Dunboyne advance to senior decider

All the pre-match form suggested that Dunboyne would win this SHC semi-final encounter at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday and that's exactly how it transpired. Undefeated all year in league and championship, Dunboyne are on a run of form that leaves team in good place going into the final however, Kiltale will look back on this encounter and think of what might have been. What if Peter Durnin hadn't gone for a goal instead of a point from a free in front of the posts early on in the game? What if Cathal Sheridan had slotted the ball to the net when a good chance came his way shortly before the end. Instead his effort was cleared off the line and Dunboyne escaped. Despite the win Dunboyne manager Johnny Murray wasn't all that impressed with his team's display. "We didn't play as well as we can, it might have been a little bit of nervousness. They did the business, I think we were always in control of the game, but the lads themselves are not happy with the overall display," he told the Meath Chronicle. Inevitably any team that loses a semi-final will harbour regrets and Kiltale certainly had a few at the end of this keenly contested, entertaining encounter. The sides were level on six occasions during a game played in hot temperatures with neither team able to build up a big lead at any stage. The most that divided the sides was five points and that advantage was constructed only briefly by Dunboyne towards the end of the second-half. A significant part of that lead was made up of Dunboyne's goal which was a fine individual effort. There was 44 minutes on the clock when Michael Dunne won the ball out on the right and about 20 metres from goals. A point looked a distinct possibility as there were two or three opponents between Dunne and the goals. Undaunted, Dunne opted out of taking the easier option, he put his head down, switched on the after-burners and went for it, by-passing a couple of startled defenders before rifling the ball low to the net. It was a fine individual effort and a minute later Barry Watters powered through to split the posts and give Dunboyne a four-point advantage for the first time. Shortly afterwards that lead was extended to five points before Kiltale mounted a late rally. Kiltale subsequently staged a spirited revival reducing the deficit to the minimum, but they were unable to grab the score that would have forced extra-time. Doubtless buoyed up by their unbeaten run Dunboyne had the confidence in their own ability to hold out in the tense closing stages and secure their place in the final. An indication of how close this contest was could be seen in the number of times the teams were level, including the interval when they stood at 0-7 apiece. Experience was also a factor in the closing stages and that is one quality this Dunboyne team have in abundance. The experience allied with skill make up a powerful combination and so it proved once again. Dunboyne were solid and dependable and no-one exemplified these qualities more than Neil Hackett, who once again led his team's scoring rate with six points, three of them coming from play in the opening half. Kiltale had rejigged their half-back line to account for Hackett with Stephen Donoghue given the task of curtailing the Dunboyne man. Donoghue kept his marker quiet for long spells but Hackett still managed to do considerable damage. Barry Watters was another who figured prominently for Dunboyne, winning plenty of ball around the midfield area and slotting over three points from play with John Watters another who put in a big shift. At centre-back Paul Fagan gave an excellent display in limiting the influence of Kiltale and he made a scoring contribution with a point from a free in the second-half. Nothing unusual about that except that Fagan took his free about 10 metres inside his own half. The Dunboyne defence looked assured throughout with Paul Gannon, Daithi Watters and Sean Moran forming the kind of backline that few teams will breach. It was significant that the Kiltale goal came from a free. Ger Barry formed a formidable midfield partnership with Tomas O'Connor and they both won their share of ball. Kiltale didn't make the best of starts and trailed by 0-2 to 0-4 at the end of the first-quarter. Their forwards managed to win enough frees to give Durnin plenty of ammunition from frees. The young Kiltale sharpshooter as usual notched up a big score slotting over two sweet points from play and seven from frees. Then there was his goal which gave his side a lifeline. It arrived with time almost up. Mark O'Sullivan was fouled going through and up stepped Durnin to fire home the free past a crowed goalmouth, hitting his shot high and with all the venom you might expect from an effort that resembled a Henry Shefflin special. That left a point between the side, but in added time a Durian point from a free was matched with an effort from Gary Watters as Dunboyne held out. And what about those wasted chances by Kiltale? Inexplicably in the early stages of the game Durnin, perhaps betraying a lack of experience, went for a goal from a 20-metre free and his effort was blocked and cleared. Sheridan had a chance for a goal in the second-half, but his effort was cleared off the line by Daithi Watters. O'Sullivan also had a chance and he went for goal when a point would, in hindsight, have been a better option. Sheridan managed two points while Damien Dixon, Padraig Kelly and O'Sullivan also contributed scores. Paul Garvey gave a barnstoming display at the back for Kiltale who were left to rue missed chances. Dunboyne - C Kane; S Moran, D Watters, P Gannon; A Watters, P Fagan (0-1), N Watters; T O'Connor, G Barry (0-2); J Watters (0-1), B Watters (0-3), N Hackett (0-6); S Moran, M Dunne (1-0), G Murphy (0-1). Sub - G Watters (0-1) for N Watters 52 mins. Kiltale - O Regan; A Donnelly, P Donoghue, D Donoghue; P Garvey, S Donoghue, S Reilly; B Dixon, D Dixon (0-1); W Mahady, J Donoghue, M O'Sullivan (0-1); P Kelly (0-1), C Sheridan (0-2), P Durnin (1-9). Sub - S Carroll for D Dixon 55 mins. Referee - Donal Smyth (Navan O'Mahonys).