An Tuascairt make numerical advantage count

LAST year’s beaten finalists An Tuascairt made it back to the Regional FC decider after holding off Boyne Valley’s late surge in this last four tie at Dunganny on Sunday.

The north Meath outfit took control of proceedings after the 2023 winners had Mark Dowdall dismissed on receipt of a second yellow card on the cusp of half-time. They enjoyed a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at that stage and led by double scores, 0-12 to 0-6, 10 minutes into the second half.

Boyne Valley managed to close the gap to two points by the three-quarter way stage but An Tuascairt re-established their superiority and were five clear after Rian Stafford hit his second-pointer from a free on 57 minutes.

At that stage Boyne Valley were down to 13, substitute Kris Gorman had been dismissed shortly after his introduction and An Tuascairt seemed headed for a comfortably victory.

However the Slane/Bective/Walterstown/Dunsany combination refused to give up the fight and the excellent Con Smith pulled a point back and Ciaran Cox left the minimum between the teams with a well taken goal on the hour mark. That set up a grandstand finish but David Nolan’s side were unable to conjure up an equaliser in added time.

The teams were level on five different occasions in the opening half with five different players contributing to An Tuascairt’s tally. Rian McConnell, Killian Price, Sean Meade, Adam Matthews and Darren Finney all hit the target with Con Smith converting two frees and Matt Tully, David Donnelly and Adam Quinn pointing for Boyne Valley. A two-pointer free from Stafford’s gave Tadhg Boyle’s outfit the lead at half-time.

An Tuascairt hammered home that numerical advantage in the third quarter with Stafford converting two more frees and Sean Clare firing over a two-pointer and then adding another point, all these scores coming in reply to a Con Smith point shortly after the restart.

Nobber’s Sean Meade then extended the lead before substitute Conor Forde revived Boyne Valley hopes after playing a one-two with the influential Smith and finishing to the net.

Matt Tully then lofted over a two-pointer to edge them closer but An Tuascairt replied with the next three points, including two from sub Ben Blakemore. Tully was then denied by a save from Dary Hutchison but they hit back with a two-pointer from Smith to reduce the deficit to three.

With Boyne Valley down to 13 Stafford stroked over another two-pointer free to end the game as a contest or so we thought. But again Boyne Valley responded with a point and then a goal before eventually running out of time.

An Tuascairt – Dary Hutchison (Nobber); Michael Kearney (Drumconrath), Evan Hoey (Castletown), Dara Dillon (Syddan); Graham Garland (Syddan), Killian Russell (Kilmainhamwood), Killian Price (Castletown 0-1); Sean Clare (Syddan 0-3 one two-pointer), Rian McConnell (Castletown 0-1 free); Adam Matthews (Castletown 0-1), Rian Stafford (Kilmainhamwood 0-6 two frees, two two-point frees), Darragh Kelly (Castletown); Niall Farrell (Nobber), Darren Finney (Castletown 0-1), Sean Meade (Nobber 0-3). Subs – Ben Blakemore (Syddan 0-2), Barry Cassidy (Nobber), Ciaran Doyle (Kilmainhamwood), Mark Fedigan (Syddan), Niall Bennett (Kilmainhamwood, Dale Larkin (Nobber), Brian Cassidy (Kilmainhamwood).

Boyne Valley – Cian O’Neill (Dunsany); Ciaran Cox (Walterstown 1-0), Jack Wilson (Walterstown), Eoin Feeley (Slane); Mark Dowdall (Bective), Conor Farrelly (Walterstown), David Donnelly (Bective 0-1); Tristan O’Neill (Bective), James Cahill (Dunsany); Paul Donnellan (Walterstown), Cathal McConnell (Bective) Matthew Cully (Bective); Con Smith (Bective 0-6 3 threes, one two-pointer), Matt Tully (Slane 0-3 one two-pointer), Adam Quinn (Walterstown 0-1). Subs – Conor Harkin (Dunsany), Lorcan O’Connor (Walterstown), Harry Cahill (Dunsany), Conor Forde (Slane 1-0), Breandan McGuinness (Walterstown), Kris Gorman (Dunsany).

Referee – Robert Purfield (St Patrick’s).