Duleek Bellewstown 6-16 Kilmainham  0-12

A ruthless second half display, seen Duleek/Bellewstown get the win against Kilmainham, in their delayed opening round, of the Meade Farm Group Intermediate football championship on Thursday evening in Ardcath. 

It was Kilmainham who landed the first score of the game, with only 30 seconds played.

John Flood hit back a minute later with a point from a free. Alan Bowden pounced in the 4th minute, after a fumble from a Kilmainham defender, to score the opening goal of the game, and he added a point a minute later to leave it 1-2 to 0-1 after 5 only minutes.

Johnnie McDonnell opened his account in the 6th minute before Kilmainham converted a free to try to stem the tide of green and gold coming their way. 

Cianan Byrne ventured up the field to convert a point from play before Kilmainham scored 2 on the trot, as they struggled to get to grips with the pace of the game.

Mark Collins added another point to make it 1-5 to 0-4 at the first water break. 

It was a much tighter affair after the restart, with both teams working hard to add to the scoreboard. 

Bowden again from play added a point before Kilmainham’s forwards found their range, adding 3 points to keep them in touch. They were starting to build up some momentum before Johnnie McDonnell slotted over, to settle Duleek/Bellewstown down again. Kilmainham hit back again but it was Mark Collins who got the last score of the first half, to leave it 1-8 to 0-8 at half time.

The second half started with Duleek/Bellewstown flying out of the blocks, hunting the ball, like wolves hunting a deer. Kilmainham, struggling to get possession, had no answer. Jamie Flaherty finished a brilliant solo move to the roof of the net in the second minute, and from then on, there would only be one winner.

Collins again, and Jamie Crosby stretching the lead further with brilliant points from play. Kilmainham worked the ball up the field and earned a free, which they converted after 9 minutes of the second half.

John Flood, Shane Crosby and Collins again pointed from play, before Flood found the net to put them well and truly in the driving seat. 

It was all too easy now, and Kilmainhan had no answer to hard working Cian Ryan, Sam O’Leary and Cianan Byrne joining the attack. Johnnie McDonnell added another point before the water break to leave 14 points between the teams.

John Flood pointed straight after the restart, before Flaherty and Jamie Crosby heaped more misery on Kilmainham with 2 more brilliantly taken goals. 

Duleek/Bellewstown never let up, and Jamie Crosby added a point before Kimmainham hit 2 points (1f) with 5 minutes left to play.

Substitute Oisin Miland rounded off the Duleek/Bellewstown scoring for the night with a lovely goal, before Kilmainham added a ‘45 before referee Stephen Dawson called a halt to proceedings.

A magnificent performance on the night by all, with only one point coming from a free, to set them up nicely going into the next round. 

Duleek/Bellewstown: Anthony Dowling, Stephen McArdle, Kevin McCann, Chris Woods, Sam O’ Leary, Brian Moore, Cianan Byrne (0-1), Cian Ryan, Shane Crosby (0-1), John Flood (1-3), Jamie Flaherty (2-0), Johnnie McDonnell (0-3), Jamie Crosby (1-2), Mark Collins (0-4), Alan Bowden (1-2).

Subs: James McWeeney for Collins, Oisin Miland (1-0) for McDonnell, David Moore for Flaherty

 

 

 

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