Bective 3-10 Duleek Bellewstown 1-13
Bective travelled to Duleek for this final round league match with a clear understanding that they must win to have a chance of playing in Div 2 in 2020.
It was Duleek Bellewstown, without some of their stars, that got off the mark first with a fine point from play after 2 minutes. Bective were showing plenty of resolve but were getting quickly closed down and it took an enterprising moment from Jack Clarke to break through the defence and blast to the net on 3 minutes. Cathal McConnell fired over after a fine run on 6 minutes but Duleek Bellewstown pointed on the 6th, 10th and 15th minutes to go ahead. Both teams were managing the ball efficiently and Mark O’Brien got his first point on 16 minutes followed by Ciaran Mc Connell firing over on 17 minutes. Duleek Bellewstown drew level but again Jack Clarke struck to the net after a fast inter passing move. A further point from Duleek Bellewstown was replied to by an O’Brien point and this was repeated again a minute later. The half finished when Paul McCabe pointed for a foul on Mark Usher. Bective 2 – 6, Duleek Bellewstown 0 – 7.
Duleek Bellewstown scored first in the second half with a fine point but it was now Mark Dowdall’s turn to hit the net for Bective after 4 minutes. Bective piled on the pressure and points from O’Brien, Paul Lyness, and two pointed free kicks from McCabe put them 11 points ahead on 15 minutes into the half. This seemed to awaken Duleek Bellewstown and they attacked enforce and fired over 5 points without reply. Bective replaced some key players and were finding it difficult to carry good possession up field. Defending was strong but it took a fine save from Bective goalie Jack Grant to keep a 7 point lead intact. However the onslaught on the Bective goal continued and Duleek Bellewstown fired to the net with 5 minutes left to play. A further Duleek Bellewstown point left a goal in it and 5 minutes of injury time saw frantic defending as Bective saw out the game without conceding any further scores.
Bective will now have a play-off with Walterstown who are third in Division 3.
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