Dunne kicks late leveller for Monageer-Boolavogue

MATTHEW DUNNE kicked a late equalising point as Monageer-Boolavogue snatched a draw in a game they probably should have won in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship Group B at Hollymount recently.

The levelling free came after a powerful Mick Sweeney run was halted illegally, 30 metres from goal, and Dunne held his nerve to kick his seventh score, giving his side their first point of the campaign.

It all seemed to be going swimmingly for his side as they build a substantial interval lead. Chris Daly opened the scoring for Monageer-Boolavogue, and the lively Mark Gahan, plus wing-backs Micheál Gahan and Niall O’Reilly, also added points as they moved 0-7 to 0-2 ahead at the break.

Dean Wright had the only Blackwater score from play in the period, and the Over The Water side looked to be in a serious amount of trouble, with the excellent Morgan Gahan leading a Monageer-Boolavogue defence that seemed in miserly form.

However, as the contest moved towards the end of the third quarter, Diarmuid Murphy set up Richard Blake for the opening goal, a score that moved Blackwater back within a kick of the ball.

Clearly lifted by the goal, the Wexford District side really hit their groove. After halving the deficit with a point, Blackwater took their first lead when Darren Byrne soloed in from his position in the half-forward line and fired past Niall Finn.

Trailing by 2-6 to 0-10 as the game moved into the last few minutes, Monageer-Boolavogue began to regain their foothold.

A Dunne free left the minimum between the sides into added-time, and he made no mistake with the leveller a short time later.

Monageer-Boolavogue: Niall Finn; Morgan Gahan, Conall Nolan, Arran Breslin; Micheál Gahan (0-1), Paddy Breen, Niall O’Reilly (0-1); Ian Hawkins, Chris Daly (0-1); Mick Sweeney, Shane Kehoe, Diarmuid Fenlon; Mark Gahan (0-2), Matthew Dunne (0-7, 5 frees), Cathal Walsh. Sub. - Seán McCabe for O’Reilly.

Blackwater: Robert O’Leary; Aaron Culleton, Anthony Roche, Kieran Roche; Diarmuid Murphy, Paul O’Leary, Kevin O’Brien; Dean Wright, Denis Carroll; Jake Nobbs, Richard Blake, Darren Byrne; Dean Whelan, Kerill Sutton, Mick Lillis. Sub. - Darragh Doyle for Sutton.

Referee: Jack Stafford (Clongeen).