Duleek safe as Carrick condemned to the drop
IT’S been quite a turnaround for Duleek’s fortunes in recent weeks and they can now look forward to next weekend’s Tully Bookmakers Cup quarter-final in the knowledge that their Premier Division status is secure.
Pete Brennan’s team lost their opening five league games and looked to be in real danger of relegation, but they’ve since turned it around and victory over Carrick Rovers at the Tollstone on Sunday afternoon condemned the Monaghan outfit to the First Division.
Needing only a point to ensure their survival, Duleek rode their luck at times and Carrick twice struck the woodwork from set pieces early in the second half, when the score was still 0-0. So it was a cruel blow for the away side when Barry Kavanagh crossed towards Cormac McGroggan whose diving header nestled in the Carrick net on the hour mark.
Duleek doubled their advantage when Sean Kennedy put the ball into the box, Carrick failed to clear their lines and Kavanagh fired home at the second attempt after his initial effort had been blocked.
McGroggan then put the icing on the cake in the final minutes when he rolled the ball past the Carrick keeper for 3-0.
Reflecting on the result and its significance, Duleek skipper Bryan Murphy said: ‘It was massive. You need to stay in the Premier because if you drop into the First Division it can be difficult to get back out of it.
‘We got off to a bad start in the league and realised we had to start picking up points, and now it’ll be three on the bounce if we win our last game. We’ve the Cup to come as well and we feel confident going into that game because we’ve beaten Trim already in the league.’ •The August, September and October awards in the NEFL Team of the Month have gone to Donacarney Celtic, Square United and Boyne Harps respectively. Each club will receive a €300 sports voucher from O’Neills Sports.