Dundrum
GFC Notes - 01st
October 2007
Club
Notes
* Well done to
the Seniors who
gained promotion
to Division 2
on Saturday. They
put in a blistering
performance against
Tullylish and
ended up winners
on a 0-14 to 1-07
scoreline in Ballela.
Thanks goes to
the large amount
of support that
turned up to cheer
the team on. Here's
hoping similar
numbers will present
in Downpatrick
this Saturday
at 4pm when the
Duns will be attempting
to secure the
Division 3 title
when they take
on Bredagh.
* Senior training
will take place
tomorrow night
(Thursday) at
7pm sharp in Ballykinlar.
* GAA President
Nicky Brennan
will be the special
guest at our annual
dinner dance which
will take place
in the Slieve
Donard on Friday
the 2nd of November.
It is also hoped
that Mr Brennan
will oversee a
joint Dundrum/Ballykinlar
underage presentation
the following
day in the Parochial
Hall in Dundrum.
* With the new
official Club
History in the
pipeline there
is the possibility
of a new sub committee
being formed to
help create this
new document.
All those interested
in helping out
in this venture
should contact
PRO Mark Fitzsimons.
* Congratulations
to Senior player
Martin Coughlan
who celebrated
his 37th birthday
last week. I was
going to insert
some witty joke
here about your
age Marty but
I think you've
heard them all
before.
Down ACFL Division
3 Promotion Playoff
Dundrum 0-14 Tullylish
1-07
Dundrum have reached
the Promised Land.
Just like Moses
led the Hebrews
out of Egypt,
Dundrum captain
Kieran Walsh has
led the Duns out
of Division 3
and into Division
2. What a leader,
what a team!
From the very
start of this
make or break
game in Ballela,
Dundrum always
looked the more
focused side.
Tullylish seemed
nervous and their
jitters multiplied
after two minutes
when Paul McComiskey
pointed a free.
Tullyish midfielder
Peter Quinn then
converted a 14'
before Conor McShane
tapped over his
first of five
points from play.
McComiskey followed
this up with a
real screamer.
After picking
up a break ball
he darted through
the Tullylish
rearguard and
curled the ball
over the bar from
a tight angle.
This was a fine
score. McComiskey
was looking hot
and the Duns were
starting to gel.
John McAreavey
momentarilly got
Tullylish back
in to it with
a left footed
free but scores
from John Hurley
and McComiskey
further extended
the Dun's lead
to three points.
Tullylish's most
potent attacker
Chris McGovern
was next to raise
the white flag.
His score was
soon forgotten
though as Paul
McComiskey once
again delivered
a quite outstanding
effort before
Kieran Walsh closed
the half out with
a very valuable
free.
Four points separated
the teams at the
break and it was
the leaders who
were looking the
most dangerous.
They had plenty
of space to operate
in their forward
unit as Martin
Coughlan was dropping
deep around the
middle. The Lish
were struggling
to get attacks
started and this
led to them indulging
in long ball tactics
for the 2nd half.
For the first
ten minutes of
the second period
Dundrum were dominating.
However, the amount
of possession
they had was not
being reciprocated
on the scoreboard
and this give
slight cause for
concern.
Tullylish were
first to open
with John McAreavey
sending over a
long range effort.
Conor McShane
replied immediately
but Chris McGovern
was on hand to
keep up Tullylish's
side of the bargain.
Midway through
Kieran Walsh glided
over a 21' but
shortly after
Tullylish made
a major breakthrough.
The free running
Kevin McKiverghan
soloed into the
Dundrum half where
he proceeded to
launch a high
ball in on top
of full forward
Chris McGovern.
The robust McGovern
turned in an instant
and beat his marker
before smashing
the ball in to
Colm King's top
right corner.
Only the minumum
now separated
the entities but
from this point
on the Duns reigned
supreme. John
McKibben, Philip
Shields and Neil
McComiskey began
to deal more effectively
with the high
ball in. This
then give the
half back line
of Marc Cunningham,
John Hurley and
Jonathan McMullan
a greater licence
to attack. Aaron
Doyle and Kieran
Walsh began to
lord midfield
and this inspired
the utmost confidence
in all six forwards.
After McGovern's
goal Conor McShane
swapped scores
with Fionntain
O'Dowd as the
Duns still held
on to their one
point advantage.
However, that
smallest of leads
was soon increased
as the Conor McShane
show ran into
town. The livewire
attacker hit two
exciting scores
in quick succession.
This brought his
total for the
day to five points
and his scoring
return was just
reward for the
mammoth effort
he put in to the
game.
McShane's double
was soon followed
by a classy effort
from Chris Hogg.
In a move more
suited to the
soccer field,
Hogg dribbled
past his marker
before cleanly
striking the ball
of the ground.
This was an unusual
score but as they
say, they all
count.
With the clock
ticking down Tullylish
were hopelessly
delivering high
balls into their
full forward line.
The tactic was
not working as
the Duns were
quickly breaking
out with the ball
to set up further
attacks.
With the sixty
minutes up there
was still time
for a bit more
action. Paul McComiskey
rasped home his
final contribution
of the night before
Peter Quinn grabbed
a mere consolation
free for Tullylish.
After a couple
of minutes of
injury time referee
Eugene O'Hare
blew his whistle
for the last time.
Dundrum had done
it. They had achieved
their place in
Division 2. Tears
and emotional
embraces followed.
It was simply
one of those occasions
that words could
not describe.
It is hard to
single out individual
players as this
was without a
doubt a great
panel effort all
year. However,
Conor McShane
and Martin Coughlan
were on top of
their games throughout.
McShane fought
courageously for
every ball while
Coughlan got down
to the 'nitty
gritty' when required.
Other standout
performers for
the Duns included
John Hurley at
centre half back
and the imperious
partnership of
Walsh and Doyle
in midfield. Cormac
Venney and Paul
McComiskey also
shone in the forwards
with the latter
creating most
of Dundrum's scores.
Tullylish lacked
the overall fitness
and sharpness
that the Duns
possessed. However,
Kevin McKiverghan
was resolute at
the back while
Chris McGovern
had a very good
game up front.
Dundrum have now
achieved one half
of their aim.
Promotion has
been secured but
this feisty bunch
of players will
most certainly
be gunning for
the League title.
Dundrum: C.King,
N.McComiskey,
P.Shields, J.McKibben,
M.Cunningham,
J.Hurley (0-01),
J.McMullan, K.Walsh
(0-02, 2F), A.Doyle,
C.McShane (0-05),
P.McComiskey (0-05,
2F), C.Hogg (0-01),
M.Coughlan, C.Venney,
P.Rooney. Sub:
M.Melville
