Dawson strikes late to earn Dunlavin a draw

DUNLAVIN BALTINGLASS 1-12 1-12

to close out the opening quarter with the visitors leading 0-5 to 0-2.

Mark Reid, who was playing well, tagged on a point before Peadar Burke replied with another. Dunlavin cursed their luck after Shane O’Rourke laid a peach of a ball across to the on running Paul Murtagh who flicked the size five over Jackson’s head, but the ball crashed back out of the underside of the crossbar.

Dunlavin did, however, add two more points before the half-time whistle sounded with the sides level at seven points apiece.

Dunlavin won the throw in on the restart and a Marty Caplis effort all but crossed the goal-line but very honest umpiring didn’t raise the green flag.

After this escape, the visitors landed a trio of points from Peadar Burke and a brace from the energetic Jason Kennedy to close out the third quarter leading 0-10 to 0-7. However, the home side started to grow into the game with Eoin Murtagh stepping up the ante.

Murtagh landed a point from 65 meters, which hopped over the crossbar. Mark Reid added his second point, but Cian Lee responded with a goal for the visitors.

A period of eight minutes passed without either side adding to the tally with the visitors five points to the good with four to play.

Cian O’Sullivan pointed on the 60-minute mark as we went into added time.

O’Sullivan pointed again to reduce the lead to three. A high ball went into the danger area where, after a slight scramble, Daniel Dawson rose above Mark Jackson to finish to the net to level the match before the whistle sounded in the third minute of additional time.

It looks like Dunlavin will drop down to Division 1A next season while Baltinglass still have a bit to do with a mouthwatering winner takes all against neighbours Kiltegan this week. With Baltinglass, Kiltegan and Bray level on three points, it could come down to separate these three, however a draw would suit both the west teams. We hold our breath!

– Dunlavin: Cian O’Sullivan 0-6 (4f), Daniel Dawson 1-0, Mark Reid 0-2, Shane O’Rourke 0-1, James Walsh 0-1, Paul Murtagh 0-1, Eoin Murtagh 0-1.

Baltinglass: Cian Lee 1-1, Peadar Burke 0-3, Chris Heaslip 0-2, Dan Kelly 0-2, Jason Kennedy 0-2, John McGrath 0-1.

Tom McGuirk; Louis Caplis, Sean Phelan, Harry Coleborn; Daryl Huntley, Daniel Dawson, Alan O’Sullivan; Thomas Davis, Paul Murtagh; Mark Reid, Eoin Murtagh, James Walsh; Cian O’Sullivan, Sean O’Rourke, Marty Caplis. Subs: Niall Faherty, Timmy Metcalfe, MJ Moran, Mark O’Sullivan.

Mark Jackson; Aaron Barrett, Ian Sheeran, David Gethings; Patrick Burke, Billy Cullen, Cian Lee; Jason Kennedy, John Mc Grath; Brian Nolan, Daniel Kelly, Stephen Heaslip; Christopher Heaslip, Peadar Burke, Lee Furlong. Subs: Tadgh O’Toole, Brian Lord, John Murray, Mikey English. Dunlavin

Pat Dunne (Hollywood)

Scorers Dunlavin: Baltinglass: Venue: Referee: