Califf free rescues draw for Dreadnots

Dreadnots Clan na Gael 1-13 2-10

JAMES Califf pointed a late free to rescue a draw for Dreadnots in a lively contest against Clan na Gael at Clogherhead on Saturday night.

The Dundalk men were playing their first game in Division 1 for six years and looked set to mark the occasion with victory when they were denied by the combination of a disputed penalty and Califf’s free as the reigning Cardinal O’Donnell champions grabbed a draw.

In a tense finale, both teams had chances to win the game but failed to find the target and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Dreadnots made their intentions clear from the outset as they began on the front foot and were rewarded with the first three points of the game, before Clans battled back to level matters.

The hosts edged ahead by two points before Billy Smith fired home the first goal of the game from the penalty spot to help send the Dundalk men in at the break leading by 1-6 to 0-7.

The game was turned on its head once again at the start of the second half as the Dreadnots kicked the first four points to lead by two, but once again they were unable to build on that lead as the visitors regained the initiative.

With the help of points from Mark McGeown the Clans edged ahead by a point before a Conall McKeever goal put them in a strong position, with a four-point advantage entering the closing stages.

Dreadnots refused to give up and got back into the game when Paraic Smith fired to the net from a contentious penalty before Califf landed the equaliser from a free.