Kildalkey survive serious second-half test
Kildalkey survived a serious second-half test of their SHC Jubilee Cup credentials at Pairc Tailteann this evening when they got the better of Ratoath by a point.
A high-scoring and fast-flowing encounter produced 43 scores with Kildalkey claiming 1-21 to 1-20 for Ratoath.
It all came down to a '65' for Ratoath in the sixth minute of second-half added time with Padraig O'Hanrahan handed the task of rescuing a draw.
At that stage O'Hanrahan had 10 points to his credit, five in each half, and it was mainly through his efforts that Ratoath got back into contention after a woeful opening 30 minutes.
O'Hanrahan's task was made more difficult by the fact that he had to hit the sliotar from a metre in from the terrace sideline and he was aware that it was the last puck of the game.
The effort was narrowly wide of the target, but it would be totally unfair to apportion any blame for the reversal on the Ratoath man.
He has to shoulder some of the responsibility, but the other 14 players were even more culpable due to that off-the-pace first-half performance.
Contrast that to what Kildalkey produced as dictated the opening half and eased into a comfortable nine-point (1-14 to 0-8) interval lead.
They were also economical with possession although they tallied a number of wides that should have produced scores.
However, the points flowed consistently in that opening half with Paddy Conneely (four, one free), Patrick Potterton (three), Nicky Potterton (two), Mark Healy, Brian Conneely, Martin Healy, Kevin McKeon and David Harmon sending over.
The all-important goal arrived in the 12th minute from Enda Fitzgerald after Ratoath failed to deal with a high centre.
Ratoath trailed by nine points at one stage in the first-half, but they had points from O'Hanrahan (five), Cian Kelly, Padraic Byrne and Jack Lanigan.
The third-quarter saw the best from Ratoath, but they still trailed by seven at the second water break (0-14 to 1-18) before getting the deficit down to the minimum twice in the clsoing minutes.
Crucial scores for Kildalkey were a superb point from Evan Fitzgerald's sideline cut in the 56th minute and Paddy Conneely's pointed free soon after that was his side's last score.
Cian Kelly's goal when play resumed after that second water break revived Ratoath and they played some fine hurling for the remainder, but they couldn't get back on terms.
On the evidence of Ratoath's overall performance they didn't deserve anything from the game.
They will have learned some valuable lessons, the main being that it's a 60-minute game and not a 30-minute contest that can be rescued with a barnstorming second-half.
SCORERS
Kildalkey - Patrick Conneely 0-6 three frees; Evan Fitzgerald 1-1 point sideline; Patrick Potterton 0-3; Nicholas Potetrton 0-3; Conor Fitzgerald 0-2; Kevin McKeon 0-2; David Harmon 0-1; Martin Healy 0-1; Brian Conneely 0-1; Mark Healy 0-1.
Ratoath - Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-10 six frees, one '65'; Cian Kelly 1-1; Cian Rogers 0-3; Tom Fadden 0-2; Jack Lanigan 0-2, Padraic Byrne 0-1; Jack McGowan 0-1.
TEAMS
Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; Brendan McKeon, Gary Kelly, David Conneely; Mairtin Doran, David Harmon, Conor Fitzgerald; Patrick Potterton, Martin Healy; Brian Conneely, Patrick Conneely, Kevin McKeon; Nicholas Potterton, Mark Healy, Evan Fitzgerald.
Ratoath - Gearoid Crowley; Cormac Butler, Ben McGowan, Conor McGill; Niall McLarnon, Darragh Kelly, Cian Kelly; Jack McGowan, Padraic Byrne; Bryan McMahon, Padraig O'Hanrahan, Tom Fadden; Cian Rogers, Conor Ward, Jack Lanigan.
Referee - Henri Clifford; linesmen - Martin Ennis, Eamonn Barry.