Duleek Bellewstown 0-11 Meath Hill 0-10

Duleek Bellewstown had to really dig deep to overcome Meath Hill in this Meade Farm Group intermediate Football championship quarter final in  what was the most entertaining and nerve racking game in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon. With both teams level on 4 occasions, there was never more than 2 points either way between the teams as the game ebbed and flowed as the lead was obtained and then clawed back.

It was a credit to the entertainment value that both teams were given a standing applause by their respective supporters at the end of the game. 

Playing from the hospital end and into the town goals the men in green opened well and had two points on the board after three minutes. The first came after a minute when Eoghan Heeney picked up a pass from Cianan Byrne and he pointed from the left. This was followed in the third minute by a pointed free from John McDonnell after he himself was fouled . Meath Hill then came into to the game and began running from midfield and their midfielder Gary Breslin scored from play from beneath the stand and he followed that almost immediately with another point from play to level things up. Following a turnover around the 45 their captain James Mooney pointed from play to put the men in blue in front for the first time.  James McWeeney had the teams level shortly after following a foul on Eoghan Heeney at the edge of the D. And then following a mark by john Flood, who secured it from a pinpoint pass from Brian Fitzpatrick, he calmly pointed to regain the lead. Shane Crosby then extended the lead to 2  after John Flood picked up a breaking ball and released to Crosby and he pointed with ease. 

Meath Hill then had a period in ascendancy and  narrowed the gap when Gary Breslin pointed from a free on the 13 yard line. Meath Hill had a few few chances to draw level but some wayward passing let them down before another Breslin free in the 25th minute had them level. It was end to end stuff at this stage with both defences holding sway and forcing turnovers. But it was meath Hill who got back in front as half time beckoned when their no 29 Shane Mc Cabe    pounced on a loose ball around the 45 yard line and hit an audacious shot off the outside of this right foot  to put the ‘Hill back in front. Then as the half time whistle was just about the sound Meath Hill’s  keeper Dominic Yorke had to  be very alert as he came out of his goal to  intercept a pass and deny a scoring opportunity. 

Half Time Duleek Bellewstown 0-5 Meath Hill 0-6 

The second half started with an Alan Bowden free from a central position after just a minute and he put Duleek Bellewstown in front, for a lead which they held until the end,   in the 9th minute with a fine long range point .With Meath Hill again holding sway around the middle third they failed to capitalise on their chances Jamie Crosby  then pointed from the right after an interchange between Robin Clarke, John Mc Donnell and himself. 

Following a narrow escape for Meath Hill when a shot hit the side netting Meath Hill came down filed form the resultant kick out and had a point from play from Cormac Sheehy,  After a period of pressure a James  Mc Weeney pointed free from  45 yards had the gap back to two on 45 minutes 

The pace of the game was beginning to tell and along with turnovers on both sides there were a few stoppages for injuries as the game entered the last 10 minutes. Another pointed free from Breslin brought the game back to a single point  and they had the scores level after a point from play from substitute Pierce Mc Grath in the 22ndminute. The lead was regained almost immediately when John Flood received a pass from Jamie Crosby and he pointed from the 21 yd line. 

Then with what was the turning point of the game Meath Hill got a free in a scoreable position around the 21 yard line which, if scored, would have brought the teams level. However one of their players retaliated , received his marching orders,  and the free was overturned , From the resulting throw up the ball was worked downfield to Tom Bowden and he pointed to put two between the teams.

With Dominic Yorke roaming out field to add to the defensive coverage an opportunity arose for a goal but Yorke managed to get back and made a terrific save. As the game crossed the 30 minute mark Meath Hill threw everything at the Duleek Bellewstown defense and their reward was another pointed free from McGrath in the 34th minute to leave the bare minimum between the teams again. From the following kickout they work the ball into a scoring but the attempt shot or pass dropped  short on to the 14yd line and in a contest the between Kevin Mc Cannand the Meath hill forward the ball broke free and Sam o’Leary pounced on the ball to clear as referee Pauric Coyle blew the long whistle to the delight of the fans in the stand. 

Next up is another local derby against St Patricks in the semi final in two weeks time  

Duleek Bellewstown: R Lynch, C Regan,  K Mc Cann, E Lenehan, B Fitzpatrick, R Clarke, C Byrne, A Bowden (0-2), S Crosby(0-1), D Heeney, J Flood(0-1),J McWeeney(0-2),John Mc Donnell (0-1) J Crosby(0-1) E Heeney(0-1); Subs used T Bowden(0-1) O Miland C Ryan S O’Leary 

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