No laugh in Kilkenny as Meath champions escape with their lives intact

Mullinvat push Duleek-Bellewstown to pin of their collar

Duleek-Bellewstown 0-0-15 (15)

Mullinavat 1-0-9 (12)

Just over 21 years since their last victory in Provincial football, Duleek-Bellewstown avoided a massive banana skin by beating Kilkenny senior champions Mullinavat in John Lockes GAA Club, Callan on Sunday afternoon.

Restarting life without Eamonn Armstrong, who returned to Perth last Monday, Anthony Malone’s side laboured for large periods before eventually falling over the line to get their Leinster Club IFC campaign off and running.

The Meath champions looked the fresher, sharper side in the opening exchanges and raced into a five-point lead after 15 minutes. Veteran John Flood accounted for a trio of points with Tom Bowden and John McDonnell also on target.

The expectation was that Duleek-Bellewstown would coast from that point onwards, but Mullinavat registered a hat-trick of points to get themselves right back in the equation. Oisín Knox and Ian Duggan pointed before Ryan Lynch was forced into a smart save to deny Mick Malone a certain goal. The ‘Vegas Boys’ did however reduce the margin back to two thanks to a second from Duggan in the 21st minute.

Undeterred, the Meath side finished the first-half just how they started it, this time with four points on the spin. A John Flood free ended a 10-minute drought with Oisin Miland making it back-to-back scores approaching first-half stoppage time. A further Bowden brace in additional time eased the visitors into a 0-9 to 0-3 half-time advantage.

The Kilkenny team looked a rejuvenated outfit upon the resumption and registered consecutive points in quick fashion thanks to talisman Mick Malone and Knox who blazed over from close range.

Sam O’Leary clipped over Duleek-Bellewstown’s maiden score of the second-half in the 34th minute but Mullinavat continued to battle back gamely. The inspirational Ger Malone raised a white flag before Conor Walsh struck for the game's only goal. Mick Malone carved the opportunity for Walsh who fired beyond the helpless Lynch to put just a solitary point between the sides after 35 minutes.

Duleek-Bellewstown regained control and notched three of the next four points from Bowden, Kyle Doherty and McDonnell to lead by 0-13 to 1-7 after 47 minutes and seemingly on their way to victory. However, Cillian Kirwan received what appeared to be an extremely harsh black card from referee Seamus Farrelly and the battle raged again.

A Malone free and a third point from Duggan either side of a John Flood point, had the rank underdogs back within two points with eight minutes remaining. Although despite their numerical disadvantage, Duleek-Bellewstown successful navigated their way through and a Flood free entering stoppage time proved to be the insurance score for the relieved Meath champions who advance to face Kildare side Milltown next Saturday afternoon in Newbridge.

Duleek-Bellewstown: Ryan Lynch; Cillian Kirwan, Colm Regan, Glen Callaghan; Cianan Byrne, Tom Bowden (0-4 three frees), Oisin Miland (0-1); Shane Crosby, Robin Clarke; Kyle Doherty (0-1), James McGarvey, Sam O’Leary (0-1); Johnny McDonnell (0-2), John Flood (0-6 three frees), Joe Hartford. Subs: Tiarnan McKeon for McGarvey 39m, Kyle Callaghan for Hartford 41m, Sean Cadwell for Doherty 57m, Robert Caffrey for Byrne 64m.

Mullinavat: Jack Walsh; Shane Kelly, Joe Fennelly, Sean Fitzpatrick; Conor Duggan, Ger Malone, Padraig Dempsey; James Culleton, Thomas Aylward; Conor Walsh (1-0), Mick Malone (0-4 two frees), Ian Duggan (0-3); Liam Fennelly, Brian Phelan, Oisín Knox (0-2). Subs: Ian Mansfield for Kelly 8 mins, Paudie Gahan for Duggan half time, Robin Davis for C Walsh 43m, Walsh for Culleton 48m, David Maher for Fitzpatrick 55m.

Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Dublin).