Kilbride find the Hill too steep to climb

Corn Na Boinne Group B

Meath Hill...0-18

Kilbride...2-6

Adrienne White

Kilbride headed to Meath Hill on a cold Thursday night for their first outing in over 50 years in an intermediate grade competition.

Unfortunately for the east Meath club, the adventure ended in a six-point defeat.

With only a handful of players from the Junior A final finishing the game, Kilbride welcomed four minors from 2023 that made their debuts. They all made an impressive starts to their adult football careers.

Paul Hayes made two super saves in the first half his agility helping to keep Kilbride in the game.

The Kilbride line-up included James Gavin who made his return to the team after four years away studying.

Kilbride had excellent displays from Cian Harford, Thomas Egan and Barry O'Leary.

Kilbride - P Hayes, C Harford, R O'Leary, B Dignam; F White, J Gavin, C Farrelly; D Boyd, C Howard; B O'Leary (0-1), L Faherty (1-0), J Browne; A Malone (0-2), T Egan (1-1), D O'Leary (0-2) Subs - J Donnelly for C Farrelly, C Manning for P Hayes, S Duffy for J Browne all at half time.

MEATH HILL REPORT

Mark Tully

Meath Hill and Kilbride met in what was an entertaining but error-strewn game. Both sides traded early scores with Kilbride kicking well with the aid of a stiff breeze in the first half.

Meath Hill had a good spread of scorers with Dominic Yorke to the fore as he had accounted for two of Meath Hill's tally by half time with some excellent points from placed balls.

Pierce McGrath and Jake Gillen took their chances inside as they both pointed well in the first-half. McGrath pointed from a free and Gillen from play. Jack McMahon was also lively throughout.

Half-time score: Meath Hill 0-8 Kilbride 1-4

The second half would see Meath Hill begin to break down a well organised Kilbride defensive unit with Cormac Sheehy to the fore. Sheehy would end with five points to his name as he used the breeze to curl home some great points.

Gary Breslin was sprung from the bench ,and just like Sheehy used the breeze to his benefit as he accounted for three well taken long-range scores.

David Cassidy entered the fray to kick a monster from down town after he pointed from a near impossible distance to guarantee that Meath Hill maintained their 100% record.

Meath Hill - D Yorke, M Carolan, Jamie Slavin, G Boylan; C Monaghan, P Matthews; R.Carry; R.Owens, S McCabe; C Farrelly, C Sheehy, Jack McMahon; Jake Gillen, P. McGrath, J Mooney. Subs - D.Martin, K.Martin, D Cassidy, J Slavin,G Breslin, C Marry.