Mitchels
power their way to next round - 16/08/2003
IFC:
Round 1 - 15/08/2003.
Dundrum 1-06 Mitchels 2-14
By Marc Mac Siomoin,
Dundrum
Newry
Mitchels powered their way very comfortably in to the next round after this comprehensive
victory over a poor Dundrum outfit. Mitchels established themselves midway through
the 1st half and never looked back as they amassed 2-10 without reply to stun
the Division 3 side.
This was Dundrum's first venture in
to the Intermediate championship for 7 years and although it proved unfruitful
it can be viewed as a learning curve. The gap between the two divisions was also
very evident and although the Mitchels seem near certainties to face the drop,
they can be confident of an immediate return after this fine effort. The man that
made Mitchels tick was Stephen Poucher.
He covered nearly
every inch of Owen Roe Park and his efforts were rewarded with a total of 7 points.
He was the difference between the two sides on the night. The half time score
proved to be a false dawn for the Duns. They went in 1 point behind after letting
Mitchels in for 4 scores without reply in the closing stages. Dundrum's performance
in the first 15 minutes gave them real hope of completing an upset.
Frees
from Walsh and Venney and a spectacular save from Gibney kept the Duns on the
front foot. Mitchels managed a reply before Venney turned provider and set up
Kielty and midfield hero Walsh for 2 more scores. After a slow start Mitchels
got their act together and their first purposeful attack ended with the ball rattling
the bar. With their gameplan coming to fruition it took a fine fisted effort from
Murphy to get the bandwagon rolling.
A McKibben point a
minute later for Dundrum gave rise to a startling 2-10 return from Mitchels either
side of the whistle. 4 points before half time and 2-06 after proved too much
for Dundrum to cope with. The 2nd half started from were the first left off. Mitchels
fired over score after score and found the net twice on 37 and 47 minutes. The
Duns only converted twice.
Veteran Marty Carey pointed
a free on 53 minutes and Gareth Shields followed this up with a goal a minute
later.Yet it proved far too little far too late.
The Mitchels
split the sticks for the last time at the death to put the icing on a very well
made cake.
