Na Fianna pull away from Killyon in SHC clash

Na Fianna were, in the end, comfortable winners over Killyon at Trim on Saturday.

Na Fianna 4-18

Killyon 1-15

Rory Fagan hit 1-9 as Na Fianna sealed victory over Killyon on Saturday afternoon in Trim in the SHC. The scoreline suggests that this was a very one-sided encounter but that was not really the reality.

Killyon went toe for toe with Na Fianna in the first-half and for large parts of that opening 30 minutes, actually looked the stronger of the two sides. However, they weren't clinical enough with the opportunities afforded to them and two quick-fire goals just before the interval gave Na Fianna a nice cushion to build upon.

In the second-half, Na Fianna doubled their first-half tally and that was enough to see them cruise to the finish line in the end. Pierce Treacy's men were very strong in the last 10 minutes and they really pulled completely away from Killyon in the closing stages.

A well-struck Keith Keoghan sideline cut found the palm of Justin Coyne and he opened the scoring for Killyon. After Shane Walsh got Na Fianna off the mark, Cathal McKeon edged Killyon back in front.

Na Fianna then had a bright spell and two Rory Fagan scores came either side of a wonderful point from Oisin Bright. Martin had done well to keep the slitar in play before he set up Oisin Bright for Na Fianna's third. After 10 minutes, the men in yellow and black led 0-4 to 0-2.

Killyon regained control with three points on the spin, courtesy of David Raleigh, Keoghan and James Connolly. At the end of the first quarter, Killyon led narrowly by 0-5 to 0-4 and right up to the 25th minute, momentum ebbed and flowed as neither side really were able to take a stronghold.

During that period of tit for tat hurling, Rory Fagan was excellent and he contributed with three points and set up another for Martin as Na Fianna hit the front once more. However, two Killyon points in a row from David Raleigh and Adam Farrell saw them regain the advantage and they led 0-9 to 0-8 after 25 minutes.

A powerful Sean Coffey shot was almost blocked by Ray Massey in the Killyon net but the sliotar found its way past the keeper and dribbled over the line for the first Na Fianna goal. A minute later, Walsh set up Peter Slevin for Na Fianna's second green flag before Ethan Devine tagged on a point to give Pierce Treacy's side a 2-9 to 0-9 lead at the break.

A long ball in from Keoghan was brilliantly collected by Adam Farrell, and under pressure, the full forward managed to find the back of the net to give Killyon a boost of confidence early in the second-half.

Na Fianna kept chipping away at the scoreboard and points from Walsh, Patrick Jordan and Fagan restored their half-time lead. After 45 minutes, Na Fianna led 2-13 to 1-10. Fagan and Keoghan traded two scores each before Dylan Farrell reduced the gap back to five with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

That was as close as Killyon got for the remainder, as Na Fianna went heavy on the offence. Fagan followed up a free with an absolutely cracking goal that was well built after a long ball from Anthony Healy found Walsh and he set up Fagan for the finish to the top left corner.

Ronan Byrne then hit an absolute peach of a free from inside his own '45' before he set up Walsh with a long-ball and Walsh delivered Na Fianna's fourth goal. Killyon had the final say through a Raleigh point but at that stage, Na Fianna had well and truly secured a comfortable margin victory.

Na Fianna - Adam Farrell; Anthony Healy, Stephen Slevin, Cian Doherty; Oisin Bright (0-1), Ronan Byrne (0-1 one free), Eoin Bright; Ethan Devine (0-1), Sean Coffey (1-0); Patrick Jordan (0-2), Rory Fagan (1-9 seven frees), Sean Martin (0-1); Michael Heffernan, Shane Walsh (1-3), Peter Slevin (1-0). Subs - Luke Kelly for Doherty 25m, Will Flynn for Devine 38m, Luke Boggan for Martin 60m.

Killyon - Ray Massey; Harry Smyth, Jake Ryan, Jamie Smyth; Kian Douglas, Paddy Coyne, Evan Burke; Brendan Quinn, Keith Keoghan (0-3 one free); Dylan Farrell (0-3 three frees), James Connolly (0-1), Cathal McKeon (0-2); David Raleigh (0-3), Adam Farrell (1-1), Justin Coyne (0-1). Rourk Shaw for Connolly 26m, James Connolly for Brendan Quinn 42m.

Referee- Martin Dawson (St Michael's)