Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Danny provides the Keane edge on poignant day for Kilskyre
Division 4 Hurling - Kilskyre NS 3-6 Kiltale NS 2-7
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Kilskyre’s Matt Farrell McGovern retains possession during the Div 4 Hurling final. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
Kilskyre NS captains Killian Connell (left) and Danny Keane received the Div 4 Hurling Cup from Cumann na mBunscol’s Caroline Gibbons. Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 5
Kilskyre’s Danny Keane received the Spirit of the Final award from Caroline Gibbons and Meath Chronicle’s Fergal Lynch. Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 5
The Kilskyre NS players (from left) were: back - Sinéad Lemass (mentor), Colin Fox, Fionn Owens, Killian Connell, Danny Keane, Charles Morton, Abi D’Arcy, Emma Dowd (mentor); front - Thomas Lynam, Matt Farrell, Charlie Lydon, Alex Reilly, Sadie Keane, Erin McGuinness, Emilia O’Reilly. Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net David MullenImage 5 of 5
The Kiltale NS players (from left) were: back - Ronan McMahon, Casey McCormack, Ruairï McGrath, Tadhg Purcell, Charlie Lydon, Thomas McCormack, Sean Maguire, Kyle McCormack, Sean Kelly, Jamie Black; front - Rian Murray, Oisín Kelly, Oisín Byrne, Odhrán Phelan, Ronan Donoghue, Jack McCormack, Darragh Madden, Vincent McCormack, Cillian O’Gorman, Ben Black. David MullenThere were emotional scenes following the Div 4 Hurling final at Trim when Kilskyre NS dedicated their outstanding victory to their class mate Tom Lynch who sadly passed away in April.
There were times during this pulsating finale when Kiltale threatened to get the upperhand, but inspired by the memory of Tom Lynch's courage and determination and a superb hat-trick from Danny Keane, Kilskyre found a way to survive and claimed a sensational victory, their first in a hurling final since 2016.
The skills levels were high in the opening half and it was Kiltale who dominated the early stages with points from Ruairi McGrath and Odhran Phelan sandwiching a fine goal by Kyle McCormack to give them a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after eight minutes.
Fionn Owens settled Kilskyre with a point before Tadhg Purcell responded for Kiltale with a point from a goal chance.
After both sides shared several wides Danny Keane provided the inspiration for Kilskyre's recovery as he blasted a point before he was denied a goal by a fine save from Ronan Donoghue.
Keane did eventually find the net after taking a liberal amount of steps and a minute later he scored a second goal when his shot from distance deceived Donoghue to land in the net and give Kilskyre a 2-2 to 1-3 interval lead.
Keane and Fionn Owens (free) added to Kilskyre's lead after the break, but by the 10th minute of the half Kiltale were level with Sean Maguire's effort deflected over the bar by Alex Reilly before Tadhg Purcell scrambled the ball to the net to make it 2-4 each.
Keane and Thomas McCormack traded points to maintain the parity, but then Keane produced a moment of magic to strike his hat-trick goal with just seven minutes remaining.
Charlie Lydon and Phelan ('45') closed the gap to the minimum for Kiltale, but that man again Keane held his nerve to convert a '45' and spark wild celebrations for Kilskyre.
Kilskyre NS - Alex Reilly; Abi D’Arcy, Charlie Lydon, Killian Connell, Colin Fox; Charles Morton, Danny Keane (3-4 one '45'); Matt Farrell McGovern, Fionn Owens (0-2 one free), Thomas Lynam, Erin McGuinness.
Subs - Sadie Keane, Emilia O’Reilly, Genevieve Walsh, Tom Lynch. Mentors - Sinéad Lemass, Emma Dowd, Mark Owens, Stevie Keane.
Kiltale NS - Ronan Donoghue; Oisín Byrne, Jamie Black, Thomas McCormack (0-1), Ronan McMahon; Odhrán Phelan (0-2 one '45'), Tadhg Purcell (1-1); Ruairí McGrath (0-1), Charlie Lydon (0-1), Kyle McCormack (1-0), Casey O’Connor.
Subs - Seán Maguire (0-1), Seán Kelly, Darragh Madden, Vincent McCormack, Cillian O’Gorman, Rian Murray, Jack McCormack, Oisín Kelly, Gareth Duffy, Ben Black. Mentors - I Purcell, C McElroy, Ú McCormack, C Fitzsimons.
Referee - Caoimhín King (Wilkinstown NS).