehandedly kept the Hill Of Down side at bay. Killyon were also left to rue a poor showing from placed balls, especially in the first-half when both Keith Keoghan and Ray Massey were off target with relatively straightforward chances. Killyon were also too slack in their marking in the first-quarter as both Shane Farrell and Thomas Raleigh struggled to contain Kevin Keena. Keena accounted for Kilmessan's opening five scores and he was also involved in creating Danny Maguire's goal as Killyon failed to close down the space and were slow to react to breaking ball. After the break it was Kilmessan who started to become sloppy as Killyon poked several holes in the previously well marshalled rearguard and created several decent chances. Both sides managed just two points when shooting into the country goals at the superb Trim venue, but with no breeze of any significance to blame it was down to poor execution. Kilmessan were slowly pulling away in the first-half as Martin Massey's side squandered four frees inside scoring distance and also failed to find a way past Bissett. Killyon did eventually find a way past the Kilmessan net minder when Keoghan rifled to the roof of the net with a minute remaining, but they couldn't build on that as Kilmessan held on. It didn't look as if Kilmessan would have to cling on to achieve the win as they dominated the early exchanges. A brace from Keena gave them an early cushion and the Kilmessan wing-forward tagged on two frees either side of his third point from play to give his side a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after 18 minutes. Eight minutes before the break Kilmessan created their first goal chance when Keena delivered a long ball into the goalmouth. After a brief scramble for possession it was Danny Maguire who finished the loose ball to the net to stretch Kilmessan's lead to eight points. Killyon were all at sea. They hit wide after wide and found Bissett in fine form to deny Adam Gannon and Jason Maguire. Michael Gorman made it 1-6 to 0-0 before Killyon eventually found their range after 23 minutes when Keoghan converted a free. Ger Foley doubled their tally a minute later, but their aiming problems continued as Keoghan struck the upright with a decent free chance. A fine pass from Mal Doyle set up Danny Maguire to close Kilmessan's opening half account as they looked comfortable with a 1-7 to 0-2 interval lead. Keoghan corrected his aim inside three minutes of the resumption when he converted a free and a minute later Bissett was forced to divert Gannon's low drive out for a '65' which Keoghan converted to make it 0-4 to 1-7. Kilmessan were struggling to get out of their own half as Gannon pulled a goal chance wide before he was denied again by more Bissett brilliance. Jason Maguire closed the gap to five points, but Keena settled Kilmessan again to make it 1-8 to 0-5 at the end of the third-quarter. Another Keoghan free was followed by a fine score for Gannon, but Killyon continued to waste chances as Jason Maguire kicked narrowly wide with two minutes remaining. They did find the net a minute later when Keoghan buried the ball beyond Bissett and the despairing dive of Padraig Maguire, but Kilmessan responded with Keena converting a 66-metre free. Raleigh gave Killyon hope with a superb score from midfield, but despite piling on the pressure in the three minutes of injury-time Killyon couldn't find an equaliser and it was Kilmessan who celebrated at the final whistle. Kilmessan - Matthew Bissett; Padraig Maguire, Niall Cleary, Scott Bagnall; Padraig Burke, Shane Brennan, Mal Doyle; Declan Smyth, Eoin Marsh; Darren Brennan, Michael Gorman (0-1), Kevin Kenna (0-7 four frees); Niall O'Donoghue, Niall Flynn, Danny Maguire (1-1). Subs - Danny Thynne for Doyle half-time, Sean Power for D Brennan 53 mins, Christopher Smyth for O'Donoghue 60m. Killyon - Patrick Molloy; Marcus Coogan, Conor Foley, Jason Dowdall; Shane Farrell, Ray Massey, Thomas Raleigh (0-1); Ger Foley (0-1), Adam Flanagan; Leon Kelly, Keith Keoghan (1-4 three frees, one '65'), Adam Farrell; Josh Ryan, Adam Gannon (0-1), Jason Maguire (0-1). Sub - Chris Dunne for Ryan 37 mins. Referee - Fergus Smyth (Blackhall Gaels).