David Harmon's stoppage time's pointed 65 was the difference as Kildalkey beat Killyon in this absorbing Ted Murtagh SHC Group B round two clash at Trim on Thursday evening.

Kildalkey 2-6
Killyon 0-11

Harmon's score in the third minute of added time was the final act of a fixture where no more than three points separated the sides throughout.

The win revives Kildalkey's bid to regain the Jubilee Cup following their five-point reversal against Longwood first time out.

With two defeats on their debit side, this latest setback all but scuttles Killyon's bid to make a second consecutive SHC final appearance.

Killyon passed up on chances to extract something from this fixtures with top scorer Keith Keogan and corner-back Thomas Raleigh both off target from frees in the closing minutes.

It was David Raleigh third point of the evening that levelled matters for the fifth time in the second minute of added time.

Harmon accounted for half of his team's tally from right-half-back. However, it was the switching of the experienced Daire Lahart from attack to defence after 19 minutes that helped galvanise the Kildalkey rearguard where Maurice Keogh and Mairtin Doran also impressed.

On an overcast and relatively still evening both teams struggled to trouble the scoreboard operator, especially when playing into the town end.

Kildalkey posted 16 wides over the course of the game - 12 in the first-half. Killyon had ten - seven in the second-half. Two of their three first-half wides arrived in stoppage time.

After a high-scoring opening 20 minutes, the remainder of the game produced just eight scores. As the hour progressed the scoring rate diminished. No flag was registered between the 43rd and 62nd minutes. Yet the contest remained engrossing.

Attempting to bounce back from their two-point loss to Kilmessan at this venue first time out, Killyon bossed the early exchanges. Two David Raleigh points boosted them to a 0-4 to 0-1 lead nine minutes in.

There followed an uncharacteristic error by Killyon 'keeper Stephen Quinn that allowed Harmon goal from free close to the pavillion sideline about 65 metres from the end line.

That levelled matters for the first time, 1-1 to 0-4. Stefan Kelly restored Killyon's lead in the 14th minute. Following a mazy run county minor Martin Healy fired to the net at the town end.

Killyon got back on terms on four subsequent occasions, but never led again. Sean Heavey's 23rd minute point earned Kildalkey a 2-3 to 0-8 interval lead.

Less than 90 seconds into the second period David Kennedy landed a great point for Killyon. Five minutes later Harmon sent over his first 65. Keith Keogan's only point from play left it 0-10 to 2-4 with 37 minutes gone.

The final third of the hour made up for in excitement what it lacked in scores.

Kildalkey - Conor Flynn; David Conneely, Stephen Forde, Luke Rickard; David Harmon (1-3, 0-2 65s, 0-1fs), Maurice Keogh, Mairtin Doran; Sean Corrigan (0-1), Francis Doran; Martin Healy (1-0), Padraig Geoghegan, Sean Heavey (0-1); Mark Healy (0-1), Daire Lahart, Derek Doran. Subs - Nick Fitzgerald for Rickard (19), Johnny Murray for Martin Healy (56),.

Killyon - Stephen Quinn; Brendan Quinn, Brian Perry, Thomas Raleigh; David Kennedy (0-1), Ray McKeown, Adam Flanagan; Clayton Keegan, Ger Foley; Joe Gannon, Killian Canavan, Keith Keoghan (0-4, 3fs); David Raleigh (0-3), Stefan Kelly (0-1), Adam Gannon (0-2). Subs - Adam Farrell for McKeown (33), Calvin Ryan for J Gannon (41), James Mitchell for Canavan (56).

Referee - Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels). Tweet

Most Read Stories