Duleek Bellewstown 2-20 Drumbaragh 2-10

Duleek/Bellewstown made it 3 wins from 3 in the Meade Farm Group intermediate championship, with 10 points to spare over a spirited Drumbaragh side in Simonstown on Friday night. 

Drumbaragh started the brightest going 2 points to no score up in the first 3 minutes. 

It took until the 5th minute for Duleek/Bellewstown to score, a point from play from Alan Bowden, and Jamie Crosby converted a free 2 minutes later. 

Duleek/Bellewstown added 3 more points in 2 minutes from Johnnie McDonnell, Crosby again and Alan Bowden.

Drumbaragh added a point in the 12th minute, before McDonnell scored again to leave it 0-6 to 0-3 at the 1st water break.

This was a hotly contested game, both teams working really hard to get the upper hand. Good work in the 18th minute from Duleek/Bellewstown ended with Jamie Flaherty kicking over the bar.

Drumbaragh went straight up the pitch, forcing a save from Anthony Dowling from a tight angle, from that save Duleek/Bellewstown broke, and Shane Crosby finished with a lovely point off his right boot.

The no 11 from Drumbaragh replied from the restart, running straight through the Duleek/Bellewstown defence from midfield, to kick over on the run.

We had to wait 5 minutes for the next score and what a score it was. 

Alan Bowden received the ball on the left touchline, cut inside and fired over the Drumbaragh bar. One of the scores of the night. 

Drumbaragh replied with a point, before Jamie Flaherty soared through the air to catch the resulting kickout, he fed Mark Collins, who found Jamie Crosby, who buried it to the corner of the Drumbaragh net. 

Crosby added a free 2 minutes later before Drumbaragh replied with a free of their own in the 30th minute. 

There was time for some late drama, Drumbaragh sending a high ball into their full forward, who caught it, turned, and buried it to the roof of the net on the stroke of half time, to leave it 1-10 to 1-06 in favour of Duleek/Bellewstown at half time.

Drumbaragh got the first score of the second half, a free, and from the roar from the bench you knew they were well up for the fight in the second half. 

Jamie Flaherty pointed from long range, before Drumbaragh were overturned and Miland headed for goal. He passed to Bowden, who passed to Flaherty who punched it to the Drumbaragh net, giving the keeper no chance. 

Soon after, Miland fisted over the bar after great work down the right hand side.

Drumbaragh kept attacking, but some good defending meant they were always shooting under pressure.

A brilliant Kevin McCann catch under a high ball, started the next Duleek/Bellewstown attack. They worked the ball brilliantly down the field and ended with Mark Collins settling himself, and kicking a lovely point from play.

But a lapse 2 minutes later allowed Drumbaragh to come in along the endline feeding the ball across the box, it eventually found the full forward, who finished to the net. 

John Flood added a point from a free just before the water break to leave it 2-14 to 2-7

A blistering run from Miland resulted in him being dragged down, referee Joseph Curran issuing a yellow card to Drumbaragh’s no.10. 

Flood converting the resulting free kick.

Substitute James McWeeney added a point from play after great work around the middle by numerous Duleek/Bellewstown players.

Drumbaragh kicked 3 points from play, before Jamie Crosby scored from a free, after he was blatantly pushed over heading for goal.

Miland added his second point of the night 2 minutes later, after some great patient play by Duleek/Bellewstown. 

Jamie Crosby added a free after he was made retake it, (because his first effort was that bad the ref probably felt sorry for him) only messing Jamie, I think it was because the Drumbaragh defender was too close when he kicked it.

With no options to kick to, the Drumbaragh goalkeeper was penalised, and from the throw up, Flaherty caught it and fed Bowden, who kicked over the bar,for the last score of the night.

Final score 2.20 to 2.10, and Duleek/Bellewstown march into the quarter finals. 

A great team display on the night and a well deserved win

Duleek/Bellewstown: Anthony Dowling, Stephen McArdle, Kevin McCann, Chris Woods, Oisin Miland (0-2) Brian Moore, Cianan Byrne, Shane Crosby (0-1), Cian  Ryan, John Flood (0-2 2f), Jamie Flaherty (1-2), Johnnie McDonnell (0-2), Jamie Crosby (1-5 4f), Alan Bowden (0-4), Mark Collins(0-1)

Substitutes: James McWeeney (0-1) for Byrne, David Moore for McArdle

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