Meath hurling received a major boost when county star Nicky Horan inspired Kilmessan to an historic Leinster intermediate club hurling final victory over Kilkenny's Erin's Own at Nowlan Park. Kilmessan...1-7 Erin's Own..1-6 While the Meath senior champions had just the minimum to spare, they were full value for their success. They laid the foundations for their victory in the opening half, at the end of which they led 1-3 to 0-4 after playing into the wind. They were never headed after Horan pointed a 16th minute free to give them a 0-2 to 0-1 lead, and Horan's goal six minutes later kept them in front at half-time. Team captain Ger O'Neill extended their advantage within 90 seconds of the restart, but Kilmessan then missed a number of chances and their Castlecomer opponents levelled at 1-4 each in the 39th minute when Michael Murphy found the net. The sides traded points before Horan and O'Neill restored the visitors' two-point advantage. During a tension-filled final 10 minutes, Erin's Own pulled back a point from a Martin Boran free, but Kilmessan defended resolutely to hold on for a famous victory. Tweet

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