Dundrum
lose opening League Game - 11/04/2003
A.C.F.L Division 3, Round
1 - 11/04/2003.
Dundrum 1-09 Newry Bosco 2-08
Referee: Peter Brannigan (Bryansford)
A great evening of football was served
up on Friday night at Dundrum as Newry Bosco came
to the village. The game itself lived up to it's billing
and provided the spectators with some fantastic viewing
and very tense moments. The first ten minutes of the
game were lightning fast with both sides setting out
their stalls. Bosco sent over a free after five minutes
and two minutes later with a little stroke of luck
they added a goal to their tally. Dundrum responded
with a brilliant curling effort from Kieran Walsh
on ten minutes. Six minutes later Mick Murray collected
a high ball and floated over a delighful lob only
for the pacey Adrian Larkin to score for Bosco a minute
later.
With both teams at full stretch,
scores would be hard to come by and this was concreted
with the fact that only one more score was to come
in the first half. It came with a Walsh free for Dundrum
on twenty minutes. The remainder of the first half
was characterised with stop - starts and it became
difficult for either team to gain momentum. On the
half hour mark, Brannigan blew it up with Bosco going
in leading by two points.
Half-Time: Dundrum 0-03 Bosco 1-02
Both sides came out for the second
half a lot more hungrier. Bosco settled themselves
two minutes in with a well taken free. Dundrum needed
a score and it was delivered through John Kielty with
five minutes on the clock. Dundrum let their possession
go and it was punished through a well taken Francis
Downey effort two minutes later. After this came a
period of Dundrum dominance which resulted in Venney
and Walsh slotting over two frees on thirty eight
and forty one minutes respectively. Unfortunately
for the home side Bosco were to assume control of
affairs for the next ten minutes. Substitute Conor
Larkin got the wheels in motion on forty four minutes
with a free and just a minute later he found the net
with a well taken goal after some great interplay
with his brother Adrian. The family affair continued
with Adrian Larkin converting a free with fifteen
minutes to go.
However, Bosco could not sustain
this concerted effort for much longer and Dundrum
punished them with a goal. Young Venney had snuck
through but only to be hauled to the ground. Walsh
kept a level head and rifled a thunderbolt past the
helpless Andy Coleman. With the deficit reduced to
two, Dundrum steamrollered on and a minute after the
penalty McMullan raced through to split the sticks.
Bosco were now only one ahead and despite increased
Dundrum pressure they didn't buckle. They managed
a score with four minutes left to command a two point
lead until Venney chipped over to rouse his acquaintances.
On the hour mark Paddy Doran put the home side back
within a point but from the resulting kickout Bosco
grabbed possession and drove forward, only for the
irrepressible Conor Larkin to point. Brannigan whistled
straight after to the delight of a very happy Bosco
side.
Full -Time: Dundrum 1-09 Bosco 2-08
This was a fantastic display of football.
Both teams were very evenly matched but the winning
factor for Bosco was that they never lost their lead
throughout the game. Dundrum were always that one
step behind and just couldn't muster enough power
to take total command.
Bosco had a sound display in goals
from Andy Coleman. Rory Mulvaney and Neil Rooney were
the pick of the defence. Up front the two Larkins
and Francie Downey were most impressive. Dundrum had
a good game from Gibney in goals whilst at the back
Morgan, McComiskey, McKibben and Hurley were very
strong. Conor McKibben did a super job on holding
Adrian Larkin to only one point from play. Kieran
Walsh was on top at midfield and in the forwards Coughlan,
Doran and Venney played gallantly.
The esteem that Bosco held Dundrum
in was evident at the final whistle when the shrieks
of joy could be heard bellowing from their ranks.
This was fast flowing, uncomprimising stuff but surely
it is ironic that these two teams have met each other
at the first hurdle. For they have to be two very
serious contenders for promotion based on their displays
this evening.
Dundrum: Gibney, Hurley, Morgan,
McComiskey, McKibben, McMullan (0-01), Carey, C.Kielty,
Walsh (1-03), J.Kielty (0-01), Coughlan, Murray (0-01),
Doyle, Venney (0-02), Doran (0-01)
Subs: Barr for Doyle.
Man of the Match: John Hurley (Dundrum).
