SHC: Kiltale 2-17, Trim 3-10
Phillip Garvey’s first-half goals were central to Kilale’s Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear SHC Group A win over Trim at Ashbourne on Friday night.
The outcome virtually secures a place at the business end of the championship for Kiltale, who lost to O’Mahony’s at the semi-final stage last year.
Kiltale looked set for a comfortable win before a Trim rally got the deficit down to four points on as many occasions in the final quarter.
Having trailed by 11 points after 48 minutes, making up the deficit proved beyond Trim, who needed to win here to maintain their bid for a place in the knockout stage.
Goals from Dimi Higgins and Shane Ashe left just five points between the sides three minutes later. When Ciaran Joyce pointed, Trim hopes of pulling a big rabbit from the hat soared.
That was as good as it got for Trim as Kiltale had their measure from there to the end. Garvey (pictured) apart, teenager Jack Regan impressed for Kiltale with scores from play and placed balls. Wing-forward Stephen Donoghue complimented an industrious evening with three points from play.
Mark O’Sullivan put three points to his name in similar fashion as well as displaying an appetite from graft. Peter Durnin was another to chalk up a similar tally for Kiltale, including his side’s final score. He also provided the assist for Garvey’s second goal that left it 2-4 to 1-3 after 20 minutes.
O’Sullivan created the opening for Garvey – who wore the number 9 jersey – to smash home the opening goal in the 11th minute.
Trim never led but the scores were tied three times in the opening quarter. John Andrews’ charges were heavily dependent on Damien McGee scores in the opening half with his goal levelling matters for the final time at 1-3 each 15 minutes in.
Kiltale outscored Trim by 1-4 to 0-2 over the remainder of the half with an O’Sullivan point and a Garvey goal setting this phase of the game in motion.
Kiltale led by 2-7 to 1-5 at the break and showed no signs of letting up in the third quarter during which time Regan was prominent in the scoring stakes.
Durnin’s second point left it 2-14 to 1-6 in the 18th minute of the second-half. Trim set about eating into that 11-point deficit by outscoring Kiltale by 2-4 to 0-3 in the time remaing but it couldn’t prevent the town side from falling to their third defeat from four starts in the campaign.
Kiltale – S. McGann; A. Donnelly, W. Mahady, C. Ennis; C. McCabe, D. Donoghue, I. Douglas; J. Donoghue, J. Kelly; M. O’Sullivan (0-3), S. Dunleavy, S. Donoghue (0-3); P. Garvey (2-2), P. Durnin (0-3), J. Regan (0-6, 3 fs, 1 65). Sub – S. Cummins for Dunleavy (55).
Trim – B. Carley; J. Lee, D. Foley, S. Downes; R. Andrews, G. Kennedy, S. McGee; J. Andrews (0-2), J. Toher; D. Higgins (1-1), D. McGee (1-5, 0-3 fs), C. McGrath; C. Joyce (0-1), N. Heffernan (0-1), S. Ashe (1-0). Sub – K. Higgins for Downes (28 mins).
Referee – C. Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille).
Match report from HoganStand.com.