Ref provides comical relief as Dunderry win 'Dowd Derby'
Kevin Dowd's Ballivor came up just short against Dunderry on Sunday.
Dunderry 2-1-3 (11)
Ballivor 0-1-7 (9)
Adam Kelly’s late strike from a penalty proved crucial as Dunderry sealed a narrow victory over Ballivor on Sunday in the FL Div 3 at Ballivor. The match, dubbed the ‘Dowd Derby’ due to Kevin Dowd taking on his native club as manager of Ballivor, won’t go down as a classic affair but the last quarter was quite entertaining to say the least.
Dunderry led by only one point with 10 minutes remaining when they breached the three-up rule. Referee Frank Scully looked quite confused as both benches pleaded their case on the breach.
The man in the middle then announced that he had lost his notebook. So there was a brief comical interlude while both sets of players trawled the Ballivor pitch for the ref’s black book. Ballivor’s Shay Diggins found the all-important notebook and took the opportunity to jokingly wave the red card at the official.
Two minutes later, Ballivor managed to score the equaliser but in the 59th minute Donagh O Laoire was fouled inside the Ballivor large rectangle and Dunderry were awarded a penalty. Kelly slotted home to give the away side a three-point lead.
There was still time on the clock for Ballivor and they pulled one back through a free. Dowd’s side had an opportunity in the closing moments to level the contest but a two-point effort fell just short.
Both sides missed early opportunities but in the sixth minute Adam Gannon scored a cracking two-pointer. Dunderry and Kelly responded in the 10th minute with a ‘45’ before a long ball from Kelly fell nicely for Ben Clarke and he found the back of the Ballivor net.
Two points in quick succession for Gannon brought Ballivor level before Kelly responded with a well-struck two-point free. After 22 minutes, Dunderry led 1-3 to 0-4.
Kelly and Kevin McKeon traded scores before Nicky Potterton played a lovely ball into Gannon and he split the posts for his fifth point. At half-time, Dunderry led 1-4 to 0-6.
The second quarter was a dour affair. The rain poured heavily on Ballivor’s grounds and both sides struggled in the windy, wet conditions. Kelly who had been a class act for Dunderry stretched their lead to two. Ryan McCaffrey’s shot in the 45th minute came up short of the posts and into the hands of Gannon. Gannon tapped over to reduce the gap back to one.
A few minutes later, the whole fiasco with the three-up breech and the lost notebook played out much to the amusement of those in attendance. Kevin McKeon popped up with the equaliser for Ballivor with four minutes remaining.
O Laoire was clean through on goal when he was dragged to the ground inside the large rectangle. It was a cool and composed finish from Kelly before McKeon responded for Ballivor with a free. Dowd’s charges had an opportunity to nick a draw but a late two-point effort came up short. Soon after the final whistle confirmed the victory for Dunderry.
Dundery - Eoin Kelly; Harry Crinion, Sean Traynor, T J Loughran; Fionn McHale, Jamie Duffy, Darragh Fay; Conor Sheridan, Oisin O’Neill; Rian Liggan, Cormac Liggan, William Treacy; Ben Clarke (1-0), Adam Kelly (1-5 one ‘45’, one two-point free, one penalty) Ciaran Sheridan. Subs - Donagh O Laoire for Clarke, Stephen Coogan for Sheridan both 47m, Ronan Brady for McHale 55m, Tadhg Dowd for Treacy 61m
Ballivor - Tomas Raleigh; Harry Smyth, David Raleigh, Noah Doyle; Billy Birmingham, Conal Diggins, Gary Sherrock; Kevin McKeon (0-3 one free), Keith Keoghan; Conor McNally, Jamie Kavanagh, Killian Canavan; Nicky Potterton, Ryan McCaffrey, Adam Gannon (0-6 one free, one two-point). Subs - Shay Diggins for McCaffrey 17m, Ciaran Browne for Canavan half-time.
Referee - Frank Scully (Longwood).