Total dominantion
by Glenn
ACFL Division 3
Glenn 3-12 Dundrum 0-04
By
Marc Mac Siomoin [marc_mac_siomoin@yahoo.co.uk]
Visualise the recent Tyrone v Derry
Ulster Senior Championship match. Replace
Tyrone with Glenn and Derry with Dundrum.
Think of the magnitude of that Tyrone
win, multiply it by one hundred and
really your only starting to scratch
the surface in an appreciation of Glenn's
performance on Friday night.
The Junior Champions of 2003 were totally dominant in every sector. In a tight marking back line, Mark Mackin at number three was immense. He made every incoming ball his own whilst giving away very little in terms of space. His namesake John at wing half was also very impressive. He curbed the threat of the dangerous Venney very effectively while also managing to get forward whenever possible.
Further up the pitch in the midfield cauldron Peter Farrelly and club captain Seamus McGuinness won outright over Dundrum's Doyle and Kielty. McGuinness was man of the match material. His work ethic was second to none in a game in which he covered every blade of grass on his home turf.
The free flowing Glenn attack carried out their programme with relative ease. Their final total of 3-12 all came from play. The fact that they amassed sixteen wides just proved how much in control they were in this game. Nicky Cranney, Davy Bagnall and Damien O'Hare were their most prolific scoregetters.
Dundrum didn't have any star performers, they just had players that give tonnes of effort. The only positive outcome of this game for the away side was that they never give up until the final whistle eventhough they were well and truly beaten.
Yet it must be pointed out that this Dundrum offering was missing team captain Kieran Walsh, former Down U-21 player Johnny McMullan and the engine room of the side Marty Coughlan. This was coupled with the fact that Mickey Murray and Chris Carey had only returned a week previous from long spells out due to injury..
However the trials and tribulations that affected the Dundrum camp had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the Glenn had a stormer of a game. They were in total command from the word go. The attacks came in waves and all the Duns could do was sit back and gloat. The homeside went in at the break with an eleven point lead on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-03. Two straight forward frees from Venney and a classy point from Doyle proved scant in relation to Glenn's tally.
The second half was not as score laden as the first. It was characterised with alternating periods of showboating and exquisite power play from the John Martin contingent. A further two goals and a solitary point came their way. Dundrum managed a Martin Carey free with one of only three breaches of the Glenn rearguard. Late on both sides had a man each sent off.
All in all this was the worst performance from a Dundrum senior side in many seasons. It was a total reversal of the corresponding fixture that took place on this ground two years ago. That day the Duns hit an amazing 2-26 to condemn Glenn to the doldrums of Division 4. If Dundrum don't start realising their potential soon, the humiliation and indignity of dropping to the lowest grade in the county could become a terrible reality.
Dundrum: C.King, P.Shields, C.Morgan, N.McComiskey, J.Hurley, C.McKibbin, C.Carey, A.Doyle (0-01), C.Kielty, C.Venney (0-02). M.Carey (0-01), M.Murray, J.McKibben, P.Doran, C.McShane.
Subs: P.Byrne, G.Graham, M.Melville, C.Hogg, R.Smyth.
