Great week for Bective as victory is achieved on two fronts

Past week was memorable for Bective as they won a trophy and picked up an important victory in their IFC campaign

In a total reversal from their meeting earlier in the campaign Bective stunned Ratoath to claim the Premier FC Div 6 crown in sensational style at Dunshaughlin on Saturday running out victors on 3-7 to 0-5 scoreline.

The Bective management team of Paddy Farrelly, John Gleeson, Charlie Dowdall, David Cassidy and Gary Brennan changed their game plan their defensive fortitude worked a treat as they held Ratoath scoreless in the opening half and then pulled clear with two second-half goals.

Ciaran Casey opened the scoring for Bective with a point in the first minute. Dara Maguire and Casey added further points before the experienced Kevin Brennan used all his nous to palm the ball over the advancing goalkeeper's head for a fine goal.

Casey continued to impress and added further points as Ratoath kicked three wides against the wind and trailed by 0-0 to 1-4 at the break.

Ratoath piled on the pressure immediately after the restart, but Bective stood strong as Casey stretched their lead. Ratoath finally got off the mark and hit a succession of points to close the deficit to just three.

However, the high work rate of Jarlath Brennan, Eanna Reilly, Colm Barry, veteran Brian Hogge and Ciaran Reilly kept Ratoath at bay and as Bective broke Ratoath were punished by Casey for their indiscipline.

Chris McGurn added another point before Brennan pounced for his second goal which effectively sealed the deal with 10 minutes remaining.

Brennan completed his hat-trick with another palmed goal in the final minute as Bective claimed the title with captain Eanna Reilly dedicating the victory to clubmate Greg Hogge who passed away in 2019 when captain of the second team.

Bective - Robbie Coogan; Brian Hogge, Dara Maguire, Simon Heneghan; Eanna Reilly, Jarlath Brennan, Colm Barry; Ciaran Reilly, Paul Lyness; Chris McGurn, David Keating, Marc Walsh; Ciaran Casey, Pauric McConnell, Kevin Brennan.

IFC

Bective travelled to Dunsany for this third round IFC against Blackhall Gaels on Sunday.

The pitch looked superb and all was set for this contest between two evenly matched teams and each with aspirations to qualify for the knock-out stages. Blackhall playing towards the pavilion opened the scoring with a fine point on five minutes.

Bective, with a number of positional changes, moved the ball at speed and midfielder Mathew Cully found Cathal Mc Connell with a fine mark just outside the D and Mc Connell converted on six minutes. Mc Connell after a 40m run blasted low and left but the Blackhall goalie was up to it and cleared the danger. Con Smith mopped up a spilled ball in the midfield area and found Mc Connell who was pulled down and Marty Mulhall pointed the free kick.

Blackhall kicked wide but made amends with a pointed free kick from 40m on 12 minutes. Bective efficiently managed the ball out to the waiting Sean Keating and he delivered a long ball along the side line to Mc Connell who took on his man to point on 14 minutes.

A succession of quick passes supplied Keating and he pointed. Both sides defended well and Blackhall, raiding down the left flank, raised another white flag.

Bective defenders were on high alert and intensity and closed down shooting angles and Blackhall missed a couple of point chances. Keating made himself available to ease the pressure on the backs and passed to McConnell who raced at the Blackhall defence and fisted forward to Tristan O’Neill who blasted to the top corner of the net on 23 minutes.

Bective had to withstand a further Blackhall attack but Bective goalie Scott O’Sullivan made a fine save. Bective had to scramble the ball clear of defence and an early ball found Mc Connell outside the 45m line. He rounded his man and sped towards goal and as he was been closed down fired low and left to the back of the net shortly before the interval.

Colin O’Rourke made a similar 50m run moments later but was dispossessed as he was about to pull the trigger. Fine defending from Jack Grant snuffed out a dangerous Blackhall attack and the ball was managed forward to Con Smith to kick over from 30m. Craig Roche pointed from 35m for the last score of the first-half.

Bective 2 – 6, Blackhall 0 – 4

Bective knew their backs had avoided a higher score from Blackhall and needed to keep up the intensity. A turnover in the mid field was pounced on by Declan McGuinness and he passed forward to Sean Keating who palmed to Mc Connell to drive at goal and he finished to the net with the left boot on one minute.

Blackhall replied with a pointed free on two minutes and added a point from play on four minutes. A 45 hit the left upright and Blackhall shot the rebound to the net on five minutes, and added another pointed free on seven minutes.

Ciaran Mc Connell came on for Bective. High fielding Mathew Cully called his mark and punted forward to Cathal Mc Connell who raced at goal and squared for Keating to palm to the net on 11 minutes. Bective held possession for long spells but Blackhall kept in the game and pointed a free kick.

Bective replied with a point from play from Mulhall on 19 minutes. Paul McCabe came into the forward line and pointed a free kick after Cully was dragged back. Brian Cantwell came into the forward line.

Blackhall pointed and converted a penalty but McCabe finished off the scoring with a fine point on 33 minutes. This was a fine workman like performance from Bective and with a bye in the next round they await their final match against group favourites Dunshaughlin in early September.

Full-time: Bective 4 – 9, Blackhall 2 – 10.

Bective - Scott O’Sullivan, Ben Malone, Jack Grant, Neil Dowdall, Donagh Garvey, Craig Roche, Colin O’Rourke, Mark O’Brien, Mathew Cully, Cathal Mc Connell, Declan McGuinness, Tristan O’Neill, Marty Mulhall, Sean Keating and Con Smith.