Killyon show killer touch to blow away lethargic Dunderry

Two minutes before half-time Killyon trailed Dunderry by four points in this SHC encounter at Trim on Saturday, then something clicked.

It was as if a light went on for the Hill of Down men, while the energy completely drained from a Dunderry side that had been the better side for the opening 29 minutes.

In those closing moments of the opening half the outstanding Justin Coyne bagged a fine goal and also added two points to a fine score from James Connolly to turn the four-point deficit into a two-point lead.

Dunderry opened the scoring after the break, but then Killyon struck nine points in succession to open up an unassailable 2-18 to 1-11 lead with 19 minutes remaining.

Everything that could go wrong for Dunderry did. They lost Darragh Fay to a second yellow card, while everything Killyon touched turned to gold with Keith Keoghan and corner-forwards David Raleigh and Justin Coyne on fire.

After pushing Trim to their limits in the opening round, Dunderry were expected to provide a stern test for a Killyon side that lost by 19 points to Kilmessan and when Mark Leavy plundered a fine goal in the ninth minute they looked on course, leading 1-4 to 0-3.

The early points had come from Evan Nolan (two), Leavy and Cathal Barron, while Raleigh, Adam Farrell and Dylan Farrell (free) kept Killyon in touch.

The writing was on the wall for Dunderry's beleaguered full-back line when they conceded a goal 30 seconds after Nolan's strike, with Brendan Quinn pulling a stray ball to the net after Jack Fagan failed to deal with Justin Coyne's centre.

Six of the next nine points went Dunderry's way as Nolan (three, two frees), Barron (two) and Fay cancelled scores from Connolly, Cathal McKeon and Raleigh to lead by 1-10 to 1-6.

It all looked to be going Dunderry's way, but then their lights went out and Killyon took control with that late burst to lead 2-9 to 1-10 at the break.

Leavy settled Dunderry 90 seconds after the restart, but then Killyon hit a purple patch with Connolly (three), Raleigh (three), Farrell, Keoghan and Coyne extending Killyon's lead to 2-18 to 1-11.

Two Nolan frees were exchanged with two points from Farrell (one free) as Killyon maintained their 10-point lead at the three-quarters stage.

Further points from Farrell and Coyne extended Killyon's lead before Dunderry's misery was compounded by Fay's sending off in the 50th minute.

Killyon's waterboy was issued with a red card for his role in the incident that saw Fay pick up the second yellow, but it didn't disrupt the flow of the contest as after Raleigh and Nolan (free) traded points Killyon went on a burst again with Keoghan converting a free and a '65' to add to points from the stars of the show Raleigh and Coyne to wrap up the win and ensure they didn't regret their 15 wides.

Killyon - Ray Massey; Harry Smyth, Jacob Ryan, Jamie Smyth; Kian Douglas, Paddy Coyne, Evan Burke; Brendan Quinn (1-0), Keith Keoghan (0-3 one free, one '65'); Dylan Farrell (0-4 three frees), James Connolly (0-5), Cathal McKeon (0-1); David Raleigh (0-7), Adam Farrell (0-1), Justin Coyne (1-5). Subs - Rorke Shaw for Burke 54m, Brian O'Reilly for Farrell 58m.

Dunderry - Jack Fagan; Darragh Fay (0-1), Liam Coogan, Padraig Stephens; Niall O Laoire, Conor Leavy, Ronan Brady; Donagh O Laoire, William Treacy; Adam Kelly, Liam Dempsey, Rian Fay; Evan Noln (0-7 five frees), Cathal Barron (0-2), Mark Leavy (1-2). Subs - Fionn McHale for Brady 36m, Conor Sheridan for Kelly 41m, Harry Crinion for Coogan 47m.

Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael).