Kiltale pull clear to score impressive win
Ultimately Kiltale ran out easy 1-19 to 0-14 winners in this rematch of the 2016 SHC final with Killyon to make it two wins from two in the 2017 edition of the race for the Jubilee Cup at Trim on Thursday evening.
However, the eight-point margin of victory is slightly flattering as Kiltale scored seven of the last eight points of this absorbing contest that effectively turned on Peter Durnin's stunning 36th minute goal.
Trailing 0-8 to 0-11 Kiltale looked vulnerable in the early stages of the second-half, but in a moment of awareness, clarity and genius Jack Regan picked out Durnin with a clever short free and the corner-forward applied a stunning finish to draw Kiltale level.
That goal deflated Killyon and while they were still in contention with two minutes remaining when Kiltale's Fearghal McCabe picked up a second yellow card and subsequent red following an off-the-ball incident with Ray McKeown it was the champions who kicked on.
Despite finishing with 14 men Kiltale still managed to hit the last four points of the game as they won pulling away against a Killyon side that visibly faded in the final quarter and who ran out of ideas.
Kiltale started in blistering fashion, like a side determined to prove that Killyon's proximity to them at the finish of last year's SHC final was a fluke and in the early stages they looked electric.
James Kelly got the champions off the mark in the first minute and three minutes later Steven Quinn produced a mesmerising save from point-blank to deny Anthony Forde what seemed to be a certain goal. Jack Regan missed the '65' and that allowed Killyon sniff hope.
Ray Massey marked his introduction for the injured Christopher Dunne with a point seconds after his arrival, but it was Kiltale who continued to dominate with a brace of Regan frees extending their lead to 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes.
Ross Ryan shovelled over a close-range chance and three of the next five points also went Kiltale's way with Regan (free), Ross Ryan and Forde pointing in response to efforts from Gannon and a Keoghan '65'.
Trailing 0-3 to 0-7 Killyon burst into life eight minutes before the break with a second converted '65' from Keoghan followed by a brace of points from promising youngster Mikey Mullen (one free) redicing the deficit to the minimum inside 90 seconds.
Another Mullen free levelled it up for the second time, but in the run-in to the break it was Killyon who used the slight wind to their advantage with Calvin Ryan moving forward from his defensive role to pop over two long-range points and open up a 0-9 to0-7 interval lead.
Mullen and Gannon stretched that advantage to four points within 90 seconds of the restart, but that was as good as it got for Killyon.
A superb point from Durnin was followed by his stunning goal and when Regan added a free Kiltale found themselves in front and they didn't trail again.
David Raleigh did level it up for the fourth time in the 41st minute, but James Kelly and Regan with a stunning score made it 1-11 to 0-12.
Another Mullen free gave Killyon hope at the end of the third quarter, but the remainder belonged to the champions with Ross Ryan, Cathal McCabe, Regan (free) and James Kelly all on target to make it 1-15 to 0-13.
A Keoghan free kept Killyon ticking over, but they didn't look threatening again as Kiltale upped the tempo and despite losing Fearghal McCabe to the red card they finished with scores from Durnin, Regan (free), Ross Ryan and Cathal McCabe to put themselves in pole position for a semi-final spot with games against Kildalkey and Killyon behind them.
Kiltale – Shane McGann; Anthony Donnelly, Philip Garvey, Ciaran Ennis; Ronan Ryan, Stephen Donoghue, Conor Shirren; Padraig Kelly, Anthony Forde (0-1); James Kelly (0-3), Cathal McCabe (0-2), Fearghal McCabe; Peter Durnin (1-2), Ross Ryan (0-4), Jack Regan (0-7 six frees).
Killyon – Steven Quinn; Thomas Raleigh, Ray McKeown, Brendan Quinn; Christopher Dunne, Clayton Keegan, Jacon Ryan; Ger Foley, Keith Keoghan (0-3 two '65's, one free); Cillian Canavan, Calvin Ryan (0-2), Adam Gannon (0-2); Mikey Mullen (0-5 three frees), Adam Farrell, David Raleigh (0-1). Subs – Ray Massey (0-1) for Dunne 6 mins, Stefan Kelly for Farrell 42m.
Referee – Kevin Brady (Louth).