Kildalkey secure maiden win in Leinster

Just another day at the office for Kildalkey as their impressive, relentless winning streak continued at Pairc Tailteann today with a first provincial victory for the Jubilee Cup champions following a 2-20 to 2-8 hammering of Offaly's Senior B runners-up Clodiagh Gaels.

Kildalkey's previous excursions into the Leinster Club IHC all ended in failure at the first fence, but there was never much chance of that happening this time as the ruthless Meath side led from the off and never looked in trouble.

Paddy Conneely will claim the scoring plaudits with an outstanding return of nine points from play, but it was the overall excellence of Kildalkey's team display that will worry Kilkenny's intermediate champions Thomastown when the teams meet in two weeks time.

Solid and mean at the back, creative and full of running from midfield and lively, inventive and accurate in attack Kildalkey are the complete package at the moment and with the momentum of a winning run they are a serious prospect for glory.

Kildalkey started like a train and looked impressive. Paddy Conneely opened the Meath champion's account in the first minute and Paddy Barnwell quickly doubled that lead with a magnificent fetch, turn and execution.

Dwayne Dunne replied with a free for Clodiagh Gaels, but it was all Kildalkey early on as they moved the ball with pace and accuracy.

Paddy Conneely made it 0-3 to 0-1 and by the eighth minute that lead was extended to 0-6 to 0-1 with Paddy Conneely again, Paddy Potterton and David Harmon on target.

Dwayne Dunne replied for the Offaly men in the hectic opening and before the end of the opening quarter Nicky Potterton added points (one free) either side of a Ruairi Dunne score to extend Kildalkey's lead to 0-8 to 0-3.

Then came a lull in proceedings and a drop in standards. As Kildalkey's passing became loose and their shooting careless, Clodiagh grew in confidence and added impressive scores from Liam Langton and Conor Langton to close the gap to 0-5 to 0-8 at the interval.

That fade out towards the end of the opening period was quickly rectified at the break and despite conceding the opening score of the half Kildalkey proceeded to dominate and shipped just four more scores while adding 14 more to their own tally.

Points from Nickey Potterton (two frees), Brian O'Halloran and Paddy Conneeley extended Kildalkey's lead to 0-12 to 0-6 before Conor Langton stopped the rot with a score for the visitors.

An outstanding score from Paddy Potterton and a beautifully stroked point from Paddy Conneely put seven between the team and even though Conor Langton replied with Clodiagh's last point it was still all Kildalkey.

O'Halloran was denied the opening goal by a brilliant save from Kieran Coonan, but Paddy Conneeley clipped over a point as consolation.

Further points from Paddy Conneely (two) and Martin Healy made it 0-18 to 0-8 before Dwayne Dunne rifled a 20-metre free to the net.

That score wasn't even a consolation one as almost immediately Kildalkey found the net themselves when Nicky Potterton converted a penalty after he had been crudely taken out of it by Coonan.

More points from Paddy Conneely and Paddy Potterton made it 1-20 to 1-8 on the hour mark.

There was still time for both sides to exchange injury-time goals with Dwayne Dunne taking advantage of a poor clearance for Clodiagh, before Brian Conneely raced clear to add Kildalkey's second goal with the last puck of the game.

The Meath champions march on.

SCORERS

Kildalkey - Paddy Conneely 0-9; Nicky Potterton 1-4 1-0 penalty, three frees; Paddy Potterton 0-3; Brian Conneely 1-0; David Harmon 0-1; Paddy Barnwell 0-1; Brian O'Halloran 0-1; Martin Healy 0-1;

Clodiagh Gaels - Dwayne Dunne 2-2 1-1 frees; Conor Langton 0-3; Ruairi Dunne 0-1; Liam Langton 0-1; Cathal Curran 0-1.

TEAMS

Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; David Conneely, Brin Kelly, Brendan McKeon; David Harmon, Martin Healy, Luke Rickard; Evan Fitzgerald, Brian O'Halloran; Paddy Barnwell, Gary Kelly, Nicky Potterton; Paddy Potterton, Mark Healy, Paddy Conneely. Subs - Brian Conneely for Barnwell 42m, Kevin McKeon for Fitzgerald 46m, Brian Coffey for O'Halloran, Conor Fitzgerald for Harmon both 58m, Kelvin Lynch for P Potterton 30m.

Clodiagh Gaels - Kiaran Coonan; Ben O'Brien, Aaron Flanagan, Peter Walsh; Jack Kelly, Clint Horan, Ruairi Dunne; Cathal Curran, Diarmuid Walsh; Conor Langton, Cathal Brady, Emmet Curley; Dwayne Dunne, Liam Langton, Sean Rattigan. Subs - David Buckley for Rattigan 29m, Sean Brady for Kelly half-time, Padraic Horan for O'Brien 45m, Tom Dunne for Curley 53m.

Referee - Matthew Redmond (Kildare).