IFC quarter final: Curtis and Halligan fires Rathkenny into last four

October 11, 2021

Rathkenny's Caolach Halligan gets away from Stephen McArdle and Brian Moore Duleek Bellewstown during the Meath IFC quarter final at Slane

Rathkenny 1-16 Duleek/Bellewstown 0-9

Rathkenny continued winning ways with a superb display against Duleek/Bellewstown on Sunday afternoon in Slane.

Both teams entered the encounter unbeaten but Rathkenny started brightly and led throughout.

Keith Curtis registered his first of the day on two minutes from a free after being fouled inside. D/B replied with a point of their own on 8 mins after good play found Shane Crosby who split the posts upon cutting through the middle. Curtis pushed Rathkenny ahead going into the water break, helping himself to three fine points after excellent team play. Duleek/Bellewstown had been in fine form leading into this encounter, but they struggled to gain any momentum against a stern Rathkenny defence in the opening stages and indeed throughout. They added another point just after the water break but James Macken cancelled this out with a great point from distance 2 minutes later. Caoloach Halligan added two points in the second quarter and another from Curtis after a great turnover by Mark Byrne left 4 points between the sides at the half.

HT; Rathkenny 0-09 Duleek/Bellewstown 0-05

Rathkenny again started the stronger of both sides in the second half. Brian Meade and Donal Keogan were excellent all day and Rathkenny profited off of the dominance they gained around the middle. Halligan and Curtis again tagged on points early in the half but Duleek/Bellewstown replied with points of their own to remain within reaching distance. On 48 minutes Rathkenny landed a killer blow. Halligan rose highest to collect a long ball in and electing not to take the mark, he beat three Duleek/Bellewstown defenders and put the ball under the keeper to register the only goal of the game. Duleek/Bellewstown responded well to this setback with the next two points but this was as close as they could get. Keith Timmons found some space cutting in from the wing to add another point for the Raths before Halligan and Curtis finished out the scoring. Rathkenny will face Oldcastle in the Semi-Final in a couple of weeks. The win rounded off a great weekend for the club after our Junior side defeated Skryne on Saturday to make the Premier Divison 5 final.

Rathkenny; Charlie Cullen, Adam Byrne, Thomas McGuiness, Mark Byrne, Ross Gore, James O'Hare, Robbie Garry, Brian Meade, Donal Keogan, Caoloch Halligan (1-05), James Macken (0-01), Keith Timmons (0-01), Will Gore, Andrew Bellew, Keith Curtis (0-09)


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