Kit Mitchell Cup returns home to Killyon

SHC B FINAL Composure key as Hill of Down men claim silverware

Killyon...........................................3-13

Longwood.....................................1-12

After leaving it behind them six days earlier Killyon honoured their fabled clubman Kit Mitchell by claiming the cup named in his honour with an inspirational victory over defending champions Longwood in the SHC B final replay at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.

Kit Mitchell was a hurling man to the core, the heartbeat of the game in the Hill of Down area. His trademark passion, determination and drive were evident in Killyon's performance as they dominated from the off and withstood a stern second-half test to claim the spoils.

Longwood didn't surrender their silverware without a battle and that was evident in the closing stages as they continued to hunt and hassle.

In injury time tempers and patience worn thin and a scuffle broke out in front of the stand. Once the dust had settled and referee Derek Ryan had consulted with his linesmen Mark Reilly and Conal O'Sullivan he issued red cards to Longwood's Ryan Moore and Killyon pair Niall Smullen and Adam Farrell.

While clearly frustrated with the dismissals they didn't dampen the Killyon spirits when the final whistle blew two minutes later. The celebrations were akin to those when they last lifted the Jubilee Cup 20 years previous and they will hope this win will now be the catalyst to brighter days.

Longwood will reflect on a sub-par performance. They managed just five scores from play and their 39th minute goal can certainly be filed under the fortunate category as Ray Massey batted Moore's centre from the right off the back of Damien Healy and into the net.

That goal made it 1-6 to 3-9 and when Anthony Healy clipped over another free three minutes later, Longwood sensed a way back. However, a massive point from Cathal McKeon settled Killyon and they were never seriously tested again as Keith Keoghan defended superb from his centre-back role and Jake Ryan excelled on the edge of the square.

Up top Killyon held all the aces. Dylan Farrell was magnificent throughout. Not just in firing over six points including three from play, but also sweeping up around midfield and providing plenty of ammunition for the outstanding Adam Gannon.

The midfield pair of Justin Coyne and Cathal McKeon were dominant throughout and from the off the asserted their dominance with Justin Coyne setting up Farrell for the opening point inside 100 seconds.

Anthony Healy replied from a free, but that was as close as Longwood got as they failed to score again for another 16 minutes against the wind.

In that spell Gannon restored Killyon's lead with a superb score. Two points from Farrell sandwiched excellent scores from David Raleigh and Smullen before Gannon nicked a long ball off Gavin Griffith before executing a fine finish into the bottom corner to make it 1-6 to 0-1 at the end of the first corner.

Farrell stretched that lead with his first from a free as Killyon looked in control.

Kevin Heaghney fired a goal chance wide for Longwood, but that sniff of a chance gave the holders hope as Conor Dixon pointed before Anthony Healy clipped over two placed balls, one from a '65' after Griffith was denied a goal.

With their tailed up and the deficit closed to 0-4 to 1-7, Longwood were dealt another blow when James Connolly brilliant picked out Justin Coyne who hit an exocet to the top the right cornet to stretch Killyon's lead to 2-7 to 0-4 at the break.

An Anthony Healy free and Ben McLoughlin point gave Longwood renew hope of a comeback after the restart, but that proved to be a false dawn as Raleigh and Justin Coyne replied with points before Gannon struck for another brilliant goal to make it 3-9 to 0-6.

Damien Healy's fortunate goal was followed by a free from Anthony Healy, but it just added gloss to Longwood's poor return.

Cathal McKeon with a massive score and Farrell from a free settled Killyon again. Anthony Healy arrowed a couple of frees for Longwood before Farrell and McKeon traded points with Sean Coloe (two). Damien Healy drove a long distance free through a forest of legs, but Ray Massey managed to get some part of his body to the ball to deflect out for a '65' which was also cleared.

After Moore closed the scoring three minutes into injury-time the melee erupted and three red cards were issue, but iot was a red day of a different kind as Killyon fittingly claimed the Kit Mitchell Cup.

Killyon - Ray Massey; Harry Smyth, Jake Ryan, Cian Douglas; Evan Burke, Paddy Coyne, Brendan Quinn; Justin Coyne (1-1), Cathal McKeon (0-2); Niall Smullen (0-1), Keith Keoghan, Dylan Farrell (0-6 three frees); David Raleigh (0-2), James Connolly, Adam Gannon (2-1). Subs - Shane Clarke for Connolly 45m, Ciaran Dowling for Quinn 52m, Adam Farrell for Raleigh 62m, Rour Shaw for Griffith 63m.

Longwood - Mark Kennedy; Gavin Griffith, Niall Mulvey, Brian Stagg; Joe Stenson, Mickey Burke, Sean Sheridan; Billy Hogan, Sean Coloe (0-2 one free); Kevin Heaghney, Damien Healy (1-0), Ryan Moore (0-1); Ben McLoughlin (0-1), Anthony Healy (0-7 six frees, one '65'), Conor Dixon (0-1). Subs - Harry Hogan for Stagg 31m, Conor M Dixon for Sheridan 45m, Aaron Ennis for McLoughlin 50m.

Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna).