ACFL Division 4

Dromara 1-05  Dundrum 0-24

Dromara and Dundrum brought their respective seasons to the halfway point with this entertaining if somewhat one sided game.

Dundrum travelled to the hills aware of the recent good form that Dromara were in and approached the game with caution. This caution was justified in the first half with Dundrum leading by only seven points at the break.

Captain Kieran Walsh led by example by getting the Duns out of the blocks with a well taken free. Dromara hit back with two on the trot to take a suprising lead. Dundrum replied to this with seven scores in succession. Conor McShane kicked the comeback off with a tremendous score before Kieran Walsh sent over a mammoth 45'. Further efforts from the captain, Cormac Venney, Aaron Doyle, Paul McComiskey and Martin Melville sent Dundrum in to a six point lead. During this period Walsh missed a penalty after drilling his effort wide of the Dromara post.

As the halftime whistle neared Dromara scored their third of the night. After this they created a couple of chances but these were well dealt with by Dundrum keeper Colm King. His teamates upped the tempo in the closing minutes and were rewarded with scores from the diminuitive Conor McShane and the evergreen Martin Coughlan. This give the away side a seven point lead at the interval.

After a halftime pep talk from John McShane and John Morgan, Dundrum came out with all guns blazing. The scores flowed in a breathtaking twenty minute period which saw eight points knocked over the Dromara bar in a row. The tricky Down Minor Paul McComiskey got the scoring spree underway with a hooked effort. McShane and Coughlan added to this before Doyle and McComiskey slammed over quickfire shots. Walsh glanced over another free before the energetic McComiskey grabbed a double after some splendid work from Cathal Kielty and Martin Melville.

As Dundrum loosened their grip after their concerted effort Dromara snuck in to grab two scores. One of these was a magnificent individual effort from 15 year old Archie McKay, the other a free from wide on the right.

With ten minutes to go Dundrum responded to Dromara's mini revival with a punishing streak. Two wonderfully crafted points from Martin Coughlan was latched on to with a mesmeric individual conversion from starman Johnny McMullan and further stick splitters from Aaron Doyle and the nippy Cormac Venney.

With the game petering out Dromara grabbed an opportunistic goal with a quick thunderbolt which was the result of a free straight infront of goals. However, the last hurrah was left to Dundrum and the returning Barry Walsh. After being sprung in to action from the bench the genial Walsh proceeded to score one of the best points of the game which was greeted with the biggest cheer of the night.

Dundrum could of had a lot more scores in this game but they found the Dromara keeper a tough nut to crack when they went low for goal. Despite some wonderful passages of play there are still a lot of areas that the Duns can improve on. Dromara are a very young side with plenty of potential and in years to come they should grow in stature.

Dundrum worked well as a unit and the backline grew in confidence as the game progressed. Michael Rooney had another excellent game at corner back while Neil McComiskey and Neil McLaughlin hassled well when called upon. Johnny McMullan was superb at wing back, expertly linking defence with attack. The midfield duo of Walsh and Doyle did their usual hard work with the captain fielding some terrific ball. The forwards had another good day at the office with the ageless Marty Coughlan rolling back the years with a vintage perfomance which saw him grab four scores from open play. Paul McComiskey and Conor McShane linked well whilst Cormac Venney won a load of possession in the corner.

The Duns can look at this game and take great pleasure from the result. However, it is alright beating the so called lesser teams but it is the likes of Bright next Friday that Dundrum really need to show their true potential against.

Dundrum: C.King, M.Rooney, N.McLaughlin, N.McComiskey, P.Shields, J.Hurley, J.McMullan (0-01), K.Walsh (0-04, 2 Frees, 1 45'), A.Doyle (0-03), C.McShane (0-03), C.Kielty, M.Melville (0-01), P.McComiskey (0-05), M.Coughlan (0-04), C.Venney (0-02). Subs: M.Murray, B.Walsh (0-01).