Duleek/Bellewstown 2-14 Ballivor 0-13

Clinical finishing was the difference between the sides in Bective, as Duleek/Bellewstown and Ballivor met in round 2 of the Meade Farm Group Intermediate championship.

From the throw in, Ballivor poured forward and could’ve got a goal, but the ball was cleared off the line when the goal looked certain.

Mark Collins opened the scoring from play with a run from deep in the 3rd minute. Alan Bowden added another soon after, before another goal chance for Ballivor was cleared off the line by Stephen McArdle.

From then, Duleek/Bellewstown took control around the middle. Jamie Flaherty, Mark Collins, Cian Ryan and Shane Crosby pulling the strings for Duleek/Bellewstown.

Jamie Crosby added a free before Ballivor opened their account in the 9th minute from the very impressive Adam Gannon. 3 minutes later, a brilliant Flaherty pass found Jamie Crosby, who set up Bowden, who rattled the Ballivor net for the first goal of the game.

Crosby again from a free a minute later, when he was fouled after brilliant play from Ryan and Flaherty again.

Johnnie McDonnell pointed from play before Ballivor worked the ball to get a free, which Brendan McKeon converted just before the water break, to leave it 1-6 to 0-2 after a dominant Duleek/Bellewstown display.

Duleek/Bellewstown kept the tempo up after the break, Sam O’Leary overturning a Ballivor attack in the 18th minute, played a brilliant ball to Bowden, who put it on a plate for Cianan Byrne to score, near post, for their second goal of the game. You would have feared the worst for Ballivor at this stage, but to their credit they dug in and never dropped their heads. They started to get more ball around the middle and create chances. They added a free in the  24th minute after a foul from Stephen McArdle, who received the first yellow card of the game. A point from play followed before they kicked a wide and dropped one into the keepers hand, before Duleek/Bellewstown broke and John Flood popped over a nice point on the run.

The intensity and pace from both sides increased now, as Both teams threw themselves into tackles to try to get possession. Ballivor replied through Gannon from play before Flaherty and Bowden kicked one each. Gannon again kicked from play to leave it 2-9 to 0-6 in favour of Joe Sheridan’s men at half time.

Ballivor got the first score of the second half, McKeon again kicking over after some juggling in the Duleek/Bellewstown full back line. Evan Fitzgerald added another before Anthony Dowling in the Duleek/Bellewstown goal, made a fine punch to deny Ballivor a certain goal. McKeon from a free again saw momentum build for Ballivor as they grew more and more into the game. Shane Crosby slotted over after some great work by O’Leary and Flaherty.

Ballivor were on top around the middle, with Gannon  in particular becoming more influential as the half wore on. He kicked another from play in the 7th minute. Johnnie McDonnell replied for Duleek/Bellewstown.

Referee Pat Clarke was letting the game flow and it contributed to a very entertaining game of football. He did have to curb their enthusiasm, as he handed out 3 yellow cards in 3 minutes, two for Ballivor and Jamie Crosby.

A lovely pass from captain Shane Crosby found Mark Collins and he picked out John Flood to point just before the last water break to leave Duleek/Bellewstown 8points to the good.

Ballivors wayward shooting continued after the restart with 2 quick wides from play. Gannon scored from play again, before kicking short and another wide under fierce pressure from Duleek/Bellewstown defenders. Ballivor were down to 14 men after full forward, Kevin McKeown was black carded, while on a yellow card, which resulted in a red card.

Cian Ryan hit both posts, with the same ferocious shot, but the ball was cleared and from that break, Gannon slotted over at the other end.

John Flood added a free before a brilliant Brian Moore block rebounded to O’Leary, who took off like a gazelle down the right, and found substitute Oisin Miland with a lovely foot pass, who slotted over for Duleek/Bellewstown’s final score of the game.

Alan Bowden received a black card in the 32nd minute before Gannon pointed again just before full time to leave it 2-14 to 0-13.

A 7 point win probably flattered Duleek/Bellewstown a little bit, but they won’t mind and can can now look forward to the knockout stages of the Championship.

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

 Substitutions: David Moore for McArdle, Oisin Miland (0-1) for Byrne, James McWeeney for Ryan

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