In years gone by matches between Teconnaught and Dundrum have been dour affairs marred by over physical play, dirty challenges and various unsavoury off the ball incidents. However, at Annacloy on Sunday both teams conspired to play an attractive brand of football that provided the platform for an entertaining game.

The Duns knew beforehand that if they could defeat GP Mulholland's charges then they would move up to 6th position in the League and within touching distance of the playoffs. This was a big game from their point of view and added to this was the fact that they were still licking their wounds from the defeat to the Annacloy side earlier in the season.

Teconnaught were first to draw blood. 2006 Down Minor centre half forward Niall Mulholland raced up the field from his centre half back berth to point in stylish fashion. However, it was the point scorers slack marking that allowed Dundrum to reply. Mulholland was given the envious task of marking Paul McComiskey before the game but the Dundrum starlet was first to get the upperhand when he hit over to open Dundrum's account.

After Damian Mulholland pointed in the 8th minute for Teconnaught the Duns went in to overdrive. They proceeded to dominate the passages of play for the remainder of the half. The full back line of Shields, Melville and McComiskey contained Heath, McAlea and Flanagan very effectively thus eliminating Teconnaught's main scoring threat. Kieran Walsh and Aaron Doyle began to operate a tight ship at midfield while all six forwards started to use their trademark darting diagonal runs to create space and win possession.

Martin Coughlan kickstarted the Duns resurgence with a sweet score to even the tie. Coughlan, who despite his age, has been playing some terrific football of late and his poise and experience proved invaluable to the Duns as the game wore on. Paul McComiskey added his second shortly after Coughlan's score and this was followed up by further efforts from John McKibben (0-01) and Kieran Walsh (0-02). With the game approaching half time McComiskey slotted over his third of the night just before Dominic Mulholland hit back for Teconnaught to leave the homesters trailing by four at the break.

Dundrum's dominance of the game was certainly not reflected in the halftime scoreline. Behind by only four points Teconnaught still knew that the game was far from over. Conor Heath then got the Annacloy side off to the perfect start when he pointed in front of goal. The question now had to be asked. Would Dundrum collapse and allow Teconnaught to gain the upperhand? The answer - a definite no!

Heath's opener was spectacularly cancelled out by a goal from the hand of Declan Kavanagh. It came about after Martin Coughlan had forced Kieran McNamara into a mistake on the byline. Coughlan then took possession before fisting the leather to Cormac Venney. Venney then cut in from an angle before delivering the ball to Kavanagh. The youngest player on the pitch made a leap of faith towards the ball and with the help of his finger tips the O'Neills ended up in the net.

From this point on a fitter Dundrum outdone their opponents. Coughlan (0-01), McComiskey (0-02) and McLaughlin (0-02) all registered to give their side an unassailable eleven point lead. The latter's double was very impressive as the former Creggan Kickhams and Longstone man was only on the pitch a matter of seconds before he converted.

Dundrum's five points in twenty minutes could have been a tad more economical given the fact that they maintained possession for the majority of this period. However, Teconnaught looked a done entity and Conor Heath bagged their last point with a free with only seven minutes left.

The Duns concluded the game by keeping the ball in their ranks without trying anything too audacious. The scintilating McComiskey had himself his sixth and final point of the night before Walsh put the game to bed with a 21' to wrap up a deserved victory.

At the start of the season few would have predicted Teconnaught and the Duns to be jostling for position in the top six of Division 3. However, both teams will only retain this status if they keep taking points of the big boys. Dundrum are really starting to hit a purple patch at the moment while Teconnaught's impressive run seems to be waning. Nevertheless the next month or so of football will be crucial in deciding the final outcome for the two unexpected contenders for the top four playoff positions.

Dundrum: C.King, P.Shields, M.Melville, N.McComiskey, M.Cunningham, J.Hurley, J.McMullan, K.Walsh (0-03), A.Doyle, D.Kavanagh (1-00), P.McComiskey (0-06), J.McKibben (0-01), C.Venney, M.Coughlan (0-02), C.Hogg. Subs: NJ.McLaughlin (0-02), M.Rooney, C.Kielty, M.McKibbin