Duleek lads see off Simonstown in final

DULEEK won the Meath under-14 rural football championship for the sixth time in the present decade when defeating Simonstown Gaels by 2-4 to 2-1 in an exciting final at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, on Sunday evening.

The east Meath boys came from behind to take the title after they had trailed by five points. 0-2 to 2-1, at the interval. Although Duleek opened with an Anthony Cudden point after eight minutes the Navan parish side settled down to play some nice football and when half forwards David Smith and Aidan O’Hare score goals in the 13th and 14th minutes It looked as if they might take their first county crown.

However, things were different on the change of ends and when favoured by the breeze Duleek began to dominate. With the Simonstown backs putting in some great work and Timmy Sullivan in great form in goals initially Duleek found scores hard to come by.

Donal Walsh sent over a point before Sullivan was unlucky to have an attempted clearance and from the resultant goalmouth scramble Ronan Kilmurray edged the ball over the goal line.

Martin Meegan had the sides on level terms with a point before Anthony Cudden fisted in the winning goal.

Best for the winners were Kevin Powderly in goals. Christy Murray, Liam O’Brien and David Keelan in the backs, Andrew Watters at midfield and Martin Meegan. Anthony Cudden and Donal Walsh up front.

Most prominent for Simonstown were Ken Keelan, Des Farrell and Nigel McDermott in defence, Paul Kavanagh showed promise.

Scorers: Duleek — A, Cudden (1-1), R. Kilmurray (1-0), D. Walsh (0-2), M. Meegan 0-1.