Wexford team find Duleek a Bridge too far in Leinster
DULEEK BRIDGE ROVERS 3 1
DESPITE losing all five league games to date, Duleek are going well in the knockout competitions and this good home victory over Wexford opposition on Sunday steered them into round three of the Leinster Junior Cup.
However, Pete Brennan’s team had to fight off a second-half comeback of sorts from Bridge Rovers before finishing strongly to smooth their passage through to the next stage.
The Meath men drew first blood after half an hour when Matthew Noone made a late run into the box and toe-poked home at the back post at the end of a slick move that also involved Sean Kennedy, Barry Kavanagh and Colin Woods.
It was a deserved reward at that stage as Duleek, playing into a stiff breeze, looked the better side going forward, with Kavanagh and Robbie Daly also trying their luck from long range.
Kavanagh and Cormac McGroggan were picking up any loose balls and causing headaches for the Bridge defence, while Daly and James Guilfoyle performed well as the holding midfield players.
In the second half, though, Bridge became a much more potent force, led by their pacy substitute who became increasingly influential. It was he who latched onto a long ball and got in behind Gary Nugent before squaring to one of his teammates to tie the score at 1-1 less than 10 minutes after the restart.
For the remainder of the third quarter Duleek found themselves pegged back and in danger of conceding again, but gradually they went back to basics, kept the ball better and started to force a few corners and test the Bridge keeper.
Going past the 80-minute mark it was looking increasingly like extra time and possibly penalties would be required to separate these teams, but then Guilfoyle stepped up to the plate.
He managed to keep a faltering attack going by stretching to keep an over-hit ball in play, lifting it over a defender’s head before volleying to the net from close range.
Victory was secured in the last minute of normal time when McGroggan went by his marker and whipped in a cross towards Kennedy who beat the keeper in the air and glanced a header to the Bridge net.
DULEEK: Alan Sweeney, Sean Kennedy, Gary Nugent, Bryan Murphy, John Horan (Morgan Brown), Robbie Daly, James Guilfoyle, Matthew Noone, Cormac McGroggan, Barry Kavanagh, Colin Woods.
FRIDAY OCT 12th, 8.0
Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup:
Glenmuir United v Duleek, N Scott; Muirhevnamor v Carrick, Muirhevnamor Astro, B Gillespie.
Prem Div:
Rock Cel v Ardee Cel, D Carolan, B Murphy, K O’Brien.
O’Neills Sports Div 1:
Kingscourt Harps v OMP, Kingscourt Astro, J Gorman.
Div 4:
Castle Villa v Slane Wanderers, A O’Hanlon.
SATURDAY OCT 13th, 3.0 Reserve Cup Quarter-Final:
Newfoundwell v Kentstown, Drogheda DIFE Astro, P Henry.
Gerry Reilly Mem Cup:
Carrick 2nds v Redeemer Cel 2nds, Stephen Rooney; Torro 2nds v Virginia Cel 3rds, M Dowdall.
Prem Res:
Muirhevnamor v Duleek, Muirhevnamor Astro, Wayne Doyle; Trim Celtic v Boyne Harps, B Srdjan.
A Res:
Hazel Lane United v OMP United, Grammar School, Brendan Doyle; Parkvilla v Athboy Celtic, D Gaff; Rock Celtic v Square Utd, M Gallagher.
B Res:
Robinstown v Glenmuir Utd, D Gavagan; Virginia Celtic 2nds v Kilmessan, Kings Park, P Geraghty.
SUNDAY OCT 14th, 11.15
LFA Senior Cup Second Round
Evergreen FC v Trim Celtic, Kells Road Kilkenny, 2.0.
Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup:
Bay FC v Boyne Harps, A McNamara; Bellurgan v Johnstown, C Pierce; Athboy Cel v Newfoundwell, Premier Reserve ‘A’ Reserve ‘B’ Reserve