SHC Review: Blackhall recover to maintain perfect start

Blackhall Gaels 1-18

Kilmessan 0-16

With results elsewhere going their way Blackhall Gaels soared to the top of group B of the SHC with an impressive come-from-behind victory over Kilmessan at Kiltale on Friday evening.

Clann na nGael's surprise loss to Longwood meant that Blackhall would remain the only unbeaten side in the group, but at the end of the first quarter that certainly didn't look likely.

In the opening 15 minutes Blackhall were outplayed, out-worked and completely out of their depth.

Almost everything Kilmessan touched turned to scores and Blackhall couldn't live with the early pace and tenacity shown by a Kilmessan side eager to build on their second round win over Dunderry.

Kilmessan rattled over the opening five points from Steven Clynch and two each from Luke Horan and Mark Horan inside the opening five minutes.

Shane Whitty and Paul Kelly looked to have stemmed the tide with Blackhall's first scores in the sixth and eighth minutes respectively, but they were only a temporary reprieve as Kilmessan excelled.

Another five percise, pacy and perfect attacking moves yielded four scores from Mark Horan (free), Darragh Horan, Lorcan O'Connor and Joey Keena as Kilmessan opened up a 0-9 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

It was only then Blackhall sensed they were in a battle and they awoke from their early evening slumber.

Maybe Kilmessan felty it was all too easy and they eased off the gas. There was always the sense they could trurn back on the style whenever they wanted, but when their flame went out Blackhall ensured it stayed out.

Mark Lynch's side ouscored Kilmessan 1-16 to 0-7 for the remaining three-quarters - that is a fair reflection odf their dominance. Indeed the margin could have been greater, but they had a goal ruled out for a square ball and several other chances cleared by the excellent Sean Power, Kyle Donnelly or Shane Brennan.

Without those three it could have been humiliating for Kilmessan, but once Blackhall got going they were by far the better team.

Stephen Morris was majestic in midfield, Shane Whitty a perfect foil at centre-back and Mark Mullally and Paul Kelly a constant nuisance in attack.

Dermot Carty's unerring accuracy was another source of relief for Blackhall as they plotted their comeback.

Six points in succession, five frees from Carty and one from Kelly, closed the gap to the minimum and after Donnelly, with a huge score from inside his own 65, and Morris traded points it was Kilmessan who were clinging on to a 0-10 to 0-9 interval lead.

Carty had a goal chance blocked on the line immediately after the resumption and Mullally had one disallowed before Carty restored parity for the first time.

Pointed frees from Darren Reilly and Mark Horan either side of a Conor Burke point kept Kilmessan's noses in front, but Blackhall were threatening.

Morris levelled the scores for the third time and in the 44th minute Blackhall hit the front for the first time from a Carty free and there they stayed.

Tom Murphy and Carty (free) stretched that advantage to 0-15 to 0-12 before Lorcan O'Connor pulled one back for Kilmessan, but when Paul Kelly scrambled the ball to the net in the 56th minute it put five points between the sides and that was game, set and match.

Kelly from play and frees from Shane Whitty and Carty closed Blackhall's account and while Kilmessan did manage points from Mark Horan (two, one free) and Lorcan Byrne the goal they craved never arrived and their chances of a place in the quarter-finals all but disappeared as Blackhall assumed pole position.

SCORERS

Blackhall Gaels - Dermot Carty 0-9 frees; Paul Kelly 1-3;Shane Whitty 0-2 one free; Stephen Morris 0-2; Conor Burke 0-1; Tom Murphy 0-1.

Kilmessan - Mark Horan 0-5 four frees; Luke Horan 0-2; Lorcan O'Connor 0-2; Darren Reilly 0-1 free; Kris Gorman 0-1; Darragh Horan 0-1; Joey Keena 0-1; Kyle Donnelly 0-1; Steven Clynch 0-1; Lorcan Byrne 0-1.

TEAMS

Blackhall Gaels - David Farrell; John Morris, Tommy Delany, Hugh Smyth; Conor Delany, Shane Whitty, Tom Murphy; Stephen Morris, Daniel Carty; John Kelly, Conor Burke, Paul Kelly; Johnny Meyler, Mark Mullally, Dermot Carty. Sub - Colm Whitty for J Kelly 47 mins.

Kilmessan - Sean Power; Kyle Donnelly, Shane Brennan, Cian O'Sullivan; Kris Gorman, Malcolm Doyle, Kyle Smyth; Darren Reilly, Darragh Horan; Lorcan O'Connor, Declan Smyth, Steven Clynch; Joey Keena, Luke Horan, Mark Horan. Subs - Noah Conroy for Reilly, Lorcan Byrne for L Horan both 48 mins.

Referee - Henri Clifford (Ballivor).