Brown outwits Kearney as Dundrum continue to move up the table - 29/06/2003
A.C.F.L Division 3, Round 4 - 25/04/2003.
Dundrum 0-12 Aghaderg 1-05

By Marc MacSiomoin, Dundrum

There were two very intriguing battles fought at Dundrum on Friday evening. The first was held on the field of play with the second being an engagement between the two supremos. The result; An overwhelming victory for the Duns in both contests. This one was always going to be a tense affair.

Former Dundrum chief Tony Kearney is now in control of Aghaderg and although he had the inside knowledge, he was definitely outwitted by his opposite number Chris Brown. The football itself was not pretty but the homeside knew that they had a job to do and they done it. Aghaderg's defeat came about for two reasons. Firstly, they failed to regroup after they had a man dismissed and secondly they placed too much emphasis on targeting Rory Simpson eventhough it was clear that Walsh had the better of him.

The game began in blustery conditions and it was Walsh who got the first score of the game against the wind after 4 minutes. The score was the result of a fine solo run which went unchecked by the 'Derg backline. The away men wasted no time in retaliating as Rory Simpson floated over a free a minute later. Disaster then struck for both sides in the following period of play as Dundrum lost Chris Carey through injury and Rory Simpson scuffed a penalty for the 'Derg. The penalty miss proved costly as the West Down side lost their momentum and allowed Dundrum to set the pace of the game. A rare point from roving halfback McKibbin gave the Duns their second score of the night on 13 minutes. Simpson responded for his side with a free 5 minutes later to level the affair. Aghaderg then had one of their backs sent off and Cormac Venney converted the resulting free. However Dundrum were prevented from extending their lead as they lost their shooting boots and so managed to register five wides before the break. During an interlude from a Dundrum attack, Simpson surged forward and blasted over the bar to leave affairs all square going in at the break. With the first half being relatively low scoring it was up to both sets of forwards to produce.

Dundrum in the end managed to provide a higher level of productivity as they notched up nine points. The first score of the half was the result of a masterstoke of a change by Chris Brown. He propelled young Arran Doyle into his more favourable midfield berth which enabled the energetic dynamo to exercise more authority. Doyle relished the switch and he finished off a beautifully crafted move 30 seconds in. Yet Aghaderg were not to be silenced. They swiftly found the back of the net two minutes later. The goal sent them two clear and with everything to gain. Unfortunately for Kearney's charges they failed to capitalise on their lead and Dundrum punished them severely with a litany of scores. Doyle hit two fine points from play and Barr also got in on the act with an opportunist strike. Venney pegged a free and Walsh sliced over a fine effort to leave Aghaderg trailing by two with 44 minutes on the clock.

Despite snatching a point on the halfway mark the 'Derg failed to get themselves back into the game. Dundrum realised that if they kept taking their chances they would run out winners. Doyle made it a hat trick of scores on 47 minutes and Venney bagged his first from play immediately after. The last 10 minutes turned out to be very highly strung as Aghaderg on occasion threatened to sneak back into it. Yet just when it looked as if they would score, Dundrum would steal the ball and launch their own attack instead.

An unmarked Walsh converted on 52 minutes just before the 'Derg cancelled out this effort shortly after. With three points in it, the game was by no means finalised. Kielty failed to round off affairs when he rattled the bar after Venney had courageously slid to keep the ball in play. The final say was left to Walsh. The enigmatic midfield general wrapped his body around the ball before fending off numerous challenges to point. This concluded a frantic final period of play which saw Walsh and Co. kill off Aghaderg with conviction.

Dundrum: J.Gibney, P.Shields, J.McMullan, N.McComiskey, C.McKibbin (0-01), M.Murray, J.Hurley, K.Walsh (0-04), C.Carey, J.Barr (0-01), M.Coughlan, A.Doyle (0-03), R.Smyth, C.Kielty, C.Venney (0-03). Sub: J.McKibben.