Blackhall Gaels into last four

Not too many supporters will be piling their money on Blackhall Gaels to win the Keegan Cup after this performance which eliminated Dunshaughlin from the SFC race at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening. However, with Eamonn Barry patrolling the sideline, the men from Kilcloon and Batterstown showed enough to suggest that they will be extremely difficult to topple at the penultimate hurdle now that the finishing post is in sight. Abysmal would be one word that would adequately describe the first-half fare, although Blackhall gave an indication close to the interval that they had the ability to raise the tempo as they took a 0-7 to 0-3 advantage into the break. Tadhg Brosnan converted four frees while Sean Whelan, Mark Mullally and Andrew Brady also split the posts. Dunshaughlin managed a point apiece from Martin Reilly, Conor Staunton and Niall Kelly. They were also unlucky not to score a goal after Staunton embarked on a solo raid down the centre and was thwarted by a superb Martin Whelan save. The goalkeeper was a central figure for Blackhall during the first-half. He handled well and raced off his line on a number of occasions to avert danger. Barry unleashed inspirational substitutes Anthony Moyles and Alan Nestor for the second-half and the change had an immediate impact. Despite the fact that both players are struggling with injuries, they added sufficient momentum to put Dunshaughlin completely on the backfoot. When Sean Whelan finished to the net midway through the third-quarter it signalled the end for Gordon Ward"s men. Dunshaughlin rallied briefly with Cillian Finn urging them on from midfield, but Blackhall reacted positively and by the end of the third-quarter were ahead by 1-9 to 0-7. The fact that Dunshaughlin failed to hit the target in the final quarter reflects Blackhall"s dominance and Barry was in buoyant mood when referee Cormac Reilly, who issued three yellow cards, one to Blackhall, brough the contest to a conclusion. 'I have to be pleased with the overall performance, we got on top in the second-half and we probably killed the game off in that 10-minute spell after the goal,' stated Barry who guided Dunshaughlin to three-in-a-row of Keegan Cup successes as well as a Leinster Club SFC in 2002. 'We probably got a bit complacent also and stood off Dunshaughlin a little, that gave them a chance to get back into the game, it shouldn"t have happened and we will have to address that before the next game. 'Unfortunately, both Alan Nestor and Anthony Moyles are struggling with injuries at the moment, but hopefully another fortnight will help them along the way towards regaining fitness,' he concluded. SCORERS Blackhall Gaels - T Brosan 0-9, eight frees; S Whelan 1-1; A Brady 0-2; M Mullally 0-1. Dunshaughlin - M Reilly 0-2, frees; N Kelly 0-2, frees; C Staunton 0-2; T Dowd 0-1. THE TEAMS Blackhall Gaels - M Whelan; D Beirne, D Dalton, D O"Brien; G Beirne, J Meyler, P Brady; P O"Brien, M Mullally; J Callanan, M Ferris, B McKeon; S Whelan, T Brosnan, A Brady. Subs - A Nestor for Callanan, A Moyles for Ferris, both half-time; A Dalton for D Beirne, N O"Hora for Brady, C McElligott for O"Brien, all 58 mins. Dunshaughlin - R Gogan; T Johnson, A Johnson, D Kealy; M Ahern, R Kealy, C King; C Finn, N Kelly; T Dowd, M Reilly, C Staunton; R Maloney, D Crimmins, C O"Dwyer. Subs - D Devereux for Crimmins, half-time; R Yore for Reilly 55 mins; M Johnson for Dowd 58m. REFEREE Cormac Reilly (St Mary"s).