SHC Group B: Subs swing it for Kildalkey
July 31, 2017
Killyon's Ger Foley with Paddy Conneely Kildalkey
A trio of half-time subs helped Kildalkey overturn Killyon in an exciting SHC round four encounter at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.
Kildalkey ....... 1-16
Killyon .......... 2-12
Paddy Conneely, Gary Kelly and Mark Healy pitched in with 1-4 between them as Kildalkey posted their third win of the campaign with a minimum margin win over Killyon.
Their contribution helped the team in blue withstand a late Killyon rally that almost yielded a draw for last year's runners-up.
Killyon sub Adam Farrell's stoppage time goal trimmed the deficit to the minimum. There was still time to grab a leveler but David Kennedy's last gasp effort from play was collected by Kildalkey 'keeper Paul Fagan
Aided by the breeze blowing towards the town goal, Killyon led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break. Thereafter, Kildalkey outscored the team in red and green by 1-12 to 2-5.
From resumption, Mikey Mullen (free) increased Killyon's lead. By the 37th minute Kildalkey were in front. Sub Conneely's wonderful solo goal was central to the mini-surge.
Points from Conor Kearney and Sean Heavey moved Kildalkey 1-8 to 0-9 clear by the 44th minute. The see-saw nature of proceedings continued with Calvin Ryan netting from David Raleigh's delivery and Killyon were back in front.
Kildalkey outscored Killyon by 0-6 to 0-1 in the six minutes leading up to the 53rd minute to leave the board reading 1-14 to 1-10. Killyon weren't finished and set up a nail-biting finale.
Both teams look set for the quarter-finals, with second-placed Kildalkey set to face Blackhall Gaels in round five. Killyon take on Boardsmill in their last round robin game.
The opening minutes were notable for some tetchy exchanges but memorable for Conor Kearney's two points, that included a great ninth minute score from play.
Killyon responded with three scores on the spin, with Keith Keoghan (free), Adam Gannon and David Raleigh registering.
Last year's runners-up were pegged back by a Sean Heavey effort that tied the scores for the second and final time in the half.
Killyon, playing towards the town end, pushed on with four points on the spin. Gannon got two of them while Calvin Ryan and Ray Massey also scored to leave it 0-7 to 0-3 with 25 minutes gone.
Kildalkey pulled a point back just before the interval through James McNally. Three points in arrears at the break, Johnny Greville's men looked good for the win. To their credit Killyon didn't make it easy.
Kildalkey - Paul Fagan; David Conneely, Padraig Geoghegan, Enda Fitzgerald; Brin Kelly, David Harmon, Padraig Keogh; Paddy Potterton, Maurice Keogh; Martin Healy, James McNally (0-1), Evan Fitzgerald (0-1); Conor Kearney (0-6, 2fs, 1 65), Luke Rickard, Sean Heavey (0-5). Subs - Paddy Conneely (1-2) for Martin Healy (ht), Gary Kelly (0-1) for Rickard (ht), Mark Healy (0-1) for Fitzgerald (ht), Andrew Fay for Conneely (60).
Killyon - Steven Quinn; Brian O'Reily, Ray McKeown, Brendan Quinn; David Kennedy, Clayton Keegan, Calvin Ryan (1-1); Ger Foley, Adam Gannon (0-3); Keith Keoghan (0-2,1f), Ray Massey (0-1), Jake Ryan; Mikey Mullen (0-3 fs), Stefan Kelly, David Raleigh (0-2). Subs - Adam Farrell (1-0) for Kelly (41), Chris Dunne for Ryan (51), Thomas Raleigh for Foley (58), Kelly for Mullen (59).
Referee - Kevin Brady (Louth)
