Flood score decisive in tight finish
DULEEK-B’STOWN CURRAHA 1-10 0-12
JOHN FLOOD’S sixth point of the hour secured a vital away victory for Duleek-Bellewstown over their neighbours to increase their chance of securing promotion.
The hosts started brightly and their direct style of play created frees which were converted to leave them 3-1 ahead after five minutes, Flood on target with the Duleek-Bellewstown point from a free.
Despite having their fair share of possession for the remainder of the half the visitors went into the break five points in arrears, 0-2 to 0-7, with Stephen Nolan converting another free close to half-time.
Curraha increased their lead to seven following two further points at the start of the second half before Jamie Flaherty added to Duleek-Bellewstown’s tally.
It was during this third quarter that the Duleek-Bellewstown midfield partnership of Mick Dowling and Eanna Byrne began to gain supremacy. The half back line of Shane Crosby, Robin Clarke and Jamie Flaherty also provided a barrier to Curraha’s running game and gained a stranglehold.
The recovery kick-started when John Flood pointed after good work on the right from Jamie Crosby and he then claimed a second successive point when a goal looked more likely.
That goal did come from the next attack as Gary Reilly broke up a promising Curraha move and set up John McDonnell who broke clear of his marker and buried the ball to the roof of the net.
Another McDonnell point then had the gap down to the minimum, but two frees from the home side had the cushion back to three. Flood, from another free, and a trademark Shane Crosby point left the minimum between the sides with five minutes remaining.
Another Flood point brought the sides level and after winning the breaking ball from the subsequent kickout Flood was fouled and he kicked the resultant free.
Curraha had a last-gasp chance to draw level but were wide from a ‘45.
DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN: A Dowling; D Teeling, D Moore, K McCann; S Crosby 0-1, R Clarke, J Brannigan; Eanna Byrne, M Dowling; J Crosby, J Flood 0-6, S Townley; J McDonnell 1-1, S Nolan 0-3, G Reilly. Subs: J Flaherty for Brannigan, J Roche for Townley, P McGroggan for Roche.