Not to be for Kilcavan as their Leinster journey ended by Dunsany

Kilcavan's Leinster campaign has been ended by the hands of Meath champions Dunsany in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon. The Laois side were excellent in the first-half and could have had more than a four-point lead at the break.

Dunsany 1-14

Kilcavan 1-10

This game took its time to spring to life but once it did, it was some game of football. Kilcavan's Cian Ryle kicked a free wide off his weaker left boot after a minute. Dunsany were struggling to break down the Kilcavan defence as they couldn't muster up any scoring chances early on. Any chances they did get, they were kicking them wide. Adam Hunt set up Kilcavan's first score as he teed up Laois GAA Junior Footballer of the Year Cian Ryle to split the posts.

Eoin Harkin finally managed to get a score for Dunsany with 10 minutes on the clock. Ryle was proving a tricky customer for Dunsany to handle as he was fouled and he pointed the resulting free then came the game's opening goal and it went the way of the Laois champions. Adam Hunt took on his man and was being fouled but referee Ian Howley played advantage with Oisin Lalor just about getting his toe on the ball to put it over the line.

Kilcavan were dealt a huge blow with 16 minutes gone as their captain Evan Hunt was forced off the field having been hit off the ball for the free that Ryle kicked wide in the opening minute. Dunsany were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes as James Cahill deliberately tripped Aaron Tarpey. Ryle pointed a second free and his third point of the game with a monster score from just inside the 45'. Dunsany managed to hit Kilcavan on the counter and rattled the back of the net courtesy of Luke Horan.

The Laois champions got the three points back within the next four minutes as Ryle pointed a mark after a great pass from Niall Lalor. Ryle kicked another point this time off his left boot before Rory Lalor kicked a splendid point. Harkin and Ryle traded fress with Harkin kicking his third point of the half before the half-time whistle. Kilcavan led 1-7 to 1-3 at the break.

Kilcavan's four-point lead was eradicated within six minutes of the restart as Dunsany came flying out of the blocks in the second period and scored five points to go ahead for the first time.. Harkin kicked three of those points from placed balls while Jack Cottrell raised two white flags in between. 

Ryle added another point to his name from a free to level the sides but Dunsany edged themselves in front again with Harkin pointing from play. Kilcavan almost had a second goal but Dunsany goalkeeper Niall Flynn pulled off a superb save to deny Oisin Lalor from close-range. Rory Lalor got Kilcavan level with 10 minutes to go with a super score from the corner. 

Kris Gorman and a 45' from Harry Cahill nudged the Meath champions in front yet again. Ryle pointed to leave a point in it with two minutes to play but Dunsany finished the stronger and scored three more points. Jack Cottrell, Cathal Murphy and a second point from Harry Cahill sealed a four-point win for the Meath champions.