GAA: A look back at some of the games over the weekend

JFC

Syddan 0-12

Dunsany 1-7

Syddan dug deep in the second half to eke out a crucial win and keep alive their JFC title aspirations at Kilberry last Sunday.

In what was a tough physical battle all through the north Meath side showed great resolve in that second 30 minutes as they recovered from a three point interval deficit to inflict a first defeat on the Dunsany men.

In a game where space was at a premium and scores difficult to come by the teams were level 0-10 to 1-7 with 10 minutes remaining. However it was Syddan who drove on in the closing stages with good ball retention and a crucial brace of points in the final five minutes.

The first of those was a fine effort from midfielder Kevin Traynor with the outside of his boot and then Daire Rowe converting a late free to seal the win.

Rowe’s contribution of eight points, including five from frees was paramount for Syddan who spurned a couple of great goal chances in the opening half.

It was Rowe who opened the scoring from a free and he then added a second point from play on six minutes.

Declan Smyth had Dunsany off the mark on 13 minutes and he fisted the equaliser soon after. Rowe regained the lead for Syddan but Dunsany then produced a sweeping move that ended with Smyth finishing to the net from close range.

Danny Thynne and James Cahill added points for Dunsany as Syddan squandered chances at the other end. Smyth had a chance of a second goal on the stroke of half-time but 'keeper Ciaran Farrelly advanced off his line to make a fine block. Syddan immediately went on the counter attack and Kevin Traynor pointed to cut the deficit and leave it 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time.

Rowe and Jack Cottrell (free) exchanged scores at the start of the second half and Syddan then enjoyed a spell of dominance, scoring four successive point to go in front 0-9 to 1-5. Rowe (two), Ronan Mooney and Mark Fedigan were on target in that spell for Mark Gilsenan’s side.

Cottrell converted another free to level and the teams were still tied after Smyth pointed in reply to Rowe’s seventh point.

The closing stages proved a tense affair with both teams crowding their defence when the other had possession. However it was Syddan who eventually created the openings for the match winning scores.

Syddan - Ciaran Farrelly; Stuart Fedigan, Ronan Mooney (0-1), Cormac Rafferty; Mark Fedigan (0-1), Jack Reid, Gary McManus; Kevin Traynor (0-2), Sean Clare; Michael Fedigan, Paddy Farrelly, Cathal Duff; Daire Rowe (0-8), Cormac Rowe, Ryan Summersby. Sub - Ben Blakemore for Michael Fedigan.

Dunsany - Niall Flynn; Gavin Byrne, Cathal Burke, Alan Kelly; James Cahill (0-1), Pauraic Burke, Daniel Thynne (0-1); Rian Kealy, Eoin Harkin; Alex Smyth, Cathal Murphy, Conor Harkin; Shane Walshe, Declan Smyth (1-3), Jack Cottrell (0-2). Subs- David Hackett for Byrne, Mark Horan for Murphy, Shane Brennan for Cahill, Pierre Fox for Cottrell.

Referee - Liam Reddy (Duleek-Bellewstown).

IFC

Dunshaughlin 1-16

Blackhall Gaels 0-1

This local derby did not live up to its pre-match hype and the story of this game is how the Dunshaughlin defence limited Blackhall Gaels to one point over the hour. In a showery Moynalvey on Saturday evening there were very few talking points in a one-sided encounter.

The only bit of controversy was a disallowed Dunshaughlin goal in the 23rd minute from Aaron Murphy, although Murphy scored from a rebounded save, referee Cormac Reilly and his umpires were in no doubt that Murphy was in the square before the ball. A lot has been spoken previously about the youthful Dunshaughlin forward unit but in this game, it was the older generation in the backs that were the Dunshaughlin heroes.

To avoid confusion (hooped jerseys) Dunshaughlin lined out in their away (red) jerseys. Blackhall played with the wind behind them in the first half and trailed 1-7 to 0-1 at half time and even at that stage it looked like their goose was cooked.

From the first attack of the game Dunshaughlin earned a free which Mathew Costello dispatched to give Dunshaughlin the lead after 40 seconds. Dunshaughlin lost their influential midfielder Ben Duggan through injury and all in the club wish Ben a speedy recovery. Duggan was replaced by Ciaran McCarrick.

Costello scored his second pointed free in the 10th minute, which was followed by a Ruairi Kinsella point in the 12th minute. Blackhall scored their first and only point in the 20th minute from Dermot Carty.

Dunshaughlin’s goal came in the 24th minute finished low to the net by half-back Adam Kealy who had sneaked in behind the defence and found himself in front of the goals one on one with the keeper, this was after quick accurate handpasses in succession from Matthew Moyles and Aaron Murphy in a congested defence. In the lead up to half time Dunshaughlin tagged on three more points from Kinsella, Aaron Murphy and a Luke Mitchell.

With the wind behind them in the second-half Dunshaughlin continued to dominate and although Blackhall did battle, they were no match for Dunshaughlin. Dunshaughlin got further points in the second-half from Costello a free, Mitchell, A Murphy and Conor Gray in the 41st minute scoring his first point in adult championship football for Dunshaughlin.

Dunshaughlin go into their last game on Saturday 3rd September in Dunsany at 6pm against Bective knowing a draw would be enough to secure top spot in the group.

SCORERS

Dunshauglin - 1-16 Luke Mitchell 0-5, four frees, Aaron Murphy 0-4, Mathew Costello 0-3, three frees, Adam Kealy 1-0, Ruairi Kinsella 0-2, John McDonagh 0-1, Conor Gray 0-1.

Blackhall Gael - Dermot Carty 0-1.

Dunshaughlin - Adam McDermott, Daniel Quinn, Alastar Doyle, Niall Byrne, Adam Kealy, Niall Murphy, Charlie O'Connor, Ben Duggan, Conor Gray, John McDonagh, Mathew Moyles, Ruairi Kinsella, Aaron Murphy, Mathew Costello, Luke Mitchell. Subs - Ciaran McCarrick for Duggan, Conor Duke for Moyles, Oisin Foley for Adam Kealy and Fursey Blake for Mathew Costello.

JUNIOR B FC

Slane 0-12

Drumconrath 1-4

Already qualified Drumconrath, who were missing five regular starters, went under to a Slane side who where badly needing a win to get their championship aspirations back on track.

Drums after being very clinical in their last round victory over Kilmainhamwood slipped back to old failings hitting a dozen wides over the hour including a penalty kicked wide after 17 minutes.

Slane where quick out of the traps and pointed four times in the first ten minutes and this gave them a great start in their search for a win.

Driven on by the excellent Oran Brady, Drums finally opened their account with Matthew Durnin and Steven Crosby pointing to narrow the gap to two points.

The normally accurate Durnin drove a penalty wide and Slane finished the half strongly with three more points as Crosby added a point for the Reds.

The second half followed a similar theme with Slane starting well pointing three times. Drums continue to compete but numerous wides sapped their confidence.

Crosby netted a second penalty awarded to Drumconrath to give some hope but with inspirational players like Terry Skelly, Declan Lafferty and Daniel Byrne Drums struggled in the last quarter as Slane pointed twice and the only Drumconrath score came from the returning substitute Tomas Conlon in his first appearance in over five months following an injury.

Drumconrath - Sean Kane; Packie Dunne, Daragh Dunne, Josh Flanagan; Oran Brady, Cathal Dunne, Jamie ONeill: Steven Crosby (1-2), Keith Byrne: Shaun Murray, Aaron Farrelly, Ryan Moore; Pado Farrelly Matthew Durnin (0-1), Peter Tighe. Subs - Aaron Tighe for Moore, Chris Tighe for A Farrelly, Jamie Myles for ONeill, Tomas Conlon (0-1) for Byrne, Tom Callan for Murray.

Kilmainhamwood0-12

St Mary's1-8

Kilmainhamwood overcame a resolute St Mary's by the narrowest of margins in the Junior B FC at Rathkenny on Saturday night.

The game's opening score was a special one as Steven Kiernan pointed a free from well outside the 45.

Kiernan scored another close range free before St Marys man, Sam Victory replied with a point from a free and a fine point from a long solo run to level the proceedings.

Another free from Kiernan was then cancelled out by a point when Victory intercepted a short kickout from goalkeeper Alan Carolan.

Carolan then sent an excellent kickout to Niall Conlon, who subsequently ran the length of the field before slotting a point over the bar. A well worked move saw Niall Bennett kick a close range score, while St Mary's had a well worked score themselves to leave the score 5-4 to the 'Wood at half-time.

Paudie Owens was introduced at half-time as a substitute and he made an immediate impact as he took a pass from Kiernan to slot a lovely point from his left foot.

Victory again pointed from a free before Owens scored another carbon copy point from his left foot.

The Wood were starting to get on top, but a counter attack from St Mary's resulted in a goal to put them in front for the first time in the game.

A superb point from Harry Corbally on the outside of his boot levelled up proceedings before a Niall Bennett blasted over a point and Micheal Shankey pointed from a well worked move to put the 'Wood ahead again.

St Mary's nipped it back to one point after Victory darted towards goal and passed it across goal before they scored a point. The score was now 1-6 to 10 points.

St Mary's were reduced to 14 men soon after and a Kiernan free put the Wood two in front.

Sam Victory and Kiernan both traded points from frees as the score was 1-8 to 12 points in the closing minutes.

Both sides squandered late chances to score as Andy Farrelly and Richard Corbally made some vital interceptions to maintain the narrowest of wins.

The result leaves Kilmainhamwood with a shout of reaching the semi finals.

However, with an injury list resembling an A+E night in the Mater Hospital, the 'Wood are happy to get away with the win.

They will also take heart from this hard fought win and hope injuries will clear up in the coming weeks.

Kilmainhamwood - Alan Carolan, Niall McCabe, Padraic Barber, Richard Corbally, Andy Farrelly, Brian Cassidy, Killian Russell, Adam Crosby, Cian Gillespie, Niall Conlon (0-1), Michael Shankey (0-1), Eoin Finnegan, Steven Kiernan (0-5), Niall Bennett (0-2), Harry Corbally (0-1). Subs - Paudie Owens (0-2) for McCab, David Russell for Shankey.