Bowden strikes late to rescue point for Bru na Boinne

DULEEK-BELLEWSTOWN’S Alan Bowden scrambled an equalising goal in the fourth and final minute of added time in this keenly contested Regional FC tie at Dunganny on Wednesday night to rescue a 1-11 to 0-14 draw for Bru na Boinne against Boyne Valley, writes Sean Wall.

Holders Boyne Valley looked to have secured their second win of the campaign after Daire Rowe pointed to leave them three clear on 62 minutes. However Niall Ronan’s charges fought back and when Sam O’Leary fisted a delivery into the danger area a goalmouth scramble developed before Bowden got the vital touch to force the ball over the line.

Bru na Boinne led by two points at different stages of the opening half and after Sam Victory cut in from the right wing to fist over on 18 minutes it left them leading 0-6 to 0-4. They had the edge in the exchanges at that stage with Adam Tuite, John Flood and Bowden prominent in attack.

However they failed to add to their tally for the remainder of the half and Boyne Valley came much more into contention and had points from Daire Rowe, Mark Fedigan and Matt Tully to lead 0-7 to 0-6 at the break. David McLoughlin was also prominent for Boyne Valley in that opening half and hit a couple of fine scores.

Boyne Valley’s dominance continued on the restart and they hit further points from McLoughlin, Tully and Rowe to stretch their lead to four.

Adam Tuite, who was Bru na Boinne’s most impressive forward, ended a long scoreless spell for his side with a point from an awkward angle on 39 minutes. The east Meath side eventually cut the deficit to two points by the 48th minute following a Bowden point.

With substitute Sean Nulty picking up a black card for Bru na Boinne their opponents reasserted their authority and further scores from substitute Alan Wall and Rowe, his fourth, seemed to be enough to seal the win.

Credit to Bru na Boinne though who were down to 14 following the dismissal of Ryan Hand on receipt of a second yellow card before they conjured that equalising goal.

Boyne Valley – Cathal Dardis (Syddan); Evan Murray (Slane), Ronan Mooney (Syddan), Jack Doyle (Walterstown); Kyle Tallon (Slane), Darren Brennan (Moynalvey), Jim Marry (Slane); Francis Marry (Slane), Sean Clare (Syddan); Adam Quinn (Walterstown 0-1), David McLoughlin (Moynalvey 0-4), Mark Fedigan (Syddan 0-1); Daire Rowe (Syddan 0-4 one free, one mark), Matt Tully (Slane 0-2), Michael Brady (Moynalvey). Subs – Mark Foy (Walterstown) for Brady 23 mins, Ross Reynolds (Walterstown) for Murray half-time, Alan Wall (Walterstown 0-1) for J Marry 37m, Podge McGowan (Slane 0-1 mark) for Tully 42m, Brady for F Marry 43m, Jack Wilson (Walterstown) for Doyle 49m, Michael Fedigan for Tallon 50m.

Bru na Boinne – Evan Connor (St Vincent’s); Oisin Miland (Duleek-Bellewstown), Davy Tallon (St Vincent’s), Adam Byrne (St Patrick’s); Sam O’Leary (Duleek-Bellewstown), Ryan Hand (St Vincent’s), Nigel Hand (St Vincent’s); Conor Harford (St Vincent’s), Padraig Nulty (St Patrick’s); Paddy McGill (St Vincent’s 0-3 two frees), John Flood (Duleek-Bellewstown 0-1), Jamie Crosby (Duleek-Bellewstown); Sam Victory (St Mary’s 0-1), Alan Bowden (Duleek-Bellewstown 1-2), Adam Tuite (St Vincent’s 0-3). Subs – Shane Landy (St Patrick’s 0-1) for Harford 25 mins, Sean Nulty (St Mary’s) for P Nulty half-time, Ben Loughran (St Mary’s) for Crosby, Liam Sheridan (St Mary’s) for Flood both 40m, Liam Brennan (St Patrick’s) for N Hand 58m.

Referee – Kieran Olwell (Moynalty).