Nobber 2-12 (18) Dunderry 1-13 (16)

Nobber made a winning start to their IFC campaign with a well-deserved two-point victory over Dunderry at Sean Newman Park, Bohermeen on Sunday afternoon last under beautiful sunny conditions at the St Ultans venue.

The return of the new premiership soccer season across the water may well have been the main sporting highlight of the weekend for sports lovers but the men from Nobber were determined to make a highlight of their own by picking up the two points on offer. The North Meath men showed great determination and hard work and gave their large vocal support lots to cheer about during this entertaining encounter.

During the first half, there was very little separating the sides. The black and ambers took an early lead with frees from Fiachra McEntee and Sean Meade but Dunderry swiftly responded with two scores of their own. Leading into the 6th minute – Sean Meade finished off a great team move to the bottom of the Dunderry net. Nobber raised yet another white flag – this time provided by wingback Dean Halpin with a Shane Walsh-esque score into the roadside goals. Dunderry replied with three unanswered scores while Meade continued to be a thorn in their defence by splitting the posts and keeping the Nobber men ahead. Both sides traded scores leading into the final few minutes of the first period. At half-time, the scoreboard read Nobber 1 – 6 Dunderry 1 – 7.

Paddy Bates’ charges upped the tempo during the third quarter. A great 45 kick by the solid Dary Hutchinson in goals followed by some excellent score-taking by Jojo Ogunbe and the ever-reliant Meade pushed the Deesiders in front 1 – 9 to 1 – 7. Dunderry notched on a couple more scores as did Nobber and leading into the final quarter the game was tightly in the balance with no separating the sides on the scoreboard.

The possible turning point of the game came when midfielder Jack Condra kicked in a highball to the Nobber full forward line, causing confusion in the Dunderry defence. The lively Lorcan McEntee managed to get a hand on it past the Dunderry goalkeeper raising the green flag. The black and ambers registered two more points in the final 10 minutes from Meade and Condra. Dunderry never gave in and got two late scores leading into injury time to make it entertaining viewing for the neutral fan in the final nail-biting few minutes.

Nobber’s defence battled hard as a unit in the final few minutes to stop the Dunderry men from getting a goal with impressive displays from Hutchinson in goals, Eanna Fagan, Barry Cassidy, and Barry Bradley. Upfront Sean Meade had his scoring boots on and proved very hot to handle. Fiachra McEntee and Declan Shields showed great battling qualities along with the whole squad of players.

Next up in round two the North Meath men face Longwood and Saturday, August 20.

Everyone at Nobber GFC would like to wish both Paul Meade and Cathal Cassidy speedy recoveries from their unfortunate injuries.

Nobber: Dary Hutchinson (0 – 1, 1 45), Seamus Fagan, Eanna Fagan, Barry Cassidy, Barry Bradley, Niall Farrell, Dean Halpin (0 – 1), Thomas Murtagh, Jack Condra (0 – 1), Lorcan McEntee (1 – 0), Sean Meade (1 – 7, 5F), Fiachra McEntee (0 – 1, 1F), Brendan Heffernan, Declan Shields, Dale Larkin.

Subs used: Jojo Ogunbe (0 – 1) for Brendan Heffernan, Paddy Clarke for Declan Shields.

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