Last-gasp point is crucial for Pat’s
ST PATRICK’S DUNSHAUGHLIN 1-10 0-12
NEVER-SAY-DIE St Patrick’s kept alive their hopes of a place in the knockout stages of the Fairyhouse Steel SFC when eking out a precious victory in miserable conditions at Ashbourne last week.
Substitute Niall Whearty hit the winning point in the fourth minute of added time to boost the Stamullen side’s hopes of a preliminary quarter-final against either Seneschalstown or Navan O’Mahony’s.
To achieve that aim they need to get something from their finaltie against Na Fianna next Sunday in Walterstown.
Even a draw will be sufficient for Niall Russell’s men against the Enfield/Baconstown outfit that reached Keegan Cup deciders in 2013 and 2015. However, Na Fianna will go into Sunday’s clash minus Jamie Queeney who is injured, Dalton McDonagh (abroad) and Ollie Lewis (retired).
In the early stages against Dunshaughlin it looked as if St Patrick’s might have fears of a relegation play-off to contend with after they went five points in arrears - 0-2 to 0-7 - within 16 minutes. However the resilient east Meath side dug deep and by half-time were just two points behind, 0-5 to 0-7.
Donal Landy’s goal on 34 minutes had the sides level and there was little to choose between the teams from there to the final whistle.
Landy had St Patrick’s opening score within a minute of the start, but Dunshaughlin then hit successive points from Niall Murphy, Ben Duggan, Cathal O’Dwyer and Fergus Toolan to lead 0-4 to 0-1 by the ninth minute.
Shane Landy replied with a point from a free at the other end, but Anthony Moyles’ side continued to dominate, with further scores from Ray Maloney, Toolan and O’Dwyer.
It was beginning to look bleak for St Patrick’s at that stage, but Niall Mooney got them going with a point and then two furthers scores in the run-up to the break from Shane Dowling and Mooney (free) had them back in contention.
Midfielder Adam Kealy pointed for Dunshaughlin three minutes into the second half, before St Patrick’s struck for the game’s only goal. David Stafford made a great surge forward before Mooney centred for Donal Landy to knock the ball to the net.
Alan Vickers then kicked a fine score with the outside of his boot to put St Patrick’s ahead, but Niall Murphy hit back to equalise and the sides were still level entering the final quarter.
Points from Shane Landy and Neil O’Flaherty edged St Patrick’s two clear by the 51st minute. Fergus Toolan replied with a point and the game was in the third minute of added time when substitute Trevor Dowd drew the teams level from a free.
At that stage it looked as if the sides would have to settle for a share of the spoils, but right at the death another sub had the final say - much to the delight of the St Patrick’s contingent.
ST PATRICK’S: Robert Cluskey; David McQuillan, Kieran Lynch, Adam Byrne; Shane Byrne, Diarmuid Quinn, David Stafford; Barry Mooney, Alan Vickers 0-1; Neil O’Flaherty 0-1, Darren Hagan, Shane Landy 0-2 (1f); Shane Dowling 0-1, Donal Landy 1-1, Niall Mooney 0-3 (1f). Subs: Niall Whearty 0-1 for Dowling (43), Michael McNulty for Quinn (49), Dowling for S Landy (59), Ray Russell for McNulty (60).
DUNSHAUGHLIN: Adam McDermott; Alastar Doyle, Caoimhin King, Dan Ormsby; David Dunne, Michael Ahern, Tadhg O Dushlaine; John Crimmins, Adam Kealy 0-1; Tommy Johnson, Ray Maloney 0-1, Ben Duggan 0-1; Fergus Toolan 0-4 (2f), Niall Murphy 0-2, Cathal O’Dwyer 0-2 (1f). Subs: Jack Hetherington for O Dushlaine (43), Eoin Hagarty for Kealy (45), Ronan Geraghty for Johnson (49), Trevor Dowd 0-1f for O’Dwyer (59).
REF: Patrick Nelis (Kilmainham)