St Peters 1-8 Duleek Bellewstown 1-21

This was an encouraging start to their IFC campaign by Duleek-Bellewstown. Facing last year’s Junior Champions, Duleek-Bellewstown were slow to start and were three points down within the first 5 minutes of the game. However, they struck back with two points from Conall McGinley and one from John McDonnell between the 7th and 9th minute to level matters. The sides swapped points before Duleek-Bellewstown hit a purple patch, scoring 1-4 in a ten-minute spell. The goal came from Jamie Crosby, who also added a point, while John Flood added 2 points and Podge Howard got one. This left the score at 1-8 to 0-4 in favour of the East Meath side. In the first minute of injury time, Dunboyne were handed a lifeline when the Duleek-Bellewstown defence conceded a penalty which was dispatched to the net despite the valiant efforts of Anthony Dowling. The sides added a further point each to leave the score at half time : Duleek-Bellewstown 1-9; Dunboyne 1-5.

The second half was dominated by Duleek-Bellewstown. Jamie Flaherty, with a surging run from midfield, opened the scoring. The sides swapped scores again, with the Duleek-Bellewstown score coming from a placed ball from Anthony Dowling. Duleek-Bellewstown added three further points from Jamie Crosby, Conall McGinley and Anthony Dowling before Dunboyne replied with a point. The pattern was repeated for Duleek-Bellewstown with scores from John Flood (0-2) and Brian Moore before Dunboyne registered their last score (0-1) of the game in the 52nd minute. The East meath boys added a further 4 points from Robin Clarke (0-2), Mark Collins (0-1) and Jamie Flaherty (0-1) to run out convincing winners by a margin of 13 points

The Duleek-Bellewstown defence marshalled the Dunboyne forwards excellently and their distribution of the ball out of defence provided the forwards with great scoring opportunities. Both Robin Clarke and Shane Crosby performed well in midfield and created good opening when moving forward in possession. The forward line took their opportunities very well, with John Flood and Jamie Crosby having fine games.

Duleek-Bellewstown: Anthony Dowling (0-2); Jason Branigan, Kevin McCann, Stephen McArdle; David Moore, Brian Moore (0-1), Gary Reddy; Shane Crosby, Robin Clarke (0-2); John Flood (0-6), Jamie Flaherty (0-2), Jamie Crosby (1-2); John McDonnell (0-1), James McWeeney, Conall McGinley (0-3)

Subs : Podge Howard (0-1) for James Mc Weeney; Mark Collins (0-1) for Conall McGinley; Eanna Byrne for Shane Crosby; Ciaran Flynn for Podge Howard.

Dunboyne Report

St Peters 1-8 Duleek Bellewstown 1-21

Duleek Bellewstown recorded a comfortable victory over last years Junior Football Championship winners Dunboyne in this opening round of the IFC played in perfect conditions at Ratoath.

Michael Dunne scored the Dunboyne goal but they went in at the break 1-9 to 1-5 in arrears.

Dunboyne: T O Connor, D Boylan, G Timoney, P Cagney, M Daly, B Carolan 0-1, E Ryan, F Watters, B Mc Brien, B Comer 0-1, J Cox, G Prior, D Nolan 0-1, M Dunne 1-3 and J Daly 

Subs: S Melia for T O Connor D Gallagher for G Prior S Weston for P Cagney and S McGrath 0-1 for D Nolan 

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