Kildalkey opened their bid for Ted Murtagh SHC honours with a decisive win over Kilmessan at Pairc Tailteann on Friday night. 

Kildalkey ........ 2-19
Kilmessan ....... 0-14

Last year's runners-up made most of the running and were too good for Kilmessan, who are out to improve on last year's showing when they failed to advance from the group stage. 

Johnny Greville's side were superior from the off and were never reeled in after Paddy Conneely's third minute free into the town goal pointed them in front. 

Occasional signs of ring-rustiness - including 13 wides - didn't impede Kildalkey as they chalked up an 11-point success.

Derek Doran was the top scorer from play with 1-4. His goal arrived in the 33rd minute when he flicked David Harmon's delivery to the net at the Commons Road end. 

On a good night for hurling - apart from a brief spell of drizzle - that left it 1-12 to 0-5. 

Kilmessan got the gap down to six points towards the end of the third quarter when Stephen Clynch's delivery found Kevin Keena who pointed. 

Overall, Kilmessan's performance was matched by their jerseys which made it very difficult to identify players. 

Kildalkey responded positively with four of the next five points. Martin Healy second score left 10 points between the sides for the first time since Doran's goal.

Listed at 14 and 15 respectively, Enda Keogh and Sean Heavey spent much time bolstering the Kildalkey defence. 

Kilmessan's Cian O'Neill was the busier of the two 'keepers and was pressed into service in the 54th minute to parry Nicky Potterton's goal attempt. In stoppage time O'Neill did well to deny Doran a second goal.

Potterton netted with a fine solo effort in the fifth minute of added time to leave 11 points between the sides at the finish. 

Last year's runners-up, backed by the breeze, were first to front with a breeze of pointed frees from Paddy Conneely. They doubled their tally before Kilmessan got off the mark with another Conneely free and a Nicky Potterton effort from play. 

One of the scores of the half, it owed much to Conneely and Sean Heavey and left it 0-4 to 0-0 with 10 minutes gone. 

Darren Reilly frees accounted for half of Kilmessan's total, including their first three scores. By half-time his side had the same number of wides as Kildalkey, five. 

Kildalkey closed the opening half on the front foot to lead by 0-11 to 0-4 at the break. The team in royal blue jerseys resumed where they left off in preparation for a tilt at the champions, Kiltale, in a repeat of last year's final fixture when only a point separated the sides. 

Kildalkey - Conor Flynn; David Conneely, Enda Fitzgerald, Mark Healy; Paul Fagan, Padraig Geoghegan, David Harmon; Nicky Potterton (1-2), Evan Fitzgerald (0-3); Paddy Conneely (0-8, 7fs), Martin Healy (0-2), Derek Doran (1-4); Gary Kelly, Enda Keogh, Sean Heavey. 

Kilmessan - Cian O'Neill; Padraig Maguire, Shane Brennan, Martin Horan; Peter Farrell, Stephen Clynch, Alan Kelly (0-1); Paddy Lally, Pauric Burke; Darren Reilly (0-7,5 fs), Joey Keena (0-3), Kevin Keena (0-1); Niall Flynn Conor Gorman (0-1), Declan Smyth. Subs - Sean Doyle for Gorman (38), Peter Reynolds for Smyth (45), Kyle Donnelly (0-1) for Burke (45), Conor Harkin for J Keena (47), Mark Munnelly for Lally (50). 

Referee - Fergus Smith (Kilcock)

 

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