Relegation battle looms for Duleek
DULEEK BELLURGAN UNITED 1 4
BELLURGAN United virtually guaranteed Premier safety moving into the new summer season following this big win at the Tollstone, while putting a big question mark over Duleek’s top-flight status for 2019.
The win on Sunday at the Tollstone moved the Peninsula side up into joint third, while Duleek stay rooted at the bottom along with Carrick, with both those teams still pointless.
In the opening half-an-hour of this vital game neither side was prepared to yield, but Bellurgan struck twice in the closing minutes of the half.
Great play down the left saw Sean Matthews cross for Sean Maguire to head bravely pasat Alan Sweeney and Chris Lotefa doubled the visitors’ advantage from a move initiated by a brilliant interception from Stephen Finnegan to snuff out a dangerous situation in his own half.
Duleek were the dominant side after the break, and they reduced the deficit to the minimum through Sean Kennedy before the key moment occurred in the match.
The home side had the chance to draw level when they were awarded a penalty, but Robert Arthur brought off a magnificent save from the normally lethal Barry Kavanagh.
Brian White and Lotefa gained control again of affairs for Bellurgan and their substitute Saheed allowed them to breathe easier when he made it 3-1.
Then a great piece of team play down the left ended with substitute Shane O’Brien cleverly heading past his marker and running on to finish in style and seal the outcome.
DULEEK: Alan Sweeney, Chris McDonnell, Gary Nugent, Eric Browne, Bryan Murphy, Robbie Daly (Gareth Toal), James Burke (John Horan), Sean Kennedy, Cormac McGroggan, Matthew Noone, Barry Kavanagh (Jordan Duffy).