No surrender say holders Longwood as late surge denies Killyon

Kiltale ...0-13

Longwood ...0-13

Those who are sceptical about the importance of the SHC B competition to the teams - and their supporters - would surely have any such doubts swept away by what they witnessed and heard in this final encounter today.

There was the noise for example that was generated by the big crowd that showed up at Pairc Tailteann. The cheers and roars that emanated from the stand every time one of the teams scored - or even did something a little special. How much it all meant to those same supporters.

That noise reached eardrum-splitting levels in the closing furlong of this compelling encounter. With eight minutes to go Dylan Farrell neatly lofted the ball over the bar to gave Killyon a 0-13 to 0-10 advantage.

It looked like they were going to wrestle the trophy - the Kit Mitchell Cup named after their great clubman - from the grip of Longwood who won it last year. They 'only' had to stay composed and hold on; to see the game out.

Instead we got served up a thrilling finish as Longwood willed themselves into making one more push for redemption. With 55 minutes played Damien Healy pointed from a free. Two minutes later Anthony Healy clipped the ball nonchalantly over the bar from a '64'.

Shortly afterwards Anthony Healy, who had lost one of his boots in a scramble for the ball, converted a close-in free. Suddenly the sides were level - but wait it wasn't over yet. In injury time Longwood kept pressing. They won a 65.

Up stepped Anthony Healy. The pressure was immense. If he fired over Longwood would win and retain the title. He didn't. Instead he sent the ball narrowly wide even though he had scored from a 65 just minutes earlier. Soon after the final whistle sounded. Killyon had escaped.

There was a certain justice in the fact both teams ended level and will now have to do it all again, although Killyon will be thinking with justification that they threw this one away.

Leading 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval Jimmy O'Grady's side lead for most of the second-half. They did have to grapple with a mini-Longwood revival that left the sides level, 0-10 apiece after 48 minutes but three unanswered scores from the brilliant Farrell, including a wonder point out near the sidelines, put Killyon back in front going into the closing stages.

Why didn't we close out the game is one question Killyon will be asking themselves? They will also be fuming at the chances they missed especially in the opening half when they hit nine wides, some of them good scoring opportunities.

Farrell ended the game with seven points including two from frees and one from a 65 while Keith Keoghan converted three frees including one from well inside his own half with Adam Gannon and Cathal McKeon firing over three points between them.

The fact that this was a local derby no doubt contributed to the unremitting intensity. The soft underfoot conditions, after the heavy rain that fell all morning, meant there was a great deal of slipping and sliding. All that only added to the drama that unfolded, especially in those final few minutes.

Not surprisingly chief marksman Anthony Healy led the way on the scoring front for Longwood with eight points. They did, however, muster only four points from play with Ryan Moore getting two of those with superb efforts while Kevin Heagney and Damien Healy also fired over.

Those final minutes really highlighted the fire and spirit in this Longwood side, their battling qualities and ability to muster up flashes of real quality hurling helping them to claw back from a three-point deficit with eight minutes to go to save themselves.

They could have won if Aaron Ennis had converted a late chance from play or Anthony Healy had converted that last-gasp 65. They didn't do so and now we must do it all again. Supporters from both camps will be eagerly awaiting the replay.

Killyon - Ray Massey; Harry Smyth, Jake Ryan, Rourk Shaw; Evan Burke, Paddy Coyne, Brendan Quinn; Justin Coyne, Cathal McKeon (0-1); Niall Smullen, Keith Keoghan (0-3 frees), Dylan Farrell (0-7 two frees, one 65); David Raleigh, Adam Farrell, Adam Gannon (0-2). Subs - Shane Clarke for A Farrell 38m, Cian Douglas for Shaw 39m, James Connolly for McKeon 49m.

Longwood - Mark Kennedy; Gavin Griffith, Niall Mulvey, Brian Stagg; Joe Stenson, Mickey Burke, Sean Sheridan; Billy Hogan, Sean Coloe; Kevin Heagney (0-1), Damien Healy (0-2 one free), Ryan Moore (0-2); Ben McLoughlin, Anthony Healy 0-8 seven frees), Conor M Dixon. Subs - Conor Dixon for Sheridan 24m, Harry Hogan for Conor M Dixon 37m, Tomas O'Brien for McLoughlin 52m.

Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael).