Dundrum win Championship
Game against Clann na Banna
By
Marc Mac Siomoin [marc_mac_siomoin@yahoo.co.uk]
Harp Lager Down Intermediate Championship
Round 1
Dundrum 0-18 Clann na Banna 1-10
Dundrum had waited since the millenium
year for a win in championship football.
The agony, trials and tribulations of
the past four years subsided at full
time and were replaced with triumphant
victory salutes on Monday night in Castlewellan.
Dundrum had done what no one expected
of them, they defied logic.
Always the underdog going into the match
Dundrum started shakily as the Clann
knocked over two quick scores. Then
as the Duns began to settle McMullan
floated over a free and this led to
a further nine unanswered points coming
his sides way.
McShane cut in soon after to level the
game and the accurate McMullan added
to this with another free. This put
Dundrum in the lead for the first time
in the game.
A dominant fifteen minute spell followed
with Walsh and Doyle winning the lion's
share of ball at midfield. Paul McComiskey
was the main beneficiary of this as
he converted two scores from difficult
angles after some excellent build up
play.
As Dundrum continued to penetrate the
Clann backline they gained more confidence
in their attacking play. McShane was
growing in stature with two excellently
executed efforts. McMullan then found
his range to put six between the sides.
The final ten minutes of the half witnessed
Dundrum at their best. Free flowing
intelligent play brought further rewards
with McComiskey and McMullan rounding
off the half with two consecutive points.
Just before the whistle the Clann reduced
the deficit to seven.
The Clann were a lot more determined
in the second half. Despite the dangerous
McMullan opening the Duns account, the
Banbridge men responded with three consecutive
points. They were going to make a game
of it.
Dundrum tried their hardest to curb
the resurgent Clann with yet another
McMullan point. It proved immaterial
as the Clann whacked in a goal and added
a point to put two between the entities.
This was the tighest period of the game
but Banbridge then lost their focus
and had a man sent off. It worked to
their advantage for about five minutes
as Dundrum failed to re-organise sufficently.
The tense nature of the game made it
make or break and Dundrum went all out
attack after the goal. Wing back McKibben
guiding over a well worked point followed
up with McComiskey's fourth of the night.
As the last ten approached both sides
started showing signs of fatigue. Dundrum
were let off the hook twice as the superb
outstretched palms of Colm King came
to the rescue. This didn't stop the
Clann from pushing forward though and
two points were their reward for persistent
play.
With the game nearing completion it
was still all to play for. McComiskey
scoring the last of his quintet. However,
Banbridge looked like sneaking it when
they raced back up the field but it
proved to be their final contribution
of the night.
A flurry of late scores from the ageless
Doran, dominant Walsh and classy McMullan
put concrete on the result and sent
the underdogs through to the quarters.
Best for Dundrum were King in goals,
Murray at centre half and the tight
marking Carey. Neil McComiskey and John
McKibben were also effective in closing
down their men. Doyle and Walsh held
sway at midfield for the whole game
and caught some superb clean ball. The
whole attack moved fluently with McMullan
and Paul McComiskey being outstanding
contributors.
Banbridge had sound performers in Lee
Rooney, Aaron Nelson and Brian Og Donaghy
at the back. Up front McCrum and Gillan
probed but were starved off good ball.
Dundrum go into the quarter final as
they entered this game, the underdog.
A big name team possibly awaits.
Dundrum: C.King, C.Carey, J.Hurley,
N.McComiskey, M.Melville, M.Murray,
J.McKibben (0-01), A.Doyle, K.Walsh
(0-01), J.McMullan (0-07), P.Doran (0-01),
P.McComiskey (0-05), C.McShane (0-03),
C.Kielty, M.Coughlan. SubS; P.Shields
and C.Venney.
