Duleek still in bother as Harps edge six-pointer
IT was a weekend of mixed fortune for Duleek AFC as their senior side narrowly lost 2-1 at home to Kingscourt Harps in a relegation six-pointer while the reserves moved closer to a possible league title with a 4-1 win at home to Trim Celtic in the NEFL Premier Reserve Division.
On Sunday the first team started the brighter of the two sides creating a number of early chances and their pressure paid off on 17 minutes when Sean Kennedy headed home Barry Kavanagh’s byline cross to make it 1-0.
Duleek looked comfortable either side of half time having very little defending to do and perhaps they were too relaxed.
A Kingscourt counter-attack on 65 minutes saw the away side draw level after Duleek failed to track the runners. The momentum seemed to swing in Kingscourt’s favour.
They continued to apply the pressure and got their just rewards on 80 minutes after a mistake at the back for Duleek. Another long ball from Kingscourt found the back of the net and while Duleek had a couple of half chances in the final ten minutes to salvage something from the game, they left themselves a little too much to do.
Kingscourt headed home with three points in the bag and Duleek now need to dust themselves down in double quick fashion with an away tie against Navan Cosmos this coming Wednesday.
The reserves remain in contention for league honours with one game remaining. After a scrappy opening period they broke the deadlock on 10 minutes.
Colin Woods finding Shane Murray with a great ball out wide, and Murray’s cross was tapped in by Cormac McGroggan.
Caelan Duff doubled the home side’s advantage after 27 minutes, again a clever through ball from Woods found Duff going around the on rushing keeper, and calmly finish to make it 2-0. Trim pulled one back after 42 minutes, a throw in on the left was flicked on to break the last line of defence and finish to the far corner.
Duleek finally got some breathing space in the 72nd minute. Joey Martin found Colin Woods unmarked inside the box, and Woods made no mistake from close range.
Substitute Daniel Martin again proved invaluable to Duleek late on in the game. In the dying minutes he won the ball back on the right, and his through ball to brother Joey was calmly finished to seal all three points.