Mitchell leads Dunshaughlin to victory - and safety

This year won't be fondly remembered by Dunshaughlin who struggled to find any form in the SFC but they ensured they would retain their status for another year with a 2-19 to 3-5 victory over Nobber in the relegation final at Pairc Tailteann today.

This wasn't a particularly nasty game but both sides had two players sent off with Nobber's Thomas Murtagh and Niall Farrell seeing red while Dunshaughlin's Adam Kealy and Tadhg O Dushlaine were also dismissed, all in the closing stages.

There is little doubt that Dunshaughlin were the better team particularly in the second-half. The sides were level 1-9 to 3-3 at the interval but Dunshaughlin used the breeze at their backs to good effect and pushed on to win comfortably.

They were greatly helped along the way by Luke Mitchell who notched 1-10 of his team's tally. His goals arrived on 11 minutes after his team put together a multi-player move that ended with Mitchell finishing superbly.

Dunshaughlin trailed 1-5 to 3-3 after 26 minutes but they finished the opening half with a flourish to leave the sides level before moving up another gear.

Matt Moyles also made a significant contribution to the Dunshaughlin cause with 1-1 while both Ronan Geraghty and Cian Gallogly fired over three points apiece with Matt Costello tagging on two points.

Nobber's Jordan Morris was in devastating form in that opening half bagging 2-1 with both his goals superbly taken. Sean Meade also finished to the net for the team in black and amber with Jack Condra and Niall Farrell others to slot over.

Yet Nobber simply couldn't get the ball to Morris in the second-half as Dunshaughlin took control to wrap up the win that secures their senior status.

SCORERS

Dunshaughlin - Luke Mitchell 1-10, four frees; Matt Moyles 1-1; Cian Gallogly 0-3 one free; Ronan Geraghty 0-3; Matt Costello 0-2 one free.

Nobber - Jordan Morris 2-2 one free; Sean Meade 1-1; Jack Condra 0-1; Niall Farrell 0-1.

TEAMS

Dunshaughlin - Adam McDermott; Oisin Foley, Fergus Toolin, Sean Gaughan; David Fildes, Niall Murphy, Tadhg O Dushlaine; John Crimmins, Adam Kealy; Matt Costello, Ronan Geraghty, Matt Moyles; Cian Gallogly, Luke Mitchell, Coaimhin King. Subs - Mick Ahearne for Crimmins 20 mins, Niall Byrne for Murphy 51m, Harry Dunne for Gaughan 55m, Wes Goodwin for Geraghty, Ray Moloney for Gallogly both 61m.

Nobber - Dary Hutchinson; Padraig Weldon, Brian Meade, Cathal Cassidy; Paul Meade, Barry Cassidy, Niall Farrell; Jack Condra, Alan Farrell; Dean Halpin, Thomas Murtagh, Sean Meade; Aidan Shields, Jordan Morris, Brendan Heffernan. Subs - Seamus Fagan for B Meade 33 mins, Karl Cassidey for Halpin 36m, Dale Larkin for Shields 57m.

Referee - David Gough (Slane).