Kiltale shock for Kilmessan

Kiltale shocked Kilmessan last night in the second round of the SHC when they staged a late rally and recorded a 3-15 to 4-10 victory against the defending champions.

“Our performance in the first-half wasn’t good enough to win any game, the players were aware of that at half-time, it wasn’t necessary to tell them,” Kiltale manager Brian Gilsenan told the Meath Chronicle on Monday night.

This was an amazing game played a relatively low-key pace for about 45 minutes as Kilmessan went through the motions and looked comfortable in front.

Then, they lost their focus and paid the price, but it might be a good lesson for the defending champions by the time the quarter-finals come around.

Kilmessan enjoyed a 4-5 to 1-7 interval advantage and that was 4-9 to 1-9 by the three-quarter stage, but late goals from Ronan Ryan and Jack Regan stunned Kilmessan.

Kiltale scorers - Stephen Donoghue (0-1), Peter Durnin (0-2); Mark O’Sullivan (0-5),  Ronan Ryan (2-2), Jack Regan (1-5).

Kilmessan scorers – Malcolm Doyle (1-0),  Kevin Keena (1-1), Steven Clynch (0-1), Darren Reilly (0-7); Sean Doyle (2-0), Nicky Horan (0-1).

SHC
GROUP B    P W D L Pts
Kiltale          2  2  0 0   4
Killyon         2  1  0 1   2
Kilmessan    2  1  0 1   2
Dunboyne    2  1  0 1  2
Blackhall      2  1  0 1   2
Na Fianna    2  0  0 2   0

See tonight's Meath Chronicle for report, reaction and photographs from the big game.