A poor start cost Drumconrath dearly as they ran Wolfe Tones close in a crucial IFC tie at Castletown. Wolfe Tones 1-12 Drumconrath 2-6 Another poor start was again the problem for Drumconrath as Tones notched 1-2 in the first eight minutes before depleted north Meath side came to life. The goal was of the soft nature as Tommy Dowd found Cian Ward unmarked inside the Drums backline and his miss hit shot looped into the top corner. Drumconrath, with Padraig McMahon giving a number of different markers the run around, came more into the game and McMahon notched two points and Leighton Irwin one as Drumconrath's tactics began to work. Tones pulled away with a dubious free and an Alan Fox point. Drumconrath's midfield of Austin Hickey and Pete McMahon had the upperhand all evening and Hickey with two great points closed the scoring for the first half. Drumconrath came out strong in the early part of the second half and some last ditch defending saved the Tones, especially when a defender cut out a Padraig McMahon pass to Leighton Irwin in a move that had goal written all over it. All the reds had to show for their effort was a Hickey point as Tones rattled off four in reply to go five up. With Terry Skelly getting to grips with the other teenager Ward, Kevin Flanagan having the best of his duel with Dowd and the other Flanagan, Brian, holding Fox, the Tones couldn't shake off the Reds as Padraig McMahon and Irwin had their backs and sideline in a panic. A well worked move resulted in the woodwork twice saving the Tones before McMahon finally put the ball over the line. Once again a number of soft frees gave the Kilberry boys some relief before an Austin Hickey goal left three in it and that the way it stayed. Strangely the result doesn't affect Drumconrath's chances as a win would not have benefited them as they must beat Na Fianna in the last round. Drumconrath - Sean Kane, Terry Skelly, Kevin Flanagan, Peter Tighe; Thomas Carolan, Brian Flanagan, Paul Carey; Pete McMahon, Austin Hickey[1-3]; Ronan McGahon, Sean Reilly, Jamie Myles; Alan Byrne, Padraig McMahon [1-2] and Leighton Irwin[0-1]. Sub Niall Carolan for Myles Tweet

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