BATTLING DULEEK FACE RELEGATION DOGFIGHT
A BATTLING display wasn’t nearly good enough for Duleek-Bellewstown to record their first victory of the SFC at Walterstown last Sunday.
Instead it was the Kells men who bounced back from a previous round defeat to Summerhill to put themselves in the frame for a knockout spot.
The east Meath side, who lost Ricky Nolan with an injury after just six minutes, led early on in this contest after Darren Mills shot brilliantly to the net, but they lacked the firepower to sustain their challenge.
Remarkably all but one of Gaeil Colmcille’s points were scored by two players - Seamus Mattimoe and Brian Hanlon. Mattimoe once again showed his undoubted ability with eight points, six from play.
He teased and tormented the Duleek/Bellewstown defence and when he wasn’t finishing off moves he was creating something for his colleagues. He had a great chance of a goal near the end, but instead opted for a point knowing his side were home and dry.
Hanlon was also in fine form with his darting runs allied to a willingness to work hard ensuring he was always a handful. He finished with an impressive 1-8. Gaeil Colmcille went in at the break leading 0-10 to 1-5 and they took a huge step to eventual victory just after the interval.
Gl Colmcille 1-17 Duleek-B’st’n 1-8
Johnny Quigley embarked on a run down the left wing and fisted the ball over the advancing Duleek/Bellewstown goalkeeper Anthony Dowling. Instead of going over the ball struck the bar and there waiting was Hanlon to knock the ball home from close range. After that there was no way back for Duleek/Bellewstown.
Despite the difficulties in finding space six Duleek/Bellewstown players managed to get on the scoresheet with Mills, John McDonnell, Jamie Crosby, Shane Crosby, Stephen Nolan and John Flood all registering points.
The goal came at the end of a brilliant pitch-length move that involved Anthony Dowling, Mick Dowling, David Moore, Robin Clarke and Stephen Nolan who cleverly knocked down for Mills to finish with a shot high to the net.
However they were unable to build on that early boost and seem almost certain to contest the relegation playoff.
They face difficult ties against Wolfe Tones and Donaghmore-Ashbourne in their remaining group games.
Justin Carry-Lynch; Cormac Ferguson, Barry Smith, Jordan Muldoon; Paul Tormay, Barry Tormay, Johnny Quigley; Cormac Keegan, Liam Ferguson; Seamus Mattimoe 0-8 (2f), Seanie Curran, Fionn Reilly; Oisin Reilly, Brian Hanlon 1-8 (4f), Martin Reilly 0-1. Subs: Fionn Ferguson for F Reilly (h-t), Ryan Farnham for O’Reilly (50), Michael Foley for M Reilly (54), James Reilly for B Tormay (56).
DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN: Ricky Nolan; James Murphy, Jamie Flaherty, Shane Townley; Kevin McCann, David Moore, Gary Reilly; Robin Clarke, Micheál Dowling; Darren Mills 1-1, John McDonnell 0-2, Jamie Crosby 0-1; Shane Crosby 0-1, Stephen Nolan 0-1, John Flood 0-1. Subs: Anthony Dowling 0-1f for R Nolan (6), Stephen McArdle for Reilly (32), Darren Heaney for J Crosby (51), Anthony Burke for Townley (54).
REF: P Mooney (Syddan)