In-form Kilkerley inflict a first defeat on Rovers

KILKERLEY EMMETS HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 3-12 2-12

KILKERLEY Emmets maintained their bid for Division 2 honours when they inflicted a first defeat of the season on Hunterstown Rovers.

A blistering first half display set the visitors up for this victory but the Emmets were pushed all the way in a second half in which the home side clawed back the nine point lead down to a single point at one stage.

Hunterstown opened with two points from Alan Landy but the Emmets hit back and three points from Tadhg McEneaney along with Shane Lennon netting the first goal of the game to put their side ahead.

The home team then hit four through Landy (2), Ryan Burns and Conor Matthews with McEneaney replying by raising a white flag at the other end for Kilkerley.

However, Emmets then got on top and Dan McKeown hit the net followed by points from Lennon, Sean Hand, Conal McEneaney, Rian Hand and Ronan Mulholland to give their side a commanding 2-9 to 0-6 advantage at the break.

Conal McEneaney pointed, then the home team did likewise before Lennon pounced for his second goal to make it 3-10 to 0-7.

It appeared that the game was all but over at that stage, however Hunterstown then hit 2-4 with the help of goals from Paul Carrie and Brendan Lennon to get themselves right back in the game.

However, points from Tadhg McEneaney and Darren Litchfield steadied the ship for Kilkerley as they held out for a narrow but vital victory against a Hunterstown side who lost Tony McKenna to a second yellow late on.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Cillian Quigley; Cormac Bellew, Adam Shields, Ciaran Clarke; Cillian Kampes, Andrew McGuill, Shaun McElroy: James Fegan, Ciaran Bellew; Rian Hand 0-1, Sean Hand 0-1, Ronan Mulholland 0-1; Tadhg McEneaney 0-5, Shane Lennon 2-1, Dan McKeown 1-1. Sub: Conal McEneaney 0-2 for McElroy, Ciaran McGlynn for McGuill, Darren Litchfield for S Hand, Ciaran Murtagh for C McEneaney, Alan McGeough for Kampes.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Niall Carrie; Brian Matthews, Richard Taaffe, Martin Lennon; David Finn, Patrick Taaffe, Eddie Burke; Tony McKenna, Conor Matthews 0-1; Mark Brennan, Brendan Lennon 1-0, Alan Landy 0-4; Paul Carrie 1-1, Ryan Burns 0-5, Glen Matthews. Subs: Robbie McNiece 0-1 for D Finn, Robbie Brennan for E Burke.