Duleek draw little comfort

DULEEK QUAY CELTIC 2 2

A GOAL deep into stoppage time denied Duleek all three points at the Tollstone on Sunday afternoon as Quay Celtic escaped with a draw in a controversial game.

The hosts were down at least five regular starters and manager Pete Brennan responded with a change of formation, playing strikers Barry Kavanagh and Cormac McGroggan in the wing positions and selecting Daniel Martin as the lone striker.

In the early stages Duleek sent in a couple of crosses but hadn’t enough players in the box to capitalise, while at the other end they had to deal with a couple of dangerous Quay corner kicks.

The hosts thought they’d made the breakthrough on the 15-minute mark when they were awarded a free kick 30 yards out, and Kavanagh’s goal-bound effort was parried by the keeper into the path of McGroggan who tapped home. However, the assistant referee flagged for an offside decision that left Duleek bewildered.

That disappointment was quickly forgotten, however, as the lead goal arrived around the 20th minute. McGroggan was again at the centre of it as he went by two Quay defenders on the right wing before being upended in the box by another attempted challenge, this time by Dean Sheil.

The referee pointed to the spot and Kavanagh duly dispatched the penalty to give Duleek the lead.

That only seemed to stir Quay into action and young Adam Byrne had to make a fine tip-over save before the visitors eventually drew level on 35 minutes, Aaron Comerford smashing the ball into the bottom corner of Byrne’s net.

Like the start of the first period, the second half was a slow burner, but it eventually came to life on 73 minutes when Duleek restored their advantage.

Possession was initially won by Robbie Daly and he linked up with Kavanagh and Caelan Duff before the ball was eventually worked forward to McGroggan. He got a touch ahead of the advancing keeper John Rogers, allowing substitute Duff the opportunity to finish in style - 2-1.

The drama was only beginning, though, as Quay forced a number of what turned out to be fruitless corners before Conail McArdle was denied by the post.

Duleek were left incensed by a decision just before the 90 minutes were up as Martin bore down on goal, was fouled but stayed on his feet and squared to McGroggan who tapped home just as the match official blew to signal the awarding of the original free kick.

There would have been no way back for Quay at 3-1, but after that let-off the Dundalk side pushed hard during injury time, forcing several more corner kicks.

They had pushed keeper Rogers into the box at this stage, and from the last of those set-pieces Duleek couldn’t clear their lines properly and the ball was scrambled past Byrne by Eanna McArdle for a cruel equaliser.

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