Glen progress
in epic encounter
Down Reserve
Football Championship Preliminary Round
Glen II's 5-08 Dundrum II's 2-07
By
Marc Mac Siomoin [marc_mac_siomoin@yahoo.co.uk]
A three goal scoring spree in the last ten minutes of this epic encounter ensured that Glenn would progress to the next round in stylish fashion.
Trailing by a point after fifty minutes, the Newry men brought on three impact subs and it payed immediate dividends. All three had a part to play in each goal.
At half time the teams were a lot more closely matched. Glenn led 1-04 to 1-03. Dundrum got their goal through the returning Caolan Brown and Philip McGrattan (0-01) and Mark Fitzsimons (0-02) grabbed the points. Glenn snuck in for their goal just before the break.
The second half began brightly and it was the Duns who pounced first. Conor McShane getting the goal. Further points from Philip McGrattan and McShane put the away side into a comfortable lead.
However, the Duns started to tire in the second quarter and Glenn took advantage. Two goals and two points edging them five clear.
The Duns did manage one last hurrah before the final ten minutes. Again it was McShane with two perfectly executed points that gave Dundrum extra hope. Infact all night McShane caused tremendous trouble for former Down All Ireland winning Minor medallist of '99 Colm Murtagh. The robust defender chased McShane for all of the sixty minutes but to no avail.
The final ten saw the hosts run away with the tie. Three well executed goals with a couple of points rounded off a fine closing spell. Dundrum did have a goal chance near the end but Declan Rodgers turned from hero to zero after inadvertently blocking Philip McGrattan's goal bound drive.
All in all this was a cracking championship encounter played at a decent standard. Best for Dundrum were Danny and Stephen McGrattan in the full back line and Barry Cunningham and Barry Walsh in the half backs. Midfield was a closely fought sector which saw Mark Fitzsimons and Philip Shields engaged in a hearty battle for supremacy. In the forwards McShane and Philip McGrattan done the damage and received some excellent support from Murphy, Rodgers and Walsh.
Dundrum II's: D.Campbell, S.Garland, D.McGrattan, S.McGrattan, M.Rooney, B.Walsh, B.Cunningham, M.Fitzsimons (0-02), P.Shields, P.McGrattan (0-02), C.McShane (1-03), M.Murphy, D.Rodgers, M.Walsh, C.Brown (1-00). Sub: M.McKibbin.
