Dundrum
succumbed to thier third defeat - 26/04/2003
A.C.F.L Division 3, Round
4 - 25/04/2003.
Dundrum
1-10 Tullylish 0-14
Referee: G.Tumelty
By Marc MacSiomoin, Dundrum
Dundrum succumbed to their third
defeat of the season as Tullylish romped to a narrow
one point victory in blustery conditions on Friday
evening. The game itself had the bystander enthralled
from the throw in to the final whistle and lived up
to its bill accordingly.
The game was only forty seconds old
when Cormac Venney slotted over a free after he had
been brought down needlessly by his marker. Two minutes
later the away side punished a Conor McKibben foul
with a well taken free. The Tullylish midfield had
their part to play a minute later when they orchestrated
a well taken score to put themselves a point clear.
Another free on seven minutes from Tullylish was countered
three minutes later by Venney's second free of the
night.
The next twenty minutes were dominated
completely by Tullylish. With the wind advantage they
pressed forward at every chance and due to some erratic
defending by the home side, came away with seven more
points in the half. They managed three from play and
took four frees and converted them with ease. Their
midfield partnering were crucial to this period of
control and their ball winning skills enabled Chris
McGovern to wreak havoc on the homeside's backline.
Dundrum's response came in the shape of a well manoeuvred
move which finished up with Kieran Walsh splitting
the sticks to end the half.
Half-Time: Dundrum 0-03 Tullylish
0-10
When Tullylish pointed their seventh
free of the night a minute into the second half, it
looked as if Dundrum were completely out of the game
and had no chance of getting anything out of the contest.
However, with the advantage of the wind Dundrum grasped
the game by the scruff of the neck and pushed forward
at every opportuninty. This reaped rewards at the
first instance when Venney evaded his marker to finish
off a good score. Tullylish registered another free
seven minutes in but they could have been punished
severely two minutes earlier when Kieran Byrne blasted
wide from a rebound.
The turning point of the half arrived
on forty minutes. Dundrum won a sideline ball and
McMullan stepped up and launched a strike high into
the favouring wind. The ball carried and the Tullylish
goalkeeper fumbled and Dundrum got that elusive goal
which set the game up for a tense twenty minute period
which saw the home side hit six unanswered points.
The first of these scores came through
the roaming Mick Murray. The goalscorer McMullan then
added his first point of the game as the contest entered
it's final quarter. The irrepressible Venney then
pointed a minute later. The deficit was now down to
two but within thirty seconds Venney registered again
to leave one in it. Tullylish were finding it hard
to adjust to the conditions and along with some wayward
shooting were found wanting in every sector. However,
the dismissal of Dundrum's Martin Carey eased their
burden considerably.
The score of the game arrived with
eight minutes left. McMullan rose highest to collect
a pass from McComiskey and drove through the Tullylish
defence before rattling a "scorcher" over the bar.
With the game level, Dundrum took it to their opponents
and with four minutes remaining John Gibney pointed
to give the home side a one point lead. By now tensions
were at boling point but it was Tullylish who kept
their heads and levelled with a minute to go. Just
when it looked as if the game was heading for a draw
Tullylish pointed in the dying seconds to secure the
win and to condemn the home side to their third defeat
of the season.
An action packed game with a great
finish duly summed up this affair. The standard of
play was high throughout and some fine scores came
from both sides. Tullylish's midfield probably won
them the game in terms of possession gained. McGovern,
McCartan and McKevitt showed up best in this away
side.
Dundrum were unlucky with the sending
off and with a man less were always going to struggle
in the final ten minutes. Venney made it all happen
up front whilst at the back McComiskey and Chris Carey
were on top throughout. Despite losing the midfield
battle, McMullan played a starring role.
Tullylish were stronger on paper
but they were lucky to come away with the win. The
two decisive factors which won the game for them were
the sending off of Carey and the frees they attained
from "rough neck" Dundrum defending in the first half.
The home side battled well and will feel hard done
by to have come away the losing side.
Dundrum: J.Gibney (0-01),
N.McComiskey, C.Morgan, J.Hurley, C.Carey, M.Murray
(0-01), C.McKibben, K.Walsh (0-01), J.McMullan (1-02),
J.Barr, M.Coughlan, A.Doyle, C.Venney (0-05), C.Kielty,
K.Byrne.
Subs: B.Walsh for J.Barr, J.McKibben for K.Byrne.
M.Carey for A.Doyle.
