Duleek-Bellewstown dug out a single point quarter-final win over Meath Hill in a tense IFC quarter-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Duleek Bellewstown .......... 0-11
Meath Hilll .............. 0-10

Duleek-Bellewstown are through to the IFC semi-final for the second year running while Meath Hill can look to easily conceded possession as a reason for their departure.

However, they can feel somewhat aggrieved at some decisions they didn't get during the hour.

Meath Hill lost full-forward Kieran Slavin to a straight red card in the 58th minute. Given the amount of stoppage time allowed it was a big burden for the north county side to bear.

Two points in the opening three minutes of a low-scoring game got Duleek-Bellewstown off to a flying start. Eoghan Heeney and John McDonnell (free) were the scorers.

Meath Hill steadied themselves with three points in as many minutes with Gary Breslin getting two. The midfielder was involved in the next score, a point from team captain James Mooney.

Next it was Duleek-Bellewstown's turn to get three points in a row. James McWeeney (free), John Flood (mark) and Shane Crosby left the east county side 0-5 to 0-3 with 17 minutes on the clock.

Next it was Meath Hill's turn as they closed out the half with three consecutive points to forge a 0-6 to 0-5 interval lead. Shane McCabe got the lead score for the team in royal blue jerseys

Within a minute of the restart, Alan Bowden tied the scores with a pointed free. The team in green moved two clear by the end of the third quarter. Another Alan Bowden point was followed by one from Jamie Crosby to make it 0-8 to 0-6 with 43 minutes on the clock.

Meath Hill kept Duleek-Bellewstown in their sights for the remainder of the game and even managed to regain parity, 0-9-all, through sub Pierce McGrath in the 52nd minute.

Duleek-Bellewstown responded positively to move 0-11 to 0-9 ahead by the 29th minute. Meath Hill 'keeper Dominic Yorke did well to keep a clean sheet and even joined the attack as his side went in search of a dramatic winner.

Pierce McGrath pointed a free for Meath HIll in the fifth minute of added time to leave just a single point between the teams. They ran out of time as Duleek-Bellewstown's staunch defending paid dividends.   

Scorers: Duleek-Bellewstown - Alan Bowden 0-2 (1f); James McWeeney 0-1(f); John McDonnell 0-1 (f); Tom Bowden 0-1; Jamie Crosby 0-1; Shane Crosby 0-1; Eoghan Heeney 0-1; John Flood 0-1 (mark); John McDonnell 0-1 (f). Tom Bowden 0-1.
Meath Hill - Gary Breslin 0-5 (3fs); Pierce McGrath 0-2 (1f); Cormac Sheehy 0-1; James Mooney 0-1; Shane McCabe 0-1;

Duleek-Bellewstown - Ryan Lynch; Colm Regan, Kevin McCann, Elliott Lenehan; Brian Fitzpatrick, Robin Clarke, Ciaran Byrne; Alan Bowden, Shane Crosby; Darren Heaney, John Flood, James McWeeney; John McDonnell, Jamie Crosby, Eoghan Heeney. Subs - Tom Bowden for D Heeney (ht), Oisin Miland for Fitzpatrick (ht), Cian Ryan for Lenehan (34), Sam O'Leary for McWeeney (46), Padraic Howard for Flood (60 + 2).

Meath HIll - Dominic Yorke; Jamie Slavin, Thomas Carolan, Ben Gogarty; Andy Monaghan, Conor Marry, Patrick Matthews; Ryan Owens, Gary Breslin; Cormac Sheehy, Shane McCabe, Jack Slavin; James Mooney (c), Kieran Slavin, Jack McMahon. Subs - Sean Owens for Monaghan (34), Dean Martin for S McCabe (39), Pierce McGrath for Breslin (51), Harry Corscadden for Gogarty (53).

Referee - Padraic Coyle (Seneschalstown)

Tweet

Most Read Stories