Dominant Duleek-Bellewstown blitz Blacks to secure final spot

Battling Walterstown push favourites close

Duleek-Bellewstown..........................3-0-19 (28)

Walterstown........................................3-1-10 (21)

Duleek-Bellewstown made it back to the IFC decider for the third time in five years following this convincing semi-final win at Simonstown on Sundaywrites Sean Wall.

The east Meath outfit were in the driving seat from the opening whistle though the concession of a brace of goals in the space of 90 seconds threatened to derail their hopes at one stage in the opening half. However they held sway in most areas of the pitch and after relinquishing the lead for a brief spell they finished the half strongly scoring a goal and three points without reply to lead 2-10 to 2-5 at half-time.

Anthony Malone’s charges tightened their grip on proceedings throughout the second half and while a final showdown with O’Mahonys was all but assured before the final whistle full credit to Walterstown who managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over from limited possession. The Blacks were forced to live on scraps at times and weren’t allowed reach the same heights as in the quarter final win over championship favourites Castletown but they still finished with a respectable tally.

The winners created an abundance of opportunities and scored at will with 11 different players contributing to their tally, including a fine contribution off the bench which helped get them over the line with a comfortable margin. A further boost for Duleek-Bellewstown ahead of the final was the return of forward Alan Bowden following a lengthy lay-off with a serious ankle injury. Bowden was introduced towards the end of the third quarter and acquitted himself well scoring a brace of points.

Duleek-Bellewstown wasted no time in getting a grip on proceedings and were three points ahead inside five minutes and before Walterstown had managed a single attack. John Flood, Eamonn Armstrong and Tom Bowden accounted for those early points and Flood added two more before Ruairí O’Dowd had Walterstown off the mark from a free on 10 minutes.

The one-sidedness of the contest continued as Kyle Doherty left it 0-6 to 0-1 after just 12 minutes. However Walterstown came roaring into the contest with a quick-fire brace of goals, the first from the penalty spot scored by Adam Quinn following a foul on Ruairí O’Dowd. From the resultant kick-out Conor McEntee won possession and Adam Brady and O’Dowd were involved before Quinn again finished to the net.

Kyle Doherty drew the sides’ level and almost immediately Cianan Byrne got forward to rifle a shot to the net from a tight angle and restore the Duleek-Bellewstown lead. Walterstown responded with a brace of points from O’Dowd before Quinn hit a brilliant two-pointer to put Walterstown back in front.

Duleek-Bellewstown seemed unfazed and they ended the half with points from Oisin Miland, Doherty, and Flood before Doherty finished a great move to the net to leave them five clear at the break

When substitute Eoghan Heeney hit a point and then a goal in the opening 10 minutes of the second half it left Duleek-Bellewstown in a commanding 3-11 to 2-6 lead. That advantage stretched to 3-13 to 2-6 by the end of the third quarter but Walterstown showed character in spades as they cut the deficit back to five points, boosted by another two-pointer from the brilliant Quinn.

That was as close as they got however as substitutes, Heeney, Kyle Callaghan and Alan Bowden clipped over points to restore Duleek-Bellewstown’s comfortable advantage.

A goal from Lorcan O’Connor again left five between the sides’ in added time but any notions of a late revival were quenched by points from Robin Clarke and John Flood.

Duleek-Bellewstown: Ryan Lynch; Cillian Kirwan, Colm Regan, Glen Callaghan; Cianan Byrne (1-0), Tom Bowden (0-1), Oisín Miland (0-2); Shane Crosby, Robin Clarke (0-1); Kyle Doherty (1-3), Eamonn Armstrong (0-1), Sam O’Leary; John McDonnell (0-1), John Flood (0-5 two frees), Joe Hartford. Subs – Eoghan Heeney (1-2) for Kirwan half-time, Alan Bowden (0-2) for Hartford 42m, Kyle Callaghan (0-1) for G Callaghan 53m, Tiarnan McKeon for Doherty 58m.

Walterstown - John Davis; Aran McLoughlin, Jack Wilson, Oliver Maloney; Conor Farrelly, Brendan McGuinness, Senan Colgan; Mark Foy, Conor McEntee; Conor Lenehan, Fionnan O’Connor, Lorcan O’Connor (1-0); Adam Quinn (2-7 1-0 penalty, one free, two two-pointers), Ruairí O’Dowd (0-4 two frees), Adam Brady. Subs – Barry O’Connell (0-1) for Maloney 29m, David Donnellan for Colgan 42m, Neil McGinley for Brady 51m, Barry O’Dowd for Farrelly 55m, Pauric Freeman for McGinley 58m.

Referee – Keith Sheerin (Castletown).