ACFL Division 4

Bright 2-11 Dundrum 1-12

A goal with the last kick of the game by Bright's Stephen Stranney ended Dundrum's aspirations of victory at a sunny Killough on Sunday afternoon.

In what was generally a poor game, Stranney's strike stood out as one of the more productive acts in a game which was littered with set peices.

Infact it was a set peice that started the game off. Bright's Mark Stitt sent the ball over from the 21'. He followed this up with a similar effort moments later. Dundrum replied with a Paul McComiskey free only for Stitt to pop up again with another dead ball effort.

This play characterised the next ten minutes as both sides reverted to fouling each other which led to stupid frees being given away. Kieran Walsh and Paul McComiskey's set peice conversions were interspersed with a good effort from play by Stephen Stranney and a Stitt 45'. This left Bright in the lead with eight minutes remaining in the half.

After a good build up Kieran Walsh added the Dun's first from play. However, Bright's response was deadly as Mark Stitt nestled a penalty in to Colum King's net. Walsh did manage to slot over another 21' before the whistle but it was Bright who went in with their noses ahead.

Dundrum set the second half alight straight from the throw-in with Venney slamming his goalbound shot against Farrand's post. Moments later Doyle fired over from play and Venney avenged his goal miss with a sublime point. It was now all level.

Much like the first half Bright recovered well after Dundrum's rallies and with Stitt in a reliable mood the homeside found themselves three points clear within nine minutes of action. Stitt's three set peices all finding their range.

As the game entered the last quarter both teams pressed for scores. However, Dundrum looked the more able in this timeframe and three consecutive points put them back on level terms. Neil Stranney momentarilly put Bright back in control put a superbly worked Dundrum move between Coughlan, Venney and McComiskey saw the latter dispatch to the net and put his side two clear.

With five minutes to go the Duns must have thought they had snatched it as McComiskey floated over a tricky free to put a goal between the entities.However, inexperience at the back and some costly errors ensured that Bright would romp home. Their comeback began with two frees from Stitt which reduced the Dundrum lead to one point. Then came the sucker punch when the Dundrum rearguard allowed Stephen Stranney to nonchantly stroll through and fire to the net.

In all truthfullness this was a terrible game of football. The tight pitch hindered fluid play and it was set peices that dictated most of the game. Yet it was Bright who adapted to the conditions with more ease and after this performance their 'definites for promotion' tag looks justified.

 

Bright scorers: M.Stitt (1-09, 1 penalty, 9 frees),S.Stranney (1-01), N.Stranney (0-01).

Dundrum: C.King, P.Byrne, J.McMullan, M.McKibbin, M.Rooney, J.Hurley, J.McKibben, K.Walsh (0-06, 5 frees), A.Doyle (0-01), P.McComiskey (1-04, 3 Frees), C.Kielty, C.Venney (0-01), M.Coughlan, K.Byrne, C.McShane. Subs: M.Melville, P.Doran, B.Walsh, M.Murray.