Dunshaughlin take Div 1 crown with win over St Peter's
The SFC Champions hit three crucial second-half goals to take the Div 1 title on Sunday
Dunshaughlin 3-1-10 (21)
St Peter’s 0-2-13 (17)
Sean Wall
THREE second half goals proved crucial as Dunshaughlin put back-to-back league titles together following this FL div 1 decider at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.
St Peter’s held a comfortable and deserved 0-9 to 0-5 lead at half-time and were still three clear following a Sean Ryan point on 46 minutes.
However the Dunshaughlin challenge was gathering pace at this stage following their opening goal from Adam Hanley at the end of the third quarter. Dunshaughlin second goal from Sean O’Neill put Kevin Kealy’s side ahead on 50 minutes and it was a lead they didn’t relinquish.
Midfielder Adam Kealy added a third goal on 55 minutes and with Dunshaughlin dominating the play there was no way back for St Peter’s after that.
It was a major achievement for the county champions after going through the campaign unbeaten despite playing without their county senior contingent. They welcomed back Conor Duke and Charlie O’Connor for this encounter while Mathew Costello was introduced within two minutes of the start. However they were without Ruairi Kinsella, Conor Gray and Luke Mitchell as well as a couple of other regulars. St Peter’s were also vastly understrength with their absentees into double digits.
Victory came at a cost however with Ben Duggan in considerable pain from an arm injury as he was forced out of the action within 90 second. Then at the start of the second quarter captain Jared Rushe picked up a leg injury which could well keep him out of the start of the Keegan Cup defence.
Dunshaughlin’s second half showing was particularly impressive and there looked to be plenty of competition for places ahead of the championship.
It would be unwise to judge St Peter’s on this display and they will likely be a much more potent force with the return of several regulars. However their old failings again surfaced in this contest, they just didn’t have enough scoring forwards to supplement talisman Donal Lenihan. Lenehan accounted for seven points in the opening half and had taken his tally to 10 by the 42nd minutes. However they went a full 16 minutes without a score in that second half.
Lenihan opened his account with a two-point free on six minutes in response to the opening score from Fursey Blake and converted another free on 12 minutes. Mathew Costello (free), Niall Byrne, Tadhg O Dushlaine and Conor Duke (’45) were all on target for Dunshaughlin as they built up a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage by the 17th minute.
They failed to add to their tally for the remainder of the half as Lenihan hit another four points and David McEntee and Mark Furlong were also on target for Ger Robinson’s side.
Conor Duke closed the gap with a two-point free for Dunshaughlin within two minutes of the restart but Lenihan countered that with a similar effort at the other end from his hands.
The Dunboyne men responded to Dunshaughlin’s opening goal with quick-fire points from Mark Furlong and Sean Ryan which left it 0-15 to 1-9. Dunshaughlin were sniffing blood at that stage and after Adam Hanley pointed Costello and Niall Byrne combined to set up Sean O’Neill for a second goal. Kealy then burst through the middle and his low drive was out of reach of keeper James Dillon to stretch the lead, 3-10 to 0-15.
Their domination continued with fisted points from Ciaran McCarrick and Conor Duke. Cian Duggan and Jason Daly hit late scores St Peter’s but Dunshaughlin were comfortable enough during those closing stages.
Dunshaughlin – Timmy O’Sullivan; Ciaran McCarrick (0-1), Fursey Blake (0-1), Jared Rushe; Niall Byrne (0-1), Darragh McKenna, David Fildes; Adam Kealy (1-0), Charlie O’Connor; Ben Duggan, Tadhg O Dushláine (0-3), Sean O’Neill (1-0); John McDonagh, Adam Hanley (1-1), Conor Duke (0-4 one two-point free, one ’45). Subs – Mathew Costello (0-1 one free ) for Duggan 2m, Daniel Quinn for Rushe 16m, Ciaran Sheridan for Byrne 60m, Mathew Gallagher for McDonagh 61m.
St Peter’s – James Dillon; Jack Scannell, Seamus Lavin, Cian Smith; Cian Duggan (0-1), Sean Ryan (0-1), Conor Doran; Fergus Watters, Mark Furlong (0-2); Eoin McCrudden, Jason Gleeson, David McEntee (0-2); Darragh Nolan, John Harkin, Donal Lenihan (0-10 two two-point frees, five frees). Subs – Michael Murphy for McCrudden 41m, Craig Lowndes for McEntee 44m, Jason Daly (0-1) for Harkin Cathal Melia for Nolan (both 54m), Diarmuid Delaney for Walsh 55m.
Referee – Cormac Reilly (St Mary’s)