No Hopers Drumconrath put it up to the 'Wood in Meath Hill

Kilmainhamwood 1-8 Drumconrath 0-10

Drumconrath's progress continues as they put up a really spirited performance in cruelly losing in added time to favourites Kilmainhamwood. Two early missed frees came back to haunt them as they could never get ahead of their near neighbour's.

Sean Mulligan set the ball rolling for the team in white playing in their 1st ever Junior Championship match with a well taken score but an Alan Byrne pointed free leveled the game. The only goal of the game came on 7 minutes when veteran Aidan Crosbie seemed to nudge full back Thomas Carolan and he set Stephan Kiernan to rifle home.

Terry Skelly was dominating midfield and he scored a neat point and when John McDermott strode forward to add another to gap was 1 point. Crosbie and Andy Farrelly pointed to stretch K'wood's advantage but Blood sub Leighton Irwin pointed along with two Derek Duff frees levelled the game as Drumconrath went about their business in a decent fashion. A late Ray Magee point as he slipped for once the close attentions of Oran Finnegan gave the Wood a 1-4 to 0-6 halt time lead.

Drums started well with Skelly again to the fore and he levelled the game 4 minutes into the half but Sean Kane came to Drumconrath's rescue with a point blank save almost immediately at the other end. Stephan Kiernan from a free put the Wood ahead but Derek Duff equalised after the referee 1st signalled a penalty but the foul had occurred outside the area and he rightly changed his mind.

The Wood pushed for home and Drumconrath wide tally increased as 1st David Russell and then Magee left 2 between the sides with 8 minutes remaining. Indeed Drumconrath's 10 wide's over the hour compared very poorly to Kilmainhamwood's merger amount of just 3.

Drums best goal chance came on 56 minutes when a Jamie Myles pile driven some how managed the hit the post some 3 metres above the crossbar when it looked easier to hit the net. Myles, Derek Duff and Brendan Lyons where proving a handful and Duff hit two great over the shoulder points to level the game as the 60 minute mark passed.Some 5 minutes of added time then ensued as Drumconrath again spurned chances and Sub Leighton Irwin received a 2nd Yellow for a clumsy tackle.

Two Drumconrath players collided when it looked like a promising attack was about to develop Kilmainhamwood picked the scraps and centre back Francie Owens popped over the winner. Drums had time for one last attack which resulted in a long distance but Duff effort trailed wide and Kilmainhamwood survived but only just.

Terry Skelly again was a driving force behind all good things Drumconrath did and he got good support from Oran Finnegan, Stephan Crosby, Chris Tighe, Derek Duff and Brendan Lyons.

Drumconrath: Sean Kane, Alan McEvoy, Thomas Carolan, Oran Finnegan; Peter Tighe, Stephan Crosby, John McDermott (0-1); Terry Skelly (0-2), Christopher Tighe; Alan Byrne (0-1), Jamie Myles, Brendan Lyons; Derek Duff (0-5), Niall Martin, Wesley Byrne. Subs; Leighton Irwin (0-1) for A. Byrne, Padraig McMahon for C.Tighe.

North Meath push past Ballinlough

May 2011

North Meath Gaels 1-16 - Ballinlough 2-9

This was an outstanding game, as North Meath Gaels edged out Ballinlough in the Division 6 final.

Ballinlough started well and pointed early on, At the other end Shane McCabe pointed from play to level the game but playing into the strong breeze Ballinlough really played well and pushed on to lead 1-4 to o-1 as the enthusiastic crowd sang their praises.

North Meath eventually got to grips at midfield as Tómas Conlon and Ryan Owens began to win primary ball.Two McCabe frees one from almost 50 metres settled the team playing in yellow. Tómas Conlon won a kickout and pointed and McCabe was proving very accurate with two more frees. Conlon again and McCabe from play pushed North Meath ahead but Ricky McDermot stemmed the tide as he pointed a free for Ballinlough. Colm McEvoy after a sweeping move gave North Meath the lead and McCabe again made it 0-10 to 1-5 at the break mainly due to the displays of McCabe, Ryan Owens, Conlon and Edward Cassidy doing really well.

North Meath came out with determination and points from Ian Malone, Luke Doran and Jonathon Byrne pushed them 5 ahead but a great goal by Ricky McDermot was followed by a pointed free to close the gap to a single point. 0-13 to 2-6. Stephan Shields was excelling as this stage as he had a great tussle with Ballinlogh's danger man Ricky McDermott.

Again North Meath delivered when they needed to with Conor O'Halloran winning kickouts and that platform led to two more attacks which ended in fouls and again McCabe proved deadly accurate. Colm McEvoy was also getting through a lot of good work and when he put McCabe through, keeper Lorcan Gibney was eventually beaten.

Ballinlough did not lie down and managed the next three points to cut the deficit but Malone who had a good 2nd half pointed an insurance point after Padraig Carolan tested the woodwork. A late attack was launched into the North Meath goal mouth but again O'Halloran fielded well and with that the final whistle sounded.

The atmosphere generated by the top class football and the singing and chanting from the stands made this one of the most enjoyable occasions in Pairc Tailteann in recent times and Ballinlough can be proud of their efforts while North Meath won the day underage football in Meath was the real winner.

North Meath had a fine team display as all players had some great moments but Shane McCabe proved their ace with 1-9 to his credit.

Ballinlough had star performers in goalkeeper Lorcan Gibney, who produced a string a fine saves to keep North Meath at bay, Matthew Farrell and Jonnie Reilly in defence and Rickey McDermott.

North Meath Gaels - Dominic Yorke; Edward Cassidy, Stephan Shields; Martin Shields, Padraig Carolan, Conor OHalloran; Ryan Owens, Tómas Conlon (0-2); Jonathon Byrne (0-1), Luke Doran (0-1), Colm McEvoy (0-1), Ian Malone (0-2), Shane McCabe (1-9). Subs Martin Meegan for Carolan, Brendan Crosbie for M Shields, Conor Kieran, Shane Carolan, Conor Marry, Noel Russell

Ballinlough: Lorcan Gibney, Matthew Farrell, Kevin Beirne, Killian MCCaffrey, Jonnie Reilly, Brian Mallen, Oliver Brady (0-1), Brian Brady (1-1), Joe Farrelly, Ferdia McCormack, Dylan Montgomery Francis, Matthew McInerney(0-1), Ricky McDermott (1-6).

Referee Niall Foran