Dunshaughlin back on track following comprehensive win

SFC Meath Hill stunned by first-half goal blitz

Dunshaughlin ...............4-1-13 (27)

Meath Hill ......................2-2-5 (15)

They haven't gone away you know.

After their surprise loss to Rathkenny in the opening round of the SFC, defending champions Dunshaughlin bounced back in some style at Pairc Tailteann on Friday evening with an emphatic win over Meath Hill.

The margin of victory is slightly flattering for the champions as they survived a stern examination from last year's IFC winners, but two goals in the space of 100 seconds towards the end of the opening half turned the tide firmly in Dunshaughlin's favour.

After an even opening 10 minutes during which the lead changed hands four times with both Mathew Costello (free) and Ryan Owens kicking two pointers, Dunshaughlin edged into a 1-3 to 0-4 lead with Ruairi Kinsella finishing well for a fine goal.

James Mooney responded with a brilliant fisted point five minutes later, but then the tide turned firmly in Dunshaughlin's favour.

In the 26th minute Dunshaughlin benefitted from a stroke of luck as Charlie O'Connor's fisted point attempt came back off the upright into the path of Fursey Blake who slam dunked the ball to the net.

Meath Hill claimed the Dunshaughlin corner-back was in the small square before the ball came back off the post, but referee Keith Sheerin disagreed and the goal stood to increase Dunshaughlin's slender lead to 2-4 to 0-5.

From the next kickout Dunshaughlin went on the charge again. With their heads still hanging Meath Hill were cut open down the right before Conor Duke slalomed in past a couple of defenders and blasted his side's third goal.

Those two goals knocked the stuffing out of Meath Hill and when Kinsella added a brilliant fourth goal nine minutes later the game was effectively over as a contest.

Cormac Sheehy did give Meath Hill slim hope with a goal from the last kick of the half, but trailing by 1-6 to 4-7 at the interval left the north Meath men with too much to do.

A second goal for Shane McCoy's side, from Damien Turley who was on hand to finish from close range after Sean Owens had rattled the crossbar, five minutes after the restart did raise the Meath Hill supporter's spirits, but Dunshaughlin were never seriously troubled.

A brilliant two-pointer from Ryan Shekleton, after Duke was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes after a cynical foul on the excellent Mooney, closed the gap to 2-9 to 4-9 in the 46th minute, but Meath Hill didn't score again.

With Dunshaughlin down to 14 they still managed to kick points from the outstanding Aaron Murphy, Kinsella and John McDonagh to make it 4-12 to 2-9 before Duke returned.

With the wind long gone out of Meath Hill's sails and the limbs showing obvious signs of fatigue after a tough battle Dunshaughlin took advantage of Meath Hill's fade out with Murphy, Sean O'Neill and Mathew Costello adding points to seal the comfortable win and set up a must-win clash with Trim in the final game of the group.

Dunshaughlin - Tim O'Sullivan; David Fildes, Niall Murphy, Fursey Blake (1-0); Ben Duggan, Charlie O'Connor, Mathew Costello (0-3 one two-point free) Adam Kealy, Conor Gray (0-1); Conor Duke (1-2), Tadhg O Dushlaine, John McDonagh (0-1); Ruairi Kinsella (2-2 one free), Adam Hanley, Aaron Murphy (0-5 one free). Subs - Danny Quinn for N Murphy 45m, Luke Mitchell for Hanley 46m, Sean O'Neill (0-1) for Blake 55m, Alastar Doyle for McDonagh 56m, Cian Gallogly for A Murphy 62m.

Meath Hill - Dominic Yorke; Peter Griffin, Thomas Carolan, Matthew Carolan; Pierce McGrath (0-3 two frees), Ryan Carry, Damien Turley (1-0); Jack Slavin, Ryan Owens (0-2 two-pointer); Cormac Sheehy (1-0), Jake Gillen, Andy Monaghan; James Mooney (0-1), Sean Owens, Jack McMahon (0-1). Subs - Ryan Shekleton (0-2 two-pointer) for Carry 30m, Aaron Farrelly for Turley 45m, Colin Breslin for McGrath, Kyle Martin for Sheehy both 55m, Dean Martin for Carolan 56m.

Referee - Keith Sheerin (Castletown).