Duleek-Bellewstown 4-17 Drumbaragh 0-09

Duleek-Bellewstown retained their Intermediate status with an impressive display over Drumbaragh in Seneschalstown.

It was the Drums who made the brighter start with two well worked points in the first three minutes. John Flood got DB off the mark on 4 minutes after a long ball sent in by Robin Clarke. Eoghan Heeney’s first score of the day arrived on 8 minutes after more great work from Floody and aggressive running from Cianán Byrne. DB then took the lead a minute later when Brian Fitzpatrick and Eoghan Heeney combined well to set up another John Flood point. A James McGarvey point on ten minutes extended the DB lead to two after some great support play by Eamonn Armstrong and Oisín Miland.  

DB were starting to dominate in midfield, putting pressure on the Drums kickouts with Robin Clarke playing a major role. However, DB still needed to be on their guard. With 12 minutes on the clock, the Drums sent in a high ball into the goal area but the danger was well handled by Ryan Lynch and Cillian Kirwan. Both teams traded points on 14 minutes with Floody adding to his haul for the day after being set up by Tom Bowden. Two quickfire Drums points on the 15-minute mark reduced the gap on the score board to the bare minimum. The game changed on 16 minutes when a great kick out from Ryan Lynch found Cianán Byrne who set up Eamonn Armstrong who scored the first goal of the game. Eamonn scored his second goal of the day on 20 minutes after some great attacking play by Alan Bowden and Darren Heaney, to leave the score at 2-5 to 0-4. Further scores from Eoghan Heeney (21 and 23 mins), with Sam O’Leary joining in on the attack and then a James McGarvey point on 22 mins, left DB in a strong position. The approach of sending the long ball up to the forward positions as well as fast direct running was starting to take its toll on the Drums defensive shape. Further scores from John Flood and Robin Clarke saw DB heading into the changing room with a half time lead of 2-10 to 0-5.

Drumbaragh got the second half going with a Hughie Corcoran free on 32 minutes. DB replied a minute later with a Cianán Byrne point after some great work by Darren Heeney and Tom Bowden. The half time break did help Drumbaragh regroup as they were started to put some attacks together with Colm Regan having to marshall his opposite number well. Another Eoghan Heeney free on 41 minutes after some great Alan Bowden play left the score at 2-12 to 0-7. Johnny McDonnell announced his arrival on the pitch with a well taken point on the 46-minute mark. A further Cianán Byrne point on 47 minutes was followed by another point from John Flood on 49 minutes. Even though the score line didn’t make for great viewing for the Drums, they continued to launch attacks at the DB defence with both Cillian Kirwan and Sam O’Leary standing in their way. An Oisín Miland point on 51 mins left the score at 2-16 to 0-7. The Drums continued to battle and to their credit scored two points before a well taken Jamie Crosby goal on 57 minutes, with Kyle Callaghan in support, extending the DB lead. Eamonn Armstrong got his third goal of the game on 58 minutes after more great attack play from Cianán Byrne and Brian Duffy. The final action of the game was an injury-time trademark Cian Ryan run which set up an Eoghan Heeney point before referee Andrew Lenehan blew the full-time whistle.  

Cian Flanagan and his selectors will have been pleased with a great display of direct attacking football. The sheer pace of their attacks caused the Drumbaragh defence problems throughout the game. The supporters present will have left Seneschalstown optimistic that 2025 can be the year the club makes its return to Senior football.

Duleek Bellewstown: Ryan Lynch, Sam O’Leary, Colm Regan, Cillian Kirwan, Oisín Miland (0-1), Cianán Byrne (0-2), Robin Clarke (0-1), Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Bowden, Darren Heeney, James McGarvey (0-2), Alan Bowden, Eamonn Armstrong (3-0), John Flood (0-4), Eoghan Heeney (0-6)

Subs: Cian Ryan (44 mins), Johnny McDonnell (0-1; 44 mins), Jamie Crosby (1-0; 50 mins), Brian Duffy (55 mins), Kyle Callaghan (55 mins)

Referee - Andrew Lenehan

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