Goals are crucial in Duleek success
Duleek-B’st’n 2-12 Bective 0-12
DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN secured the victory needed to keep alive their IFC hopes at Seneschalstown last Saturday.
The win set up a preliminary quarter-final clash against Dunderry, with Oldcastle’s 16-point win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne denying the east Meath men a last-eight spot on score difference.
The goals, both of which arrived in the opening half, decided the issue, though Bective would have been much closer at half-time had they been a little more lethal in front of the posts.
Overall, though, Duleek-Bellewstown were the superior outfit and Bective were unable to match their composure on the ball or their greater work ethic throughout the pitch.
Micheál Dowling, Jamie Flaherty and the roving Padraig McGroggan worked hard around the midfield area for the winners and they received great back-up from a strong half back line of Shane Crosby, Brian Moore and Robin Clarke.
John Flood took the scoring honours with 1-6 and he also acted as provider for his side’s first score which was finished to the net by John McDonnell. Jamie Crosby and McDonnell also worked tirelessly, while McGroggan struck two excellent points.
Bective were without the injured Sean Keating and that proved a blow to their chances of advancing. They had a plentiful supply of possession in the opening half but didn’t always make the best use of it.
Paul McCabe pointed them ahead early on and the game was in the eighth minute when Bective squandered possession and Flood set up McDonnell who made no mistake to give his side the perfect start.
A Cathal McConnell point and a brace from Mark O’Brien had Bective back in front on 12 minutes and the Duleek-Bellewstown goal had a few narrow escapes after that as Bective attempted to press home their superiority.
Marty Mulhall rattled an effort off the underside of the crossbar when he was straight through on goal and then Cathal McConnell could only find the side netting when he should have done better.
After overcoming those scares, the eventual winners settled into the match and McGroggan shot the first of his points on 19 minutes.
Moments later Duleek-Bellewstown had their second goal when Robin Clarke won possession from a Bective kickout and found the unmarked Flood who produced a fine finish.
Flood converted two frees after that and Jamie Crosby added a point, while Mulhall pointed at the other end in the same period to leave it 2-4 to 0-5 at the break.
Duleek-Bellewstown continued in the second half where they left off in the first, with Flood from play and Steven Nolan (free) stretching the lead to seven points by the 33rd minute. Earlier, Bective keeper Ciaran Breslin did well to keep out an effort from Nolan.
Nolan converted another free before Bective enjoyed a productive spell during which they registered three points, all from placed balls.
Mulhall converted a ‘45, while Paul McCabe hit over two points from frees.
Flood struck a timely point at the end of the third quarter and he added another from a free on 47 minutes. Robin Clarke then linked up with his attack to stretch the lead back to eight points and McGroggan tagged on another score.
Bective finished with points from McConnell (two) and McCabe, but they could never find a way through for the goal needed to make it an interesting finish. DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN: Finn Harford; Des Teeling, David Moore, Kevin McCann; Shane Crosby, Brian Moore, Robin Clarke 0-1; Jamie Flaherty, Micheál Dowling; John Flood 1-6 (4f), Shane Townley, Jamie Crosby 0-1; John McDonnell 1-0, Steven Nolan 0-2fs, Padraig McGroggan 0-2. Subs: Jack Roche for Townley (53), Stephen McArdle for Flaherty (55), Eanna Byrne for Nolan, Ciaran Flynn for McDonnell (both 57).
BECTIVE: Ciaran Breslin; Ben Malone, Diarmuid Rogers, Jack Grant; Donagh Garvey, Jarlath Brennan, Colin O’Rourke; Kevin Brennan, Ciaran McConnell; Craig Roche, Marty Mulhall 0-2 (1’45’), Paul McCabe 0-4 (3f); Cathal McConnell 0-4 (2f), Mark O’Brien 0-2, Paul Lyness. Subs: Brian Cantwell for Lyness (h-t), Michael Lyness for Mulhall (49), David Fitzpatrick for O’Rourke(52), Gary Brennan for Rogers (60).