Dunboyne 4-17 Drumree 1-12

St Peters Intermediate Hurlers ran out convincing winners earlier this afternoon in Pairc Tailteann, with a 14-point win over last year’s beaten finalists, Drumree.

The black and ambers got off to a dream start after Jason Gleeson goaled within 40 seconds of the throw in. One minute later Conor Murphy, after dispossessing the corner back, registered his first of the afternoon with a point from a tight angle in what was a blistering opening for Dunboyne. But Drumree settled into the game and started creating space in their half forward line knocking over 4 of the next 5 points (1f), with Dunboynes point coming from the stick of Gleeson. Score on 10 mins Dunboyne 1:02 Drumree 0:04.

In the 12th minute Sean Quigley was hauled down with goal in his sights and the referee had no choice other than to award a penalty, which Gleeson duly dispatch for his second goal of the game. This goal was countered two minutes later after a defensive error led to a Drumree major, which was followed up by a levelling free halfway through the first half, 2:02 to 1:05.

From that point on to the end of the first half the Dunboyne rear guard tightened up and started to choke the Drumee attack. The half back line of James Lonergan, Diarmuid Delaney and Alan Watters, as they had been doing all season, were to dominate their opponents in every aspect of the game right to the final whistle. From the 17th to the 25th minute Dunboyne nudged ahead once more with three pointed Gleeson frees while Niall Smith chipped in with one from play in the 25th minute. Drumree pulled one back, but St Peters were to finish the half the stronger when a Sean Quigley goal was followed up with another one from play for Jason Gleeson in injury time. This left a 7-point gap as the teams headed in for the break, Dunboyne 3:07 Drumree 1:06.

The second half took a while to get going with the first two scores both for Drumree and both from placed balls. Quiggs stopped the rot in the seventh minute while Gleeson pointed another free two minutes later, responding well to a Drumree point from play. The same two players sandwiched another pointed free from Drumree to leave the score on seventeen minutes Dunboyne 3:11 Drumree 0:10

The red and whites would get their last two scores of the game next (1f) to leave 8 between the sides going into the final 8 minutes. But it was from here on in that Dunboyne really flexed their muscles and put their brave opponents to the sword. Daniel Boyd was having his best game of the season and thwarted the Drumree defence with his handling and strong running all through. He was the catalyst of many a score none more so than in the last 10 minutes. Eoghan McCormack picked a neat point before Gleeson and Quiggs bagged another two-point salvo in the 26th and 27th minutes. Conor Murphy popped up for two points on the trot as the game entered injury time and he also scored his teams 4th goal after a Boyd cross. Jason Gleeson, after a mesmerising display, scored the final point of the game 3 minutes into added time. This left the score at the final whistle: St Peters Dunboyne 4:17 (Gp, 5f) Drumree 1:12 (5f, 1X65).

Next Up for the lads is a tasty semi-final against Kilskyre on Sat 4th in Trim (TBC)

Dunboyne: Paul Graves; Ger Murphy; Evan McCrudden; Ciaran Lonergan; James Lonergan; Diarmuid Delaney; Alan Watters; Sean Quigley (1:03); Fergal Chalke; Sean Cregan; Eoghan McCormack (0:01); Jason Gleeson (2:09. Gp 0:5f); Conor Murphy (1:03); Daniel Boyd; Niall Smith (0:01).

Bench: Eric Lowndes for Sean Cregan; Killian Smith for Niall Smith; Andy McWeeney for Sean Quigley; Liam Callanan for Ciaran Lonergan.

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