Barry’s double boosts Duleek
DULEEK BELLURGAN UNITED 2 1
BARRY Kavanagh’s deadly double at the Tollstone on Sunday afternoon has handed Duleek a lifeline in their battle against relegation and plunged Bellurgan nearer to the drop zone.
The peninsula side’s encouraging start to the season seems a long time ago at this stage and this was their sixth defeat from their last seven games, with Colm McConville now tasked with turning things around after being appointed as the new manager.
Interim manager Martin Finnegan was in charge after guiding them to a win over bottom club Kingscourt the previous Sunday, but he couldn’t repeat the feat due to an inspired display by Duleek goalkeeper Keith Martin and the away side’s inability to convert a raft of fine scoring opportunities.
After the first 25 minutes Bellurgan could have had the points wrapped up. Paddy Keenan was within inches of putting them ahead after five minutes, and five minutes later Martin made a brilliant stop to deny Ciaran Sheelan, the first of many vital saves he pulled off in the game.
Bellurgan’s day was summed up when Stephen Finnegan brought out another outstanding save from Martin who pushed the ball out, leaving what looked like a simple tap-in for Ciaran Sheelan, only for the ball to hit the post and ran back into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Martin was called into action yet again on the half-hour when he produced another excellent save from a goal-bound free kick by Sheelan, and in the early stages of the second half Bellurgan’s tale of woe continued when Keenan struck the post.
To compound matters, two defensive mistakes in the space of five minutes yielded goals for Duleek mid-way through, both of them scored by sharpshooter Kavanagh.
Ciaran Sheelan won a spot kick for the visitors 15 minutes from time, and John Smith cut the deficit to the minimum, ensuring a nervy finish for Duleek and their manager Pete Brennan.
However, the hosts were able to hang on for three crucial points, thanks in no small measure to Martin who in the latter stages made a remarkable save from Ciaran Sheelan when the striker firmly met Daniel O’Connor’s cross with his head inside the six-yard box.
Bellurgan pressed on and carved out three more opportunities in the closing five minutes, but Martin defied them to the end. DULEEK: Keith Martin, Robbie Daly, Jamie Flaherty, Bryan Murphy, Caelan Duff, Jamie O’Leary, James Burke, Gareth Toal, Cormac McGroggan, Matthew Noone, Barry Kavanagh.