JFC: All square with Drums and Bective
May 05, 2012
All eyes on the ball from Drumconrath's Chris Tighe and Bective's Ciaran McConnell during the Meath JFC at Kilberry. TO VIEW A SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS GAME CLICK HERE
Bective 1-7
Drumconrath came within 30 seconds on their First 1st team Championship win since August 2007 when a
late late free of the softest variety gave pre competition favourites a lucky escape from Kilberry on Friday evening. Bective found the tenacity of the Drumconrath players too much to handle for the majority and Drums probably defended their lead from too far out and invited Bective back into the game.
Drumconrath with 4 starters from round 1 all out injured, Thomas Carolan, Brendan Lyons, Aiden Tighe and Derek Duff but they started at a good pace and Leighton Irwin pointed early on, Bective did level the game with a free but an unbelievable side line kick from Alan Byrne no more than 10 metres from the end line put Drums ahead again. Drumconrath born Philip Treacy levelled the game and Irwin pushed Drums ahead with another free.
Byrne sized up another sideline and while it fell short midfielder Sean McMahon rose highest to fist to the net. Drums where rampant at that stage and Jamie Myles raced forward to point. Marty Mulhall did point a free to narrow the gap and when Treacy raced through and passed inside a clumsy Drumconrath challenge gave the Bective team a reprieve as the referee signalled a penalty. Mulhall made no mistake from the spot kick and there was only a point in the game.
Stephan Crosby was having a mighty game at midfield for the Reds and he was well supported by Oran Finnegan, Alan McEvoy and Myles. Christopher Tighe got on the end of another Byrne through ball to flick the ball over the bar just on half time and was unlucky maybe not to have goaled as Drums retired 1-5 to 1-3 in the lead.
The 2nd half started in the same vein with Drumconrath dominating around the middle but unlike the 1st half where finding it hard to get shots on target Irwin did point a free to extend the lead but Bective countered with a similar score. Stalemate was the order of the day for the next 10 minutes until Sean Kane strode forward to point a 45 with 12 minutes to go. Bective had Paul McCabe sent off on a 2nd yellow soon after as Drumconrath defended a 4 point lead. Two Bective points narrowed the gap and with 6 minutes to go Drums Damien Glass also went early after a 2nd yellow.
Mulhall pointed a free and when it looked like Drumconrath would hold out for a deserved win,Alan McEvoy appeared to be fouled but the Referee taught otherwise and gave that late late free which drew the game as the final whistle sounded on the kickout.
Sean Kane who made 1 fine save, Oran Finnegan, Jamie Myles, Peter Tighe, Stephan Crosby and Alan McEvoy played well while up front Alan Byrne and Niall Martin had good moments.
Drumconrath; Sean Kane (0-1); Patrick Dunne, Brian Hanratty, Oran Finnegan; Jamie Myles (0-1), Peter Tighe, John McDermott; Stephan Crosby, Sean McMahon (1-0); Damien Glass, Christopher Tighe (0-1), Niall Martin; Alan Byrne (0-1), Leighton Irwin (0-3), Alan McEvoy.
Bective: Shane Breslin, Ben Malone, Jack Grant, Brian Gaffney; Paul McCabe, Ciaran McConnell, Craig Roche; Ciaran Reilly, Paul Lyness; John Fagan, Philip Treacy (0 - 1), Marty Mulhall (1 - 4); Brian Cantwell (0 - 1), Ruairi Russell, Mark O Brien (0 - 1). Subs. Jarlath Brennan, Ger Cahill, Gary Brennan. Tweet
