Duleek suffer major setback
DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN hopes of a place in the knockout stages of the IFC hangs by a thread following this defeat at Skryne on Friday evening.
The east Meath outfit need to beat Bective in the final round match to advance, which will be a tough task as the Navan parish side are not yet certain of qualification.
Ballinlough’s victory was secured in the middle third of the match as, after trailing 0-4 to 0-8 25 minutes into the game, they reeled off five successive points to lead entering the final quarter.
Duleek-Bellewstown opened brightly and were two points to the good from a Steven Nolan free and Shane Townley from play. Ballinlough replied with their opening score, but with John Flood and Micheál Dowling
Points in as many minutes from Paddy Farrelly and Rowe (two) had the teams level and Rowe then pointed Syddan ahead for the first time on 20 minutes.
The teams were level on three further occasions after that before Syddan enjoyed a minimum lead at half-time.
Dunderry started the second half in similar fashion to the first, with Luke Martyn applying the finish touch to a Liam Dempsey delivery for his side’s second goal. That Dunderry lead extended to three points, but again Syddan responded to be on level terms, 0-13 to 2-7, heading into the final quarter.
The lead changed hands twice after that, with Rowe edging Syddan in front before points from Kelly
Ballinlough 0-13 Duleek-B’stn 0-12
on target the gap remained at two points until Robin Clarke - with a great effort - extended the Duleek-Bellewstown lead.
That gap widened to four following a John McDonnell effort and at that stage it was looking good for the combined outfit.
However, with former county star Peadar Byrne prominent, Ballinlough halved that lead before the break, leaving it 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval.
The difference was down to the minimum within 30 seconds of the restart and by the 37th minute Byrne has shot the equalising score.
They were ahead by the end of the third quarter and extended and Stephen Coogan restored the Dunderry lead.
Rowe levelled from play and then kicked the lead point from a free. He doubled his side’s advantage on 58 minutes before Paddy Farrelly left three between the teams in added time. SYDDAN: Peter Sheehy; Mark Fedigan, Ryan Summersby, Kevin Garland; Stuart Fedigan, Andrew Garland, Kevin Traynor; Daire Rowe 0-12 (9fs), Sean Clare 0-1; Michael Fedigan, Paddy Farrelly 0-2, Graham Garland; Cormac Rowe, Cathal Dardis 0-1, Padraic Dillon 0-2. Subs: Gary Farrelly for Dardis, Brian Dillon for S Fedigan, Cormac Rafferty for Mark Fedigan.
DUNDERRY: David Jennings; Aaron Newman, Morgan Callaghan, Alan Watters; Oisin Martyn 0-1, Conor Dempsey, David McCormack; Liam Dempsey, Conor Farrell; Paddy Kennelly, Dermot Kelly 1-4 (2fs), Jordan Martin 0-1; Stephen Coogan 0-1, Luke Martyn 1-2, Conor Daly. that lead on 49 minutes.
Steven Nolan eventually ended a long sequence without a score for Duleek-Bellewstown. The sides swapped scores twice after that, with Nolan and John Flood on target for Duleek-Bellewstown.
Byrne extended the Ballinlough lead before Shane Crosby replied at the other end.
Duleek-Bellewstown had opportunities to snatch an equaliser, but the Ballinlough defence fought tenaciously to preserve their lead. DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN: Anthony Dowling; Des Teeling, David Moore, Kevin McCann; Shane Crosby 0-1, Brian Moore, Robin Clarke 0-1; Jamie Flaherty, Micheál Dowling 0-1; John Flood 0-5, Shane Townley, Jamie Crosby; John McDonnell 0-1, Steven Nolan 0-3, Gary Reilly; Subs: Jack Roche for Reilly, Stephen McArdle, for Townley, Darren Heeney for J Crosby.