IFC final: Duleek-Bellewstown end final heartbreak to claim Mattie McDonnell Cup

Kyle Doherty surveys his options for Duleek Bellewstown as Navan O'Mahony's Niall McGrane and Niall Higgins gives chase during the IFC final at Devenish Park

Duleek Bellewstown 2-17 Navan O'Mahonys 1-10

After disappointment in the 2022 and 2023 finals, Duleek-Bellewstown finally got their hands on the Mattie McDonnell Cup following this dominant display against Navan O’Mahony’s in front of a large crowd at Devenish Park.

Apart from the opening ten minutes of the second half, Anthony Malone’s men were never in trouble.

After a slow start, Shane Crosby got the scoreboard working with a mighty two-pointer. Cormac Nugent, who was seeing plenty of the ball, sent over twice for the Hoops to level matters, but that was as good as it got for the Navan outfit in the opening half.

Another two-pointer from Crosby was followed by points from Oisín Miland (2), Tom Bowden and Sam O’Leary to open up a 0-8 to 0-2 lead.

Aodhán Mallon and Paddy Dillon responded for Darren Clarke’s charges, but they went into the half-time break trailing 0-9 to 0-4.

Whatever was said in the O’Mahony’s dressing room at half-time worked. Playing with the breeze, unusually blowing down the field at Dunganny, Dillon gave them the perfect start with a two-pointer and minutes later full-forward Evan Coffey was in for a goal.

Substitute Robbie Keelaghan and centre-back Niall McGrane got in on the scoring act before Mallon landed a glorious two-pointer and, all of a sudden, O’Mahony’s were in front, 1-10 to 0-10.

Duleek-Bellewstown looked shell-shocked, but they refused to panic and the introduction of Alan Bowden had the desired effect.

The former Meath U20 star steadied the ship with a point and, within five minutes, had another two to his name to level matters.

From there on, it was all about the team in green and gold. Holding their opponents scoreless, and with Robin Clarke and Eamonn Armstrong exerting their dominance around the middle, they took control.

A Sam O’Leary goal was followed by Bowden’s fourth point. O’Leary added his second point before Crosby netted from the penalty spot.

Eoghan Heeney and veteran John Flood completed the scoring spree as Duleek-Bellewstown secured the intermediate title.

After the game, Ray Finnegan presented the Mattie McDonnell Cup to Duleek-Bellewstown captain Robin Clarke.

Duleek-Bellewstown: Ryan Lynch, Cillian Kirwan, Colm Regan, Glen Callaghan, Cianan Byrne, Tom Bowden 0-1, Oisín Miland 0-2, Shane Crosby 1-4, Robin Clarke 0-1, Kyle Doherty, Eamonn Armstrong, Sam O’Leary 1-2, Johnny McDonnell 0-1, John Flood 0-1, Joe Hartford. Subs: Alan Bowden 0-4, Eoghan Heeney 0-1, Kyle Callaghan, Elliot Lenehan, Robert Caffrey.

Navan O’Mahony’s: Jamie O’Reilly, Darragh Murphy, Paddy Dillon 0-3 (one two-pointer), Conor Brady, Darragh Maguire, Niall McGrane 0-1, Sean Betson, Niall Higgins, Aodhán Mallon 0-3 (one two-pointer, one free), Ivo Fitzherbert, Jack Quinn, Duggie Dillon, Ronan Clarke, Evan Coffey 1-0, Cormac Nugent 0-2. Subs: Robbie Keelaghan 0-1 for Clarke, Eoghan Nugent for Maguire, Conor Finnegan for Fitzherbert, Christy Dillon for Quinn, Shane McCarthy for Dillon.

Referee: Andrew Smith.