IFC final: Dunshaughlin are back
October 15, 2022
Duleek Bellewstown's John Flood with Ruairi Kinsella Dunshaughlin during the Meath IFC final at Pairc Tailteann
One year after relegation, Dunshaughlin were decisive winners of the IFC with victory over Duleek-Bellewstown at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon. PHOTOS
Dunshaughlin ............... 0-17
Duleek-Bellewstown ...... 0-7
Dunshaughlin were always the more likely winners of the Mattie McDonnell Cup. With a bit more composure they might have won by a wider margin.
They outscored Duleek-Bellewstown when playing into the wind in the second-half.
They laid solid foundations for this success when playing with the elements in the opening half. Dunshaughlin were stronger in the tackle to reclaim senior status.
It was Dunshaughlin's first outright success at this level since 1997. More importantly they regain senior status at the first attempt as they build for the future.
Luke Mitchell scooped the scoring plaudits with nine points (including three from play). His tally was just over half of this side's total. Six other players got on the scoresheet including Fergus Toolan, a stoppage time sub.
Richie Kealy's men took the game to Duleek-Bellewstown from the off and were never caught after swapping early points.
At half-time the question was had they enough in the bank to buffer a Duleek-Bellewstown rally.
Ruairi Kinsella posted Dunshaughlin's first score of the second half. It was quickly followed by a Mathew Costello effort.
Six points was as close Duleek-Bellewstown got to their superior. A Jamie Crosby free left them 0-11 to 0-5 in arrears with 42 minutes gone.
Joe Sheridan's charges made no further inroads into the deficit and were outscored 0-2 to 0-5 in the latter stages.
Dunshaughlin had the backing of the strong wind in the first half. Having waited nearly three minutes for Mathew Costello's opening point, it was quickly cancelled by Alan Bowden's effort.
Dunshaughlin responded with nine points on the spin. As half-time approached, the team in black and amber appeared to lose concentration. A mistake by Alastair Doyle led to one of Duleek-Bellewstown's trio of points in the run-in to half time.
Duleek-Bellewstown's Jamie Crosby 29th minute free rebounded off an upright and the same player saw his follow-up go wide. Dunshaughlin led by 0-10 to 0-3 at half-time with the unappetitising prospect of facing the elements to come.
The east county side were unable to make serious inroads into the deficit.Dunshaughlin outscored Duleek-Bellewstown by 0-7 to 0-4 after the break to record a double digit success.
Scorers: Dunshaughlin - Luke Mitchell 0-9 (4fs, 2 marks); Ruairi Kinsella 0-2; John McDonagh 0-2; Mathew Costello 0-1; Ciaran McCarrick 0-1; Aaron Murphy 0-1; Fergus Toolan 0-1.
Duleek-Bellewstown - Jamie Crosby 0-2 (fs); Sam O'Leary 0-1; John Flood 0-1f; Ciaran Flynn 0-1; Alan Bowden 0-1; John McDonnell 0-1.
Dunshaughlin - Adam McDermott; Oisin Foley, Alastair Doyle, Niall Byrne; Ciaran McCarrick, Niall Murphy, Adam Kealy; Ben Duggan, Cnor Gray; John McDonagh, Mathew Costello, Matthew Moyles; Aaron Murphy, Ruairi Kinsella, Luke Mitchell. Subs - Conor Duke (42), David Fildes for Kealy (43), Daniel Quinn for Doyle (53), Fursey Blake for Duggan (60), Fergus Toolan for Mitchell (60).
Duleek-Bellewstown - Ryan Lynch; Sam O'Leary, Kevin McCann, Oisin Miland; Cian Ryan, Robin Clarke, Cianan Byrne; Elliott Lenehan, Shane Crosby (c); Jamie Flaherty, John Flood, Jamie Crosby; Ciaran Flynn, Alan Bowden, Tom Bowden. Subs- John McDonnell for E Lenehan (ht), James McWeeney for Flynn (38), Padraig Howard for J Crosby (47), Darren Heaney for Howard (54), Mark Collins for Flood (62).
Referee - Kieran Olwell .(Moynalty)
