Bective 1-11, Nobber 0-14

Bective travelled to Ballinlough to face Nobber in this final game in the group stages of the Intermediate Championship Group A. Ballinlough pitch was in peak condition and Bective knew that a win would put them through to the quarter finals for the first time in a number of years. Both teams were down some of their strong players due to injuries and the question to be answered was did they get the blend right relative to the opposition.

It was a must-win for Nobber and they attacked from the throw-in. Bective backs limited the threat with good defensive play and a fine block by Mathew Cully but Nobber went ahead with a free kick on 6 minutes and a fine mark on 7 minutes. Great fielding from Tristan O’Neill gained primary possession and the ball was released forward for Con Smith to collect on the wing and pointed for Bective and Mark Dowdall fired over on 14 minutes, followed by a Mark O’Brien point on 15 minutes. Nobber missed many chances during the game, partly due to good defending by Bective backs, but pointed again and Bective replied with 2 points from Mulhall and Mathew Cully. Both teams were driving forward with industrious players breaking the line to score and Nobber added a great point from long range and one from close in. Cathal McConnell was brought into the Bective forwards and brought heightened intensity to the exchanges. Smith fired over from a mark on 26 minutes and Mulhall pointed again. Smith pointed again but Bective were lucky to recover the ball and clear as a Nobber forward bore down on goal just before the half time whistle.

Bective 0 – 8, Nobber 0 – 6

Nobber restarted well and worked hard to get the ball into scoring position but hit the post from close range and missed a 45m kick but fired over on 2 minutes. Great work from Jack Grant prevented another score and Bective worked the ball up-field. Mark O’Brien carried forward and passed to Mulhall who gave a 30m fist pass to Smith and he rounded his man and shot high to the net on 5 minutes. Both sides missed chances before Nobber pointed on 9 minutes and Cathal McConnell, breaking through the tackle, pointed on 10 minutes with a fine left footed effort. Craig Roche came into the forward line. Bective backs, with Kevin Brennan, Jack Grant, Mark Dowdall and Niall Dowdall working hard, tried to contain Nobber but they were needing a win and strung 4 points together to level the match on 27 minutes. Bective were now down to 14 men after a black card and needed to regain composure. Ciaran McConnell was brought back into the game and crossed to brother Cathal to point on 28 minutes. In a hectic last 5 minutes Nobber point again on the 30th and 32nd minutes to go one up and Bective nearly goaled twice in goalmouth scrambles before Mulhall caught a rebound off the bar to level the match on 33 minutes. Bective now await the winners of one of the other groups for a quarter final game in two weeks time.

Bective take on Navan O'Mahonys in the quarter final

Bective team: Scott O’Sullivan, Kevin Brennan, Jack Grant, Mark Dowdall, Finn Murray, Neil Dowdall, Ciaran McConnell, Mathew Cully, David Donnelly, Luke Heneghan, Tristan O’Neill, Sean Keating, Marty Mulhall, Con Smith and Mark O’Brien.

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