Duleek-Bellewstown 2-10 Clonard 1-10

Duleek-Bellewstown progressed to the semi final of Division 3 Premier Reserve, after a brilliant second half performance, in Duleek on Sunday morning.

Eoghan Heeney opened the scoring in the second minute, a lovely point on the run. Clonard hit 2 wides before opening their account from play in the 5th minute.

George Martin received a yellow card in the 6th minute and Clonard took the lead from the resulting free.

Sean Courtney levelled the game, then gave Duleek-Bellewstown the lead with 2 excellent points from play.

From the kick out, Clonard won possession in the middle, worked the ball to their full forward, who buried it past Finn Hartford in the Duleek-Bellewstown goal.

Clonard were just about on top at this stage and added another point from play just before the water break.

Clonard registered the first score after the restart, and added another in the 25th minute. It was all too easy for them at this stage and could’ve been further ahead as they kicked 2 wides and dropped one short into the keepers hands.

Duleek-Bellewstown rallied and kicked 2 very important points from play, Eoghan Heeney and a long range effort from Shane Townley was just what they needed coming to half time.

Gary Reddy received a dubious looking black card in the 29th minute, from referee Robert Purfield and Clonard slotted over the resulting free, to leave them 4 points to the good at half time, 1-6 to 0-5.

Playing into a strong wind in the second half, Duleek-Bellewstown had the ball in the Clonard net from the boot of Cian Kelly, in the second minute of the second half.

Clonard hit back with 2 points of their own, before Duleek-Bellewstown patiently worked the ball up the pitch, ending up with Courtney rattling the ball into the net.

They started to control the play from then on, holding the ball and working well against the wind.

Darren Heeney slotted over a free before a black card for the Clonard wing back.

Kelly again and Eoghan Heeney scored a point each in quick succession to give them a 2 point cushion at the 2nd half water break.

Clonard got the first score after the restart to leave just 2 in it with 8 minutes to play. Courtney responded at the other end. It was a really good game now both teams going hell for leather at it, with some brilliant performances all over the pitch,  and it was Courtney again from a free to put 4 between them with one minute left to play.

Clonard added another point, now they needed a goal to get anything out of the game. That goal chance fell to their corner forward, who fired a seemingly unstoppable shot towards the far top corner, it was flying in before out of nowhere, a finger tip save from goalkeeper Finn Hartford turned it onto the post to save Duleek-Bellewstown and send them into the Semi final. 2-10 to 1-10

A brilliant second half display by every player in green and gold, and they got what their work rate deserved. Well done to all 

Duleek-Bellewstown: Finn Hartford, Ben Lanigan, Gary Reilly, Eoghan Connell, George Martin, Gary Reddy, Des Teelin, Shane Townley (0-1) Cian Kelly (1-1) Ruairi Kelly, Eoghan Heeney (0-3), Martin Finnegan, Sean Courtney (1-4 1f) Darren Heeney (0-1 1f), Sean Maguire. Sub: Wayne Noone for Maguire

Clonard: P Sheridan, S Reilly, P McNevin, C Treacy, E Connolly (Capt), K Darby (0-1), J Raleigh, J Dowdall (0-1), S Connolly, D Doyle, S McNevin (1-3), J O Donoghue (0-1), J McNevin, S Dunne, D Rowley (0-4). Subs: Niall Walsh for D Rowley

Tweet

Most Read Stories