Duleek-Bellewstown 3-6 Killary Emmets 1-15
Duleek-Bellewstown minors lost out to Killary Emmets in the semi final of the LMFM division 2 minor championship, in Dunganny on Tuesday evening.
Tom Bowden opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a lovely point from play.
With the aid of a strong wind, Emmets pushed on, Duleek-Bellewstown defended brilliantly, until the 6th minute when Killary finally opened their account.
They went on to kick 3 more without reply, Eoghan Dillon and 2 from Darragh Kelly stretching their lead.
Killary were starting to get on top around the middle, but in the 11th minute a break from Craig Moore who fed Dylan Collins, he passed to Sean O’ Halloran, he played in to Brian Duffy who blasted to the net. A great team goal.
Killary went straight up the field to create their own goal chance, but Dillon couldn’t hit the target and flashed a shot side of the post.
Rian McConnell hit his first of 7 frees on the night, just before the first half water break.
The game continued in the same fashion after the restart, Killary being more economical with their possession.
Kelly added a point from play in the 19th minute, before Craig Moore burst through the middle for Duleek-Bellewstown, but couldn’t convert when a score seemed on.
McConnell converted 3 more long range frees for Killary, before Cormac Dardis rounded off the scoring just before half time to leave 5 in it at the break.
Half time: Duleek-Bellewstown 1-2. Killary Emmets 0-10.
Both teams upped their work rate in the second half, some great defending by Cillian Kirwan and Josh Keogh keeping Killary at bay, but they would get the first score in the 5th minute of the second half, Dillon again on target.
Tom Bowden hit a long range free, but Killary went straight up the field, they found Adam Matthews who popped it over the bar.
Ryan Lynch made a point blank save in the 8th minute to prevent Killary extending their lead, only for McConnell to point from a free.
Bowden pointed a free a minute later before the game turned on its head.
Two brilliant Goals in 2 minutes from Moore, who burst through the middle to rattle the net on the run, and Collins, (Emma Duggan-esque) lobbing Aron Monaghan in the Killary goals, lifted Duleek-Bellewstown from 6 points down to level just before the final water break.
Killary were rocked and Duleek-Bellewstown took the lead from a Duffy free in the 18th minute. They were just about on top now, and Tom Bowden put 2 between them with 7 minutes left to play.
Duleek-Bellewstown looked like they would push on, but to their credit, Killary worked their way back into the game, McConnell leaving the minimum between them with 4 minutes left to play.
With 30 seconds left, Matthews got in along the Duleek-Bellewstown end line, he went to fist over the bar, but he hit the post, it ended up being slammed against the bar and in the ensuing scramble the ball found its way to the net from the boot of Jack Dowdall, to break Duleek-Bellewstown hearts.
McConnell added his final free of the night, to give Killary a 2 point win to send them into the final.
A huge Duleek-Bellewstown following were treated to a very entertaining game, the result however, just didn’t go our way.
Hard luck to the management, and these young players, who will hopefully go on to be the cornerstones of the club in the years ahead.
Duleek-Bellewstown: Ryan Lynch, Josh Keogh, Cillian Kirwan, Adam Connell, Sean Flaherty, Shane McCrory, Elliott Lenehan, Tom Bowden (0-4 2f), Tiernan McKeon, Sean O’Halloran, Dylan Collins (0-1), James McGarvey, Brian Duffy (1-2 1f), Leon O’Leary, Craig Moore (1-0)
Subs: Karl Miland for O’Leary, Sam Fanthorpe for McGarvey
Tweet