Dunshaughlin secured their place in the B League Division 2 Final with a resounding win over Dunderry at a blustery Dunganny tonight.
Dunshaughlin 2-16
Dunderry 1-07
While the score line wasn’t as one sided as when they met in the group stage of the Junior B Championship, the result was never in doubt as Dunshaughlin raced out of the traps and built up an early lead. Reminiscent of the mid summer encounter, the game was out of sight for Dunderry at half time. Dunshaughlin got of to a good start, Trevor Dowd opening the scoring with a free. Playing into the wind, Dunderry battled back, and two minutes later David Jennings split the post to tie the game. But it was all Dunshaughlin for the rest of the first quarter, a quarter which turned into the Trevor Dowd show. Dowd set up Niall Dundon in the sixth minute before scoring a trio of his own, two from fress after a well worked score from play. Dundon pointed again in the 17th minute to put Dunshaughlin into a five point lead. But against the run of play, Dunderry got a goal and for all of two minutes had got themselves back into the game, that was until Dowd popped up again and goaled to restore normal service and Dunshaughlin’s five point lead again. David Devereux split the posts for the Black and amber minutes later before the unstoppable Dowd brought the scoring to a close for the half with his fifth point of the half, Dunshaughlin switching ends 1-08 to 1-01 to the good. It was a deserved lead and could have been even greater if not for some wayward shooting.
Dunshaughlin added another two quick fire points to kick start the second half, John Coleman and David Devereux registering the scores and at that stage Dunshaughlin led by nine. Dunderry then hit somewhat of a purple patch and scored three points without reply. But it was Devereux who showed valuable leadership steadied the ship with a point in the 39th minute. The introduction of some substitutes brought with it fresh legs and some fresh impetus as Owen Hagarty linked up with Eamon Bowe down the right hand side, the newly introduced Hagarty scoring two points within minutes of entering the fray. Dowd added a free to make it a double figure lead as the game entered the final quarter, Dunshaughlin leading 1-14 to 1-4. But there was still some defending to do as Dunderry rattled off two consecutive points before a goal mouth scramble, saw a shot heroically cleared off the line by another sub Mark Coffey. As the ball bounced around the square Coffey selflessly threw himself in front of a goal bound shot to deny Dunderry an almost certain goal. Inspired by Coffey’s save, Ciaran Farrelly strode up the field to score a point. Moments later the industrious Eamon Bowe finally got the score his evening of toil deserved. Dunderry managed one final point before Dunshaughlin last attack produced a major, Tadgh O’Dubhshlaine outpacing the tiring Dunderry defence to fire to the back of the net.
It was a good performance by Dunshaughlin with Brian Murphy, Tommy Johnson, Eamon Bowe, David Devereux and Trevor Dowd standing out for the winners.
Team: Sean Doyle, Donnacha Lloyd, Brian Murphy, Fearghal Delaney, Alan McLoughlin, Kevin Moyles, Tommy Johnson, Graham Dowd, Ciaran Farrelly (0-1), Niall Dundon (0-2), Trevor Dowd (1-6), Dara Devereux, Eamon Bowe (0-1), David Devereux (0-3), John Coleman (0-1).
Subs: Owen Hagarty (0-2) for Dundon, Tadgh O’Dubhshlaine (1-0) for Dara Devereux, Shane Kelly for Choi, Mark Devanney for Coleman, Mark Coffey for Lloyd.
