SHC 2007

Kiltale shock Kilmessan in Meath SHC final
29 October 2007


Peter Durnin got the vital points as Kitlale shocked Kilmessan in a low scoring SHC final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday and bridge a 24-year gap to lift the Jubilee Cup for the third time.

Kiltale ............ 1-8
Kilmessan ..... 0-9

Durnin struck two brilliant efforts in the 59th and 60th minutes respectively to complete a comeback for Kitale who trailed by 1-3 to 0-9 shortly after the restart.

Paddy Kelly’s charges posted five unanswered points in the last 20 minutes to secure a narrow but deserved win for the underdogs who lost twice in the round robin phase and only reached the business end by eliminating Trim by the minimum margin on score difference.

The experienced Cathal Sheridan, who was introduced four minutes into the second-half, provided the opening for Durnin to get the lead score. However,the 20-year-old still had a lot of work to do before getting into a central position to loft the sliotar over the bar from distance.

He then doubled his side’s advantage despite being under severe pressure from Anton O’Neill when sending the ball over from about 45 metres.

Kilmessan, who reached the final on the back of six wins on the bounce, led twice in the early stages but were pegged back each time before Durnnin pointed Kiltale in front for the first time from a free in the 13th minute.

When Kilmessan’s Martin Horan pointed, the sides were level for the third time but the favourites, who were wind assisted in the opening half were soon in arrears for the first time.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 19th minute when Waterford-native Donal Barron first-timed the sliotar to the net to leave it 1-3 to 0-3 after Phillip Garvey batted his brother Paul’s centre against the crossbar.

The proved to be Kiltale’s last score of the half as a couple of switches improved matters for Kilmessan. Nicky Horan moved from midfield to the ’40’ with Peter Reynolds going from there to full-forward from where Stephen Clynch went to the centre of the field.

Three points from Nicky Horan, one from a free and the others excellent efforts from play - first from out on the right and then from the opposite wing - levelled matters by the 26th minute.

Peter Reynolds regained the lead for Kilmessan who were hoping to mark the centenary of their first SHC success by lifting the Jubillee Cup for the first time since 2004.

Team captain Peter Farrell added another point to give them a slender 0-8 to 1-3 interval advantage with the prospect of having to face the elements in the second period. They might have turned around with a bigger lead but Ger O’Neill goal attempt appeared to rebound off the crossbar coming up to half-time.

The sun appeared for the second-half but it appeared to offer more hindrance than assistance to the players. After Kitale posted three wides on the spin, Ger O’Neill neatly extended Kilmessan’s advantage when latching onto a Martin Horan sideline cut.

That proved to be Kilmessan’s swan song and though it took Kitale nearly 12 minutes to register at the town goals in the second-half when Ian Douglas pointed, they finished strongly to deservedly win the title for the first time since 1983.

A Durnin free cut the deficit to the minimum in the 49th minute and five minutes later the sides were level for the fourth and final time when the same player landed a ’65’.

Kiltale - O. Regan; D. Donoghue, P. Donoghue, A. Donnelly; S. Donoghue, J. Donoghue, S. Reilly; Paul Garvey, B. Dixon; W. Mahady, D. Dixon, I. Douglas (0-1); Phillip Garvey (0-1), D. Barron (1-0), P. Durnin (0-6, 2 frees, 1 ’65’). Subs - C. Sheridan for Paul Garvey (34 mins), B. Gilsenan for Reilly (49 mins).

Kilmessan - M. Brennan; P. McGovern, J. Horan, C. Keena; V. O’Reilly, A. O’Neill, D. Donnelly; N. Horan (0-4, 2 frees), M. Horan (0-1); P. Farrell (0-2), P. Reynolds (0-1), J. Keena; G. O’Neill (0-1)