MEATH PRIMARY SCHOOLS FINAL: Early platform provides solid foundation for Kilmessan
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Kilmessan NS’s Joe Martin takes possession during the Div 1 Hurling final against Kildalkey NS at Trim on Friday. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
Kilmessan NS captains Tommy Clynch and David Keena receives the Div 1 Hurling Cup from Brian Mullins. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 5
Kilmessan NS’s Eoin Horan receives the Spirit of the Final award from Meath Chronicle’s Tom Gannon. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 5
The St Joseph’s Kilmessan players (from left) were: back - Cormac Gallagher, Alfie Lynch, David Keena, Eoin Horan, Brody McNally, Harry Domican, Callum Keena, Thomas Gallagher, Seán Lynch, Shay Quinlan, Odhran O’Connor, Daniel Burduhos, Joe Martin; front - Fionn Maguire, Tommy Clynch, Patrick Duignan, Charlie Keena, Patrick Gallagher, Bobby Keogh, Seání O’Brien, Bobby Maguire, Charlie Geraghty, Fionn Mac Cormaic.Photo: David Mullen-www.cyberimaGES.net David MullenImage 5 of 5
The Kildalkey NS players (from left) were: back - Rhys McCormack, Oran Dolan, Finn Kenny, Patrick Potterton, Oran Fagan, Alex McCormack, Darragh McGrath, Daíthí Birmingham, Alex Grant, Luke Mannering, Tom McEneaney, Liam Connor; front - Liam Davis, Joe Molloy, Cian Dunne, Iven Poehle McNamara, Oisín Leonard, Charlie McNamara, Conor Ward, Rio Dunne, Jack McKenna, Jody McClair. Photo: David Mullen-www.cyberimages.net David MullenKilmessan NS3-9
Kildalkey NS 0-7
Kilmessan NS’s impressive first-half display was crucial to their victory over Kildalkey in the Div 1 Hurling final at Trim on Friday. Kildalkey themselves can be very proud of their efforts and the talented Daithi Birmingham put in an eye-catching performance even in defeat.
Birmingham and his fellow Kildalkey troops were foiled by a very strong Kilmessan defence and at the forefront was Tommy Cynch who had an excellent performance at centre-back.
In midfield Eoin Horan was just superb. The skill level and work-rate of Horan was incredible, and he also contributed an impressive 1-6 to Kilmessan’s tally.
Kilmessan’s half-forward line caused the Kildalkey defence a lot of issues and in particular Bobby Keogh stood out for his energetic and pacy impact.
From the get-go, Kilmessan meant business and that was evident when Horan pointed from an incredibly tight angle after two minutes. Soon after, David Keena’s speculative shot from distance found the back of the Kildalkey net before Horan gave the eventual winners an early five-point lead.
Birmingham got Kildalkey off the mark before Horan and Kilmessan seized momentum again. Horan cancelled out Birmingham’s second point before he added two more. Points from Clynch and Keogh saw Kilmessan finish the first-half with a flourish and at the break they led 1-8 to 0-2.
It took some time for the sides to settle after the restart but eventually Birmingham struck for Kildalkey with a ‘55’. Kilmessan responded soon after when shots from Horan and Joe Martin were initially blocked down before Shay Quinlan pounced on the rebound for a goal.
Kildalkey tried to battle their way back into the contest with points from Birmingham, Patrick Potterton and Oran Dolan but the final nail in the coffin came in the 50th minute when Horan scored Kilmessan’s third goal.
Kilmessan :Harry Domican; Patrick Duignan, Sean Lynch, Fionn Maguire; Brody McNally, Tommy Clynch (0-2), Fionn Mac Cormaic; Eoin Horan (1-6 three frees), Callum Keena; Bobby Keogh (0-1), David Keena (1-0), Shay Quinlan (1-0); Daniel Burduhos, Cormac Gallagher, Joe Martin. Subs - Liam Brooks, Thomas Gallagher, Charlie Keena, Bobby Maguire, Seani O’Brien, Odhran O’Connor, Alfie Lynch, Charlie Geraghty, Patrick Gallagher. Mentors - Roisin Carolan, Aoife Mallon.
Kildalkey : Alex McCormack; Conor Ward, Alex Grant, Rhys McCormack; Liam Davis, Oran Fagan, Oisin Leonard; Daithi Birmingham (0-5 one free, one ‘55’), Patrick Potterton (0-1); Oran Dolan (0-1), Finn Kenny, Charlie McNamara; Liam Connor, Joe Molloy, Tom McEneaney. Subs - Darragh McGrath, Jack McKenna, Luke Mannering, Rio Dunne, Cian Dunne, Jody McLair, Iven Poehle McNamara. Mentors - Nodlag O’Neill, Colm Conneely.
Referee : John Byrne (St Columbanus NS).