Early goal poked the ruthless Kilmessan bear

When Navan O'Mahonys scored a goal inside 10 seconds of throw-in all it succeeded in doing was poking the bear as Kilmessan came roaring back to score an emphatic SHC victory at Trim on Thursday evening.

The early indications are that Kilmessan are serious contenders for Jubilee Cup honours, but they will face much stiffer tests than the ones they received in the opening round against Killyon and again on Thursday against last year's IHC champions.

The early goal from Cormac Keyes suggested O'Mahonys might put it up to Nicky Horan's side, but by the end of the first quarter Kilmessan had wrestled back control and the outcome was never in doubt as they opened up a 1-7 to 0-1 lead with Finn Conroy netting in the ninth minute to add to points from Sean Doyle (three), Kris Gorman, Daragh Horan, Mark Horan and Lorcan O'Connor.

Keyes' opening goal did offer O'Mahonys something to fight for and they never gave up the ghost, but the gulf in class was obvious as despite further points from Jack Walsh (three), Keyes and Tom Condon the team in the old De La Salle colours trailed by 1-5 to 1-14 at the break as Harry Cahill, Mark Horan, Kyle Donnelly, O'Connor, Lorcan Byrne (two) and Doyle added to Kilmessan's tally.

O'Mahonys hinted at a possible rally with a strong start to the second period, but they only managed one Walsh free in that spell and once Kilmessan settled they quickly added another goal from Mark Horan in between two points from Daragh Horan to make it 2-16 to 1-6.

The remainder was academic. Almost every time O'Mahonys would hit a score from either Condon, Jack Flynn or Walsh Kilmessan with hit back in bursts of three or four scores with Daragh Horan particularly impressive in the third quarter, while Doyle, Mark Horan (two), Conroy, Byrne and Cahill extended the lead to 2-24 to 1-20 at the end of the third quarter.

With the win in the bag Kilmessan eased up slightly in the closing stages with O'Mahonys responding to points from Doyle and Byrne with a fine goal from a narrow angle from Sean McDermott either side of points from Condon and Walsh. The concession of that second goal angered Kilmessan and they replied with a third goal of their own from Byrne to ensure the scoreline adequately reflected their supremacy.

Kilmessan - Sean Power; Noah Conroy, Cathal Burke, Peter Farrell; Paddy Lally, Harry Cahill (0-2), Kyle Donnelly (0-1); Cian O'Sullivan, Lorcan O'Connor (0-2); Lorcan Byrne (1-4 three frees), Daragh Horan (0-5), Finn Conroy (1-1); Mark Horan (1-4 three frees), Kris Gorman (0-1), Sean Doyle (0-6 two frees). Subs - Chris Greene for Burke 41m, Shane Brennan for F Conroy 47m.

Navan O'Mahonys - John Foley; Mark Usher, Ben McEntagart, Michael Reavey; Eoghan Nugent, Jack Flynn (0-1), Cormac O'Shea; Jack McConnell, Evan Cully; Cormac Keyes (1-1), Dermot McKenna, Jack Walsh (0-8 seven frees); Lorcan McDermott, Tom Condon (0-3), Sean McDermott (1-0). Subs - Shane McCarthy for L McDermott 40m, Finn McNally for Reavey 45m, Thomas Cully for McConnell 55m.

Referee - Henri Clifford (Ballivor).