Dunboyne got their Minor Hurling Championship up and running on a glorious summer evening away to Kildalkey and coming away with a well deserved win. Similar to the minor football victory away to St Ultans on Monday evening, in their first championship outing, the hurlers also put in a scorching second half to claim victory by 6 points.

A sluggish start meant that the travelling side were in arrears after 6 minutes and with a bit to do, with Kildalkey racing into a 1:02 to 0:00 lead. But not one of the large Dunboyne support looked worried as their team hadn't even got out of neutral yet and it would only be a matter of time. Joel Mangan helped settle the team with a free on ten minutes and this was quickly followed up one minute later when Evan Murphy cut in from the right wing and hit a blistering shot into the top corner of the net. Game on! But the home team delivered another body blow with their second goal in the 14th minute. Not to worry though as Sean Delaney was just about to roar into the game with 2 quickfire points within 60 seconds to pull the deficit back to two points. County minor Joel Mangan chipped in with 4 points (3f) over the remainder of the first half, while Kildalkey responded with 3 (2f) of their own. This left the score at half time Kildalkey 2:05 (2f) Dunboyne 1:07 (4f), the home team holding the slenderest of leads.

Exchanges were tense at the start of the second half and took a sweet Rory Callanan strike off his left side to break the deadlock and draw the teams level. Delaney pilfered another one minute later to push Dunboyne ahead for the first time in the match. Kildalkey responded with a well taken point from their corner forward before Mangan nudged the black and ambers ahead again in the 10th minute (1:10 to 2:6). But the lead didnt last long and the home team regained the lead again by the 14th minute after two monster frees from their centre forward. Harry Clarke Murphy, who was introduced at half time, was causing alot of bother for the Kildalkey defence and took watching, this helped to free up space for Sean Delaney who hit the net in the 14th minute. The impressive Cillian Cunningham picked up possession in the 22nd minute and found Evan Murphy on the right wing. Evan ran at the defence before a slick handpass into Mangan who subsequently found Delaney who made no mistake and scored what was a tremendous team goal, his second. Delaney, who finished with 2:05, was unmarkable during the second half and closed the half out with two further points. This left the score on the final whistle on, Kildalkey 2:09 Dunboyne 3:12.

It was a notable first day out for the lads holding Kildalkey to just 4 points in the second half. The full back line has to take great credit during this period with Tadgh Brennan at full back controlling the centre with exceptional reading of the game. On his left it was great to see Ed McDonnell back in the club jersey again after a frustrating injury kept him sidelined year to date, replacing James McCarthy at half time, and he settled into his task as if he was never away. Eoghan McDonald at 6 was immense and certainly played a captains part all through. Next up is Killyon at home Monday 25th August, please try to get out and support the lads.

Team: Daniel Slevin; James McCarthy; Tadgh Brennan; Cillian Cunningham; Liam Kennedy; Eoghan McDonald; Shay Coone; Rory Callanan (0:01); Joel Mangan (0:06, 4f); Evan Murphy (1:00); Charlier Gallagher; Neil O'Connor; Ethan O'Sullivan; Sean Delaney (2:05); Stephen Tighe; Bench: Ed McDonnell (for James McCarthy); Harry Clark Murphy (For Ethan O'Sullivan); Rory Lynch (for Stephen Tighe); Charlie Leonard; Nyles Ledwith;