Bective (Meath) 2-8
Cashel (Longford) 0-10

Bective grabbed a dramatic Leinster Club JFC win over Cashel at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon.

Jody Devine's men displayed admirable resilience to snatch victory from an unpromising situation.

When Cashel's Andrew Farrell punched Gary Kenny's sideline kick over the bar at the old swimming pool end the scores were tied, 0-10 to 1-7.

Bective were already down to 14-men from the 56th minute when full-back Jack Grant picked up a black card to go with a yellow one incurred earlier.

Grant came to his side's rescue nine minutes in when keeping out Aidan Rowan's goal attempt. During the third quarter Bective 'keeper Shane Breslin did well to turn Gavin Kelly's effort out for a 45.

The subsequent kick was missed. It was one of seven second-half wides for Cashel who bossed the possession overall.

Momentum appeared to be with the Longford IFC runners-up in the final quarter and it was growing. Crucially Bective got the next score after the sides drew level with sub Mark O'Brien netting with a low shot when set-up by Cathal McConnell.

In the five minutes of added time, Bective played 'keep-ball' to great effect and wrapped up the scoring when another sub, James Davis, pointed when placed by McConnell.

All of Bective's tally came from play with subs pitching in with 1-2. The Navan-parish side who beat Dunsany in the JFC final 13 days earlier did very well to dig out a win here.

Cashel, who were Longford IFC runners-up 13 days earlier, contributed to their own downfall with 11 wides overall. Bective had just five.

It took Bective less than 20 seconds to get off the mark at the hospital end with midfielder Ciaran Reilly sending over. The scores were tied twice in the opening half. The first being when Cashel's Aidan Rowan landed a third minute free.

Jody Devine's men responded with points from Marty Mulhall and Sean Keating to lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes. In between those scores, Cashel's Aidan Rowan were denied a goal by his marker Jack Grant with a block on the line. Two Aidan Rowan points, a 45 and a free, levelled matters, 0-3-all, after 20 minutes.

Cashel enjoyed more possession in the opening half, but passed up two goal chances. Bective regained the lead through Paul McCabe before a good move involving Sean Keating and Kevin Brennan ended with Cathal McConnell netting a low shot with aplomb.

That left it 1-4 to 0-3 after 26 minutes. Ronan Healy pulled one back for Cashel before Brian Cantwell closed the first-half with a neat point. Despite being second best in overall play Bective led by 1-5 to 0-4

Within four minutes of resumption, Bective's lead was halved with Gavin Kelly and top scorer Aidan Rowan (free) registering. The Meath JFC winners restored their interval advantage by the 45th minute. Cashel replied with four points on the spin that looked set to bring them to earn them something positive from the fixture.

Bective - Shane Breslin; Ben Malone, Jack Grant, Craig Roche (C); Darragh Maguire, Jarlath Brennan, Colin O'Rourke; Ciaran Reilly (0-1), Kevin Brennan; Paul Lyness, Cathal McConnell (1-0), Paul McCabe (0-1); Brian Cantwell (0-2), Sean Keating (0-1), Marty Mulhall (0-1). Subs - Mark O'Brien (1-1) for Roche (43),James Davis (0-1) for Keating (51).

Cashel - Blaine Carberry; Ronan Muldoon (C), Luke Casey, Ronan Farrell; Michael Burke,Conor Farrell,Mel Farrell; James Rowan, Andrew Farrell; Padraig Farrell, Gary Kenny, James Skelly; Gavin Kelly, Aidan Rowan (0-2,1f), Ronan Healy (0-2, 1 45). Subs - Keith Carberry for Kelly (49), Enda Kenny for Skelly (57),. Kevin Farrell for Padraig Farrell (59).

Referee - Fintan Pierce (Offally).

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