McComiskey shows
Dundrum the way
East Down U16 Football
League Section A
Dundrum 2-11 Ardglass 3-07
By
Marc MacSiomoin
One player Ardglass won't want to be
seeing anytime soon again is Dundrum's
Paul McComiskey. In a superb individual
display the young terrier scored 2-07
and created many more chances for his
peers as the Duns opened their campaign
with a win. Michael Magee opened the
scoring with a free kick for Ardglass,
only for McComiskey to hit back with
two frees and a delightful point from
play. Shaun Cunningham then added to
the Duns total with a great score after
getting out in front of his marker.
Dundrum had the better of these early
exchanges which saw them race into a
three point lead.
As the half progressed Ardglass started
to settle and their continued efforts
saw them get a goal and a point to go
one ahead. Then on the stroke of half
time McComiskey converted a free to
level the game.
The second half began well for the homeside.
The indomintable McComiskey got himself
a hat trick of scores with two well
taken frees and a nice score from play
after some good work by Martin Willoughby
and Richard Fitzsimons.
Like the first half it took Ardglass
a while to get settled. Michael Magee
pointed a superb long range effort and
young Telford converted a free to put
one between the sides.
However, Ardglass weren't given much
time to settle into their stride as
John Tumelty and Kieran McShane swept
up everything in the full-back line
as Declan Kavanagh and Barry Melville
pushed forward at every opportunity
for the homesters. This payed immediate
dividends as McComiskey collected a
pass from Paul Rooney via Melville and
proceeded to rifle the ball to the top
corner of the Ardglass net. This put
the Duns four ahead.
Despite this goal Dundrum took their
foot off the pedal for a ten minute
spell and payed for it dearly. During
this period Ardglass crashed home a
penalty and added three more points
to nudge themselves two clear.
The game then entered it's most exciting
period. Ardglass got a player sent off
and out of nowhere Dundrum found their
range again to register scores through
Paul Rooney, Kearney and Melville. Dundrum
now held the advantage by a point. With
five minutes remaining on the clock
both sides pushed for a goal. Ardglass
were the first to get a lucky break
and in a fine move which originated
from their half back line they found
the net. Two points now separated the
entities going into the dying moments.
The final skirmishes proved to be very
tense for both sides but it was Dundrum
who held their nerve to escape with
the victory. Paddy Cunningham rose highest
to win the ball in midfield and proceeded
to lay off to Barry Melville. Melville
fended off two challenges before releasing
his pass to McComiskey. Ardglass quickly
moved in to tackle McComiskey on the
wing but one of their defenders breached
the rulebook and saw red. McComiskey
took the resultant free and delivered
a fine ball to Kearney. Kearney immediately
palmed back to McComiskey who hit a
25 yard thunderbolt straight to the
Ardglass onion bag to secure a much
deserved win.
Dundrum (13-a-Side):
C.Kearney (0-01), R.Cardwell,
J.Tumelty, K.McShane, B.Melville (0-01),
P.Cunningham, D.Kavanagh. P.Rooney (0-01),
R.Fitzsimons, M.Willoughby, A.Rooney,
S.Cunningham (0-01), P.McComiskey (2-07).
