Devastating opening quarter boosts Duleek-Bellewstown

Duleek-B’town 3-3-10 (25)

Clann na nGael 4-1-7 (21)

It would have been understandable if Clann na nGael supporters headed for the exits after just 15 minutes of this fascinating IFC quarter final at Walterstown on Sunday!

Their team was literally being kicked out the gate by a rampant Duleek-Bellewstown who led by an incredible 2-10 to 0-0 after just 14 minutes. If ever there was a mis-match this was it, or so we thought, such was the one-sidedness of the contest during those opening passages.

Duleek-Bellewstown looked like a side possessed as they totally dominated proceedings and would have sent punters flooding to the bookies before the no more bets sign went up.

Niall McLoughlin’s charges had nothing but pride to play for at that stage but as the game progressed they showed they had that in abundance as they steadily got the scoreline back to respectable proportions before realising at some stage in the third quarter that they were capable of one of the all time great comebacks.

As the east Meath side eased off the throttle Clann na nGael came roaring into contention and had every chance of victory but unfortunately for them their finishing let them down.

They had to take risks and some of the chances they missed were two-pointers but there were other opportunities for them which went a begging and nine second half wides must have left them wondering what might have been at the final whistle.

Duleek-Bellewstown showed what they were capable of in both halves. Whichever one turns up in the concluding stages of the campaign it will ultimately decide their fate.

Shane Crosby and Robin Clarke dominated from the throw-in with Crosby firing over a brilliant two-pointer inside 30 seconds. Their opening goal was a classic score with raiding wing back Cianan Byrne starting and finishing a move to the net after seven minutes.

Two two-pointers quickly followed with Oisin Miland and Eamonn Armstrong both firing over from distance and suddenly Duleek-Bellewstown were leading 1-7 to 0-0 with just eight minutes on the clock.

When AFL rookie Armstrong combined with John Flood and John McDonnell for a goal it left it 2-9 to 0-0 and Sam O’Leary added a point before Clann na nGael, who had scored 11 goals in three group games, finally got off the mark. Again it was a brilliantly executed move involving Daragh Griffin, Ben Corkery and Thomas Doyle before Philip Garry finished to the net on 16 minutes.

Frees converted by Cormac Smith (two) and Doyle left it 2-13 to 1-3 and when Sean Óg Tiernan was fouled for a penalty in the final minute of the half Thomas Doyle sent 'keeper Ryan Lynch the wrong way to leave it 2-13 to 2-3 at the break.

The introduction of Éamonn Ó Donnchadha at the start of the second half added guile to the Clann na nGael attack and within three minutes he had the ball in the Duleek-Bellewstown net, this after Ben Corkery had opened his account with a point.

That left just six points between the teams, but Duleek-Bellewstown were unfazed and responded with points from John Flood (two) and a second goal from the impressive Armstrong which stretched the lead back out to 11 points on 41 minutes.

Clann na nGael continued to miss and also score a few and were now the dominant side. A two-pointer from Cormac Smith reduced the deficit back to seven and it was back to six after Doyle converted a free.

John Flood’s sixth point kept Duleek-Bellewstown ticking over but then Corkery bagged a fourth goal and the Athboy men were back in contention even though only a minute of normal time remained.

They did have chances in added time but their earlier exertions probably caught up with them as a relieved Duleek-Bellewstown advanced.

Duleek-Bellewstown: Ryan Lynch; Cillian Kirwan, Colm Regan, Glen Callaghan; Cianán Byrne (1-0), Tom Bowden, Oisin Miland (0-2 one two-point); Shane Crosby (0-2 one two-point), Robin Clarke; Kyle Doherty (0-1), Eamonn Armstrong (2-2 one two-point), Sam O’Leary (0-1); John Flood (0-6 two frees), John McDonnell (0-2), James McGarvey. Subs – Joe Hartford for McGarvey 33m, Eoghan Heeney for McDonnell 49m, Kyle Callaghan for Doherty 55m, Tiarnan McKeon for Crosby 59m.

Clann na nGael: Eoin Griffin; Andrew Smith, Jack Doherty, Daragh O’Reilly; Donnacha Farnan, Cormac Smith (0-4 two frees, one two-point), Diarmuid Ó Donnchadha; Daragh Griffin, Eoin Kelleher; Sean Óg Tiernan, Ben Corkery (1-2), Eugene O’Reilly; Thomas Doyle (1-3 one penalty, three frees), Gerry O’Sullivan, Philip Garry (1-0). Subs – Éamon Ó Donnchadha (1-0) for A Smith half-time, Paul Tuite for Kelleher 44m.

Referee: Adrian Corcoran (Drumbaragh).