Confey bow out of Leinster
Posted online: Nov 20th, 2008
Kilmessan…….0-17
Confey………. 1-9
By Andrew Jennings
Meath senior hurling kingpins Kilmessan had five points to spare as they recorded a comfortable victory over Confey in this Leinster Intermediate tussle played in Radley Park, Leixlip.
The winning margin is probably a fair reflection on the gap between the teams on the day, as Kilmessan’s superior accuracy in front of the posts proved the decisive factor.
The teams were level on several occasions during the first period, before the winners’ went in at the change of ends leading by two.
The Meath champions lifted the tempo after the resumption to run out rather easy winners.
Confey in truth never really got going on Sunday and were guilty of several poor wides during the second half.
Kilmessan won the key battleground at midfield, with Ger O’Neill in particular catching the eye.
Up front the also had the games standout performer in wing-forward Nicky Horan.
The deadly accurate Horan accounted for seven of Kilmessan’s total and caused the Confey back division no end of problems throughout the 60 minutes.
Confey were still in the game up to the final quarter following a Daragh Nolan goal early in the second stanza, however, Kilmessan turned the screw during the final 10 minutes and the Kildare champions had no answer.
In near perfect conditions in Leixlip there was little to choose between the teams during the first quarter.
In fact, it was Confey who led 0-5 to 0-3 midway through the half, thanks in no small part to a hatrick of points from hurler-of-the-year, Oisin Lynch.
Ger O’Neill (2) had got the ball rolling for the visitors inside the first minute, before it was cancelled out by a Nolan’s first point
As the half progressed it appeared there wouldn’t be too much between the sides by the end, but gradually Kilmessan began to look more threatening and one from play and one from a free levelled matters at five points apiece 10 minutes from the interval.
Lynch and Peter Farrell exchanged scores, before another brace from that man Horan saw the winners’ go in at the break leading 0-8 to 0-6.
Kilmessan looked a different proposition directly after the restart as they upped the ante in most areas of the field.
O’Neill hit their first of the second-half with a lovely effort from a tight angle on the stand side, before Joseph Keena and Peter Farrell edged the side from the Royal County five ahead.
It looked likely that Kilmessan would put up a big score, however, Confey were given a lifeline when Nolan scraped through several tackles to rattle the back of the onion bag.
A point by Mick Divilly followed the goal and suddenly the large crowd had a game on once again.
Confey were unable to get back on level terms at that point, mainly due to some inadequate shooting.
Horan and Kieran Divilly traded scores, before Kilmessan enjoyed a lively spell that saw them put daylight between the sides, thanks to overs from Malcolm Doyle, Horan and O’Neill.
Confey continued to be wasteful, even bringing groans from the green and white faithful on the sidelines such was their terrible shooting.
Kilmessan weren’t in the mood for charity and finished the game the stronger of the teams. Centre-back Stephen Clynch rounded off their scoring right on full-time, as Confey went in search of goals but could only come up with an injury time consolation point from Kieran Divilly.