Kildalkey prevail but championship format badly needs a reset
One-sided encounters no benefit to anyone
Kildalkey...4-25
Clann na nGael...2-10
Those among the small crowd that showed up at Trim yesterday evening for this SHC encounter and who were eager to see close, competitive encounter received a blow to their hopes when Kildalkey's Conor Fitzgerald fired the ball to the net after just two minutes.
Clann na nGael, the rank outsiders, were, no doubt, hoping to keep things tight in the opening 20 minutes or so to give themselves some chance. Instead Kildalkey ruthlessly asserted their superiority early on and pushed on from there.
The young Clannsman, as ever, fought with vigour and pride in their new-look jerseys but they have some way to go yet to match the leading teams in the senior ranks.
At the break Kildalkey, who were short up to six regulars, led 1-14 to 1-5 and you knew it was game over. Kildalkey have now won their opening two games by 16 points (they defeated Longwood 2-24 to 1-11 in the first round) and Clann na nGael by 21 points.
This contest was the third in trilogy of games staged at Trim on Saturday and each one was a one-sided affair: Killyon 2-25, Dunderry 1-14 and Ratoath 4-24, Blackhall Gaels 0-10 the others. On Thursday evening Kiltale defeated Longwood 3-39 to 1-9. That all points to one thing. The current SHC format is not working.
Why not have the six top teams play each other in one group - like they do in Westmeath? It would make for competitive games which is what supporters want.
As it stands teams like KiIdalkey can only play the games they were given and in this encounter certainly showed a sharpness and fluency that was impressive. They are extremely good at creating space for the ball to be dropped into with the old crossfield pass a major part of their strategy.
Paddy Conneely is a expert practitioner of that crossfield pass and he's also a player on form as he showed by racking up 1-12 firing over a potent combination of scores from play and placed balls.
His goal arrived right at the end of the contest when he cleverly stepped away from his marker before receiving a perceptive pass from Brian O'Halloran, who was fresh from his summer exploits with the Meath footballers. O'Halloran had a fine game here also slotting over four points from play.
Both Evan Fitzgerald and Conor Fitzgerald were big factors in helping the Blues pull away from their opponents. Both found the net with Conor twice hitting the target while Evan capped an assertive display with two points.
The busy Jamie Kavanagh also made the net dance with a firm finish. Luke Richard, as ever enterprising and hard-working, along with Brendan McKeon, Brin Kelly and Kelvin Lynch were others to register scores.
Clann na nGael were without some of their star men too including Eamon O Donnchadha. Despite that they did show some flashes of real inspiration demonstrated most clearly in the way they bagged their goals, their first after eight minutes when Diarmuid O Donnchadha passed to Conor McGovern who finished with conviction. Eoin Kelleher also smartly found the net in the second-half.
Joe Ennis, Dylan Doherty, Luke Ennis and McGovern all pointed for the Clannsmens but they needed a lot more to halt the Kildalkey steamroller.
Kildalkey - Cam Smyth; Brendan McKeon (0-1), Brin Kelly (0-1), Conor McNally; Tiernan Bird, Gary Kelly, Paddy Barnwell; David Conneely, Jamie Kavanagh (1-0); Luke Rickard (0-2), Evan Fitzgerald (0-2), Kelvin Lynch (0-2); Brian O'Halloran (0-4), Paddy Conneely (1-12 six frees, one 65), Conor Fitzgerald (2-1).
Clann na nGael - Eoin Griffin; Niall Reilly, Jack Doherty, Jack Murray; Gerry Sullivan, Eugene Reilly, Josh McGrath; Joe Ennis (0-5 frees), Dylan Doherty (0-1); Luke Ennis (0-2), Eoin Kelleher (1-0), Diarmuid O Donnchadha; Conor McGovern (1-2), John Sullivan, Eoin Fitzsimons. Subs - Ciaran Fitzsimons for J Sullivan, Cian Harmon for Murray both 39m, Liam Kelleher for McGrath 51m, Fionn Mullen for J Doherty 59m.
Referee - Kevin Brady (Louth).