Rathkenny’s win leaves rivals facing a dogfight
IT looks increasingly likely that Duleek-Bellewstown will be involved in another dogfight to retain their Senior status after they were soundly beaten in this crucial SFC round two tie at Simonstown last Friday evening.
The east Meath men survived in the relegation play-off last year and face an uphill battle to repeat that feat in the months ahead.
Only four points separated the sides at the end, but Rathkenny would have avoided a nervous finish if they had taken just a handful of the opportunities that came their way.
With wind advantage in the opening half, Diarmuid McCarthy’s side dominated the exchanges but only found themselves level at the break, 0-5 to 1-2, after kicking nine wides in the half. They also created two goals chances in that period, but Ricky Nolan produced a great save to deny Donal Keogan on 25 minutes and two minutes later Caolach Halligan blazed wide when he should have done better.
Halligan, who registered his side’s third score on 15 minutes, found the range with much more regularity in the second half, adding
Rathkenny 0-13 Duleek/B’st’n 1-6
five further points.
The game was effectively won in the third quarter as Rathkenny hit six of seven successive points to forge into a clear-cut lead. Duleek-Bellewstown responded valiantly in the closing stages, reducing a seven-point deficit to just three before Halligan had the game’s final score in added time.
Fine link-up play saw points from the impressive Keogan and James Macken before Robin Clarke opened the Duleek-Bellewstown account. John Flood added another point at the end of the quarter and the combined side led for the only time in the game when a harmless-looking shot from John McDonnell sneaked past Rathkenny keeper Richie Timmons who seemed to think the ball was going wide of the target.
That bizarre goal on 21 minutes left it 1-2 to 0-4, before Jack Gore levelled proceedings from a free just before the break.
It was a much more clinical Rathkenny in the second half and within 30 seconds Keith Timmons fisted over the lead point. Jack Gore then doubled the advantage before Halligan pointed.
Brian Lenehan had a goal effort blocked by keeper Nolan on 38 minutes and in the ensuing scramble referee Jack Gordon pointed to the penalty spot. Gore faced up to the spot kick, but Nolan got down well to produce a great save at the expense of a ‘45.
That proved only a temporary respite for Duleek-Bellewstown, however, as Halligan hit three points in five minutes and Gore converted a free - 0-12 to 1-2.
The half was 21 minutes old before John Flood pointed a free to end his side’s scoring drought. The introduction of Darren Mills to the Duleek-Bellewstown attack improved matters greatly and the substitute pointed twice. The losers’ other point of the half came from another sub, Stephen Nolan. RATHKENNY:
Richie Timmons; Niall Brannigan, Ross Gore, Joe Gore; Stephen Crosby, Donal Keogan 0-1, Thomas
McGuinness; Brian Meade, James Macken 0-1; Brian Lenehan 0-1, Ivan Lenehan, Caolach Halligan 0-6 (1f); Christy Meade, Jack Gore 0-3 (2f), Keith Timmons 0-1. Subs: Donal Curtis for Meade (43), Jack Thompson for B Lenehan (55). DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN: Ricky Nolan; James Murphy, Jamie Flaherty, Shane Townley; Kevin McCann,David Moore, Gary Reilly; Shane Crosby, Robin Clarke 0-1; Conall McGinley, John McDonnell 1-0, Anthony Burke; Jamie Crosby, Eanna Byrne, John Flood 0-2 (1f). Subs: Darren Mills 0-2 for J Crosby (43), Stephen McArdle for Burke (54), Stephen Nolan for Byrne (57), Darren Heaney for McGinley (57).
REF: Jack Gordon (Walterstown)
FIXTURES