Kilmainham make must of chances to claim silverware
One of the fundamental requirements of any successful team is to take their chances - or at least most of the chances - they create.
Kilmainham managed to do that at a bitterly cold Dunganny to claim victory (0-10 to 0-9) and take home the Tailteann Cup tonight with Dylan Morgan firing over the winning score from a free in injury time.
The team they defeated, Kilbride, were on the other hand left feeling frustrated and annoyed because they spurned a host of good opportunities and ultimately paid a price. It was that complicated, or simple, as that.
A stark, remarkable statistic points to how this game panned out. Kilbride kicked a spirit-crushing 15 wides. Kilmainham registered just two.
Undoubtedly one of the heroes for the winners was Morgan who ended up with six points, four frees, but they had other big performers all over the pitch. Players who carried out their respective duties with diligence and determination. Local heroes.
The Black and Reds, who are managed by Cian Rennicks, certainly lived on the edge at times but they, to their great credit, kept battling away. They refused to wilt especially in the closing stages when Kilbride's eager young side edged two points in front and looked set to land the title.
Instead of folding the more experienced Kilmainham (who were without a number of regulars including their injured marquee player Mickey Newman) tapped into their self-belief and know-how.
Morgan, in particular, stayed cool and calm. He landed the last three points of the game, all from frees, including that last decisive kick. He ended up with six points in all including two sweet points from play.
Kilbride looked early on like they might win by a landslide. They raced into an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead powered by surging runs and intricate play. Then they started to clock up the wides, suffering the yips in front of the post.
They could have bagged an early goal too but Conor McWeeney's close-range shot was bravely blocked by Kilmainham netminder Dean Peppard.
Kilmainham controlled much of the second quarter and led 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.
They created their best goal chance of the game just after the break when an incisive move involving Padraig Caffrey, Ger Morgan, Dylan Morgan, Andy Arkins ended when Matthew Mullen's effort was brilliantly saved by Kilbride 'keeper Craig Manning.
That let-off sparked Kilbride into action. They engineered a series of answered points scored by Conor McWeeney, David O'Leary, Josh Harford, Andrew McWeeney and Zak McGovern to go 0-9 to 0-7 in front going into the closing stages.
They also missed good chances and Kilmainham fed off that with Dylan Morgan converting the frees that came his way to give his team the edge when it mattered most.
Gordon Kilgallon, with two points, Freddie Newman and Barry Hennigan were others to fire over points for Kilmainham on a memorable night for the Red and Black.
There was a nice touch at the end when the chairman of Meath Co Board John Kavanagh asked Kilmainham clubman Declan Black to present the trophy. That was something that certainly went down well with the delighted Kilmainham faithful.
SCORERS
Kilmainham - Dylan Morgan 0-6 four frees; Conor Kilgallon 0-2; Paddy Hennigan 0-1; Freddie Newman 0-1.
Kilbride - David O'Leary 0-4; Conor McWeeney 0-2; Josh Harford 0-1; Zach McGovern 0-1; Andew McWeeney 0-1.
TEAMS
Kilmainham - Dean Peppard; Stephen Newman, Harry Newman, Jamie O'Sullivan; Seanie Mahon, Declan Mullen, Matthew Mullen; Ger Morgan, Freddie Newman; Paddy Hennigan, Conor Kilgallon, Padraig Caffrey; Andy Arkins, Dylan Morgan, Richie Brady. Subs - Shane Morgan for Arkins 48 mins, Kieran Needle for Caffrey 61m.
Kilbride - Craig Manning; Cian Harford, Caolan Howard, Ben Donnelly; Mark Demspey, Conor O'Driscoll, Patrick Peters; Ronan O'Leary, Timmy Farrell; Conor McWeeney, Cathal McKeon, Jamie McWeeney; David O'Leary, Josh Harford, James Browne. Subs- Andrew McWeeney for Jamie McWeeney 29 mins, Adam Malone for McKeon 50m.
Referee - Robbie Barrett (Walterstown).