SHC quarter-final: Kiltale outlast Kilmessan
September 16, 2023
Kilmessan's Malcolm Doyle gives chase to Chris Reilly Kiltale during the Meath SHC quarter final clash at Pairc Tailteann
After a closely contested first-half, Kiltale asserted themselves to pull clear of a spirited Kilmessan side to advance to the last four of the SHC at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening
Kiltale ................. 0-19
Kilmessan ............0-13
With the scores tied, 0-8-each, at the interval, Kiltale began their push in the third quarter to move a goal clear, 0-12 to 0-9 by the three-quarter mark.
They maintained that momentum in the final quarter, moving seven ahead on two occasions in the latter stages.
On an overcast evening, dominated by an overcast sky, the result, not entertainment was paramount.
Once again Jack Regan was the main source of scores for Kiltale, putting 10 points (eight from play) to his name. The pick of his efforts coming early in the third quarter from a free, close to his own 45.
The pick of the rest of the winners' scores were a brace from James Kelly in the final quarter.
Kilmessan staged a mini-revival in the latter stages when they registered three of the final four points of the gams. Their top scorer Mark Horan put two to that sequence with Luke Horan also registering.
The last word fell to Jack Regan who brought his tally to double-digits with the last score of the game.
Mark Horan drove Kilmessan forward in the opening half when they led for most of the way. With the last act of the first-half he was unfortunate to see a free rebound against an upright. The teams were tied 0-8-each at the break.
The expected Kiltale surge didn't arrive immediately on the resumption. The experienced Peter Durnin got on the scoresheet in this phase of the game while Mark O'Sullivan chipped in with a brace of scores as Kiltale began to put some distance between themselves and their neighbours.
Kilmessan managed just two scores in the second-half until their late flurry of points.
Scorers: Kiltale - Jack Regan 0-10 (8fs); Phillip Garvey 0-2; Peter Durnin 0-2; James Kelly 0-2; Mark O'Sullivan 0-2; Chris Reilly 0-1.
Kilmessan - Mark Horan 0-7 (6fs); Luke Horan 0-1; Noah Conroy 0-1; Joey Keena 0-1; Kevin Keena 0-1; Kris Gorman 0-1; Lorcan O'Connor 0-1.
Kiltale - Shane McGann; Charlie McCormack, Padraig Kelly, Iarla Hughes; Stephen Donoghue, James Kelly, Ferghal McCabe; David Donoghue, Conor McNally; Phillip Garvey, Daragh O'Doherty, Jack Regan; Peter Durnin, Chris Reilly, Mark O'Sullivan. Subs - Craig Gilsenan for McNally (40), Conor Ryan for Durnin (51), Darragh McVann for McCabe (55), Cathal Brien for Garvey (60).
Kilmessan - Sean Power; Harry Cahill, Shane Brennan, Cian O'Sullivan; Kyle Donnelly, Malcolm Doyle (c), Noah Conroy; Kris Gorman, Lorcan O'Connor; Luke Horan, Darragh Horan, Declan Smyth; Lorcan Byrne, Joey Keena, Mark Horan. Subs - Stephen Clynch for Doyle (34), Kevin Keena for Byrne (46), Conor Gorman for Smyth (46).
Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael)
