Regional FC: Storming second-half seals first win for Brú na Bóinne

Brú na Bóinne 1-15

Darnley 2-7

Davy Rispin

A scintillating 20-minute blitz after half time that yielded 1-7 without reply provided the perfect platform for Brú na Bóinne to register their first win in the Regional Championship. Consequently, a second consecutive defeat for Darnley spells the end of their chances of progressing through to the knock-out stages with one game remaining.

Despite the bitter cold evening, the weather was significantly improved on what both sides had to deal with on the opening night and it provided much more quality football as a result. Darnley were able to give Dunderry duo Conor Dempsey and Morgan Callaghan their first starts in what was a major boost for Eoin Carroll and Anthony Malone’s team.

The Cortown, Clann na nGael, Dunderry and St Ultan’s combination controlled the opening stanza with Cortown’s Hugh Staunton calmly slotting home an early goal to give them the perfect start. Cian Ryan kicked a fine effort for Brú na Bóinne who struggled to settle in the preliminary stages, coinciding with Darragh Swaine lofting over another to put three between the sides.

Back-to-back scores for the Duleek/Bellewstown, St Patrick’s St Mary’s and St Vincent’s amalgamation from sharpshooters Johnny McDonnell and Donal Landy put them back within touching distance of their opponents at the end of the opening quarter with well executed scores. However, a free from Stephen Coogan along with a curling effort from Adam Rogers restored the three-point buffer for the Darnley men after 21 minutes.

The elusive Sam Victory manoeuvred his way through the Darnley defence and notched a classy point but another free from Coogan along with a 50m free from Sean Brennan nosed the men in red four points in front with 5 minutes to the break.

Niall Flynn’s side did manage to muster three of the final four points of the half with Landy (2) and Shane Crosby striking with Coogan on target again for Darnley despite his best efforts to make it three, but he lashed over from close range. That left things finely poised at the interval with Darnley leading, 1-6 to 0-7.

Brú na Bóinne with a slight wind advantage in their favour in the second half were a rejuvenated team and upped the tempo dramatically. Liam O’Neill lashed over to level things up and an excellently worked Victory goal propelled Flynn’s men to a three-point lead moments later.

Victory played a neat one/two with Barry Mooney prior to side-stepping the advancing Brennan and tapping into an empty net for a terrific goal.

A further brace each from the impressive Victory and Landy along with points from McDonnell and substitute Ciaran Flynn put a rampant Brú na Bóinne 8 points to the good following a devastating powerplay before Darnley got their first score of the half 23 minutes in from the boot of Swaine. Flynn capped off a fine cameo with a second point in the 62nd minute as the game looked to be ebbing to its inevitable conclusion.

However, Emmet Costello tagged on what looked to be a consolation goal 4 minutes into injury time and when Darnley were awarded a penalty by Andrew Smith immediately after, the prospect of a last gasp comeback may have been on. Tommy Buchanan stepped up but seen his goal bound strike expertly pushed away by Ryan Lynch as the full-time whistle blew. Brú na Bóinne can look forward to

a winner takes all clash with An Tuaisceart in seven days’ time but for Darnley their second-half collapse spells the end of their interests in the competition with Lough Crew still to play.

SCORERS

Brú na Bóinne - Sam Victory (1-3), Donal Landy (0-5, 1f), Johnny McDonnell (0-2), Ciaran Flynn (0-2), Shane Crosby (0-1), Cian Ryan (0-1), Liam O’Neill (0-1).

Darnley - Stephen Coogan (0-3, 2fs), Hugh Staunton (1-0), Emmet Costello (1-0), Darragh Swaine (0-2), Adam Rogers (0-1), Sean Brennan (0-1f).

Brú na Bóinne – Ryan Lynch (Duleek/Bellewstown); Ciaran Sullivan (St Patrick’s), David Tallon (St Vincent's), Graham Tully (St Mary's); Conor Harford (St Vincent's), Ryan Hand (St Vincent's), Cian Ryan (Duleek/Bellewstown); Shane Crosby (Duleek/Bellewstown), Shane Dowling (St Patrck’s); Barry Mooney (St Patrick's), Johnny McDonnell (Duleek/Bellewstown), Leo Corry (St Vincent's); Sam Victory (St Mary’s), Liam O'Neill (St Mary's), Donal Landy (St Patrick's). Subs – Ciaran Flynn (Duleek/Bellewstown) for Victory 47 mins, Adam Byrne (St Patrick’s) for Tully 52 mins, Robbie Lynch (St Vincent’s) for O’Neill 56 mins, Conor White (St Vincent’s) for Crosby 62 mins.

Darnley - Sean Brennan (Dunderry); Declan Ball (St Ultan’s), Darren Kelly (Clann na nGael) Sean Traynor (Dunderry); Carl Kelly (Clann na Gael) Morgan Callaghan (Dunderry) Aaron Newman (Dunderry) ; Darragh Swaine (Clann na Gael), Conor Dempsey (Dunderry); Ruairi Buchanan (St Ultans), Diarmaid O’Donnchadha (Clann na Gael), Hugh Staunton (Cortown); Stephen Coogan (Dunderry), Eamon O’Donnchadha (Clann na Gael), Adam Rogers (St Ultan’s). Subs - Ciarán Keating (Cortown) for Callaghan Half Time, Tommy Buchanan (St Ultan’s) for R Buchanan 47 mins, Niall O’Laoire (Dunderry) for C Kelly 47 mins, Emmet Costello (St Ultans) for Rogers 50 mins, Charlie Smith (Cortown) for Newman 55 mins, Theo Staunton (Cortown) for Coogan 57 mins.

Referee - Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin).