Crucial win for simonstown gaels
Simonstown gradually built up a head of steam in Pairc Tailteann this evening and kept their Keegan Cup title hopes alive with a hard-earned 1-15 to 0-15 victory over Dunshaughlin.
Simonstown lost Seamus Kenny in the second-half to an ankle injury while Dunshaughlin's Ray Maloney was assisted from the pitch on the hour with his arm in a sling.
Dunshaughlin hit the target more frequently in the opening half with points from Cathal O'Dwyer (four, three frees), Niall Murphy, Ray Maloney, Trevor Dowd and Fergus Toolan.
However, Simonstown staged a late flourish after Conor Sheridan failed to convert at 22nd minute penalty (see video clip of save) as Dunshaughlin goalie Michael Ahern produced a superb save.
The Gaels upped the tempo at that stage and added to their early points from Padraig McKeever and Sean Tobin (free) to trail by the minimum (0-7 to 0-8) at the interval.
The late points arrived from Sheridan and Tobin (two each) and McKeever, but the Navan men were also fortunate that Dunshaughlin's Shane Gallogly fluffed a goal chance on the stroke of half-time.
Simonstown were smartly out of the traps for the second-half with a brace of Tobin points (one free), but the crucial score was a goal from McKeever soon after.
That gave the Navan men a 1-9 to 0-9 advantage after O'Dwyer had pointed a Dunshaughlin free.
The teams went point-for-point for the remainder as they shared a dozen points, but it was a save from Simonstown's Robbie Burlingham in the closing stages, when he advanced smartly to deny Conor Devereux a goal, that ultimately proved crucial.
Simonstown Gaels – Robbie Burlingham; Michael O'Rourke, Ian O'Rourke, Brendan O'Donnell; Niall Kane, Niall McMahon, Brín Conlon; Shane O'Rourke (0-1), Shane Barry; Seamus Kenny, Padraig McKeever (1-2), Joe Lyons; Sean Tobin (0-8 two frees), Conor Sheridan (0-3), Mark McCabe (0-1).
Subs – Brian McGrath for Barry half-time, Andrew Kearney for Kenny 48 mins, Eanna Donohoe for McMahon 57m.
Dunshaughlin – Michael Ahern; Dan Ormsby, Alastar Doyle, Fearghal Delaney; Mark Devaney, Caoimhin King, Tadhg O Dushlaine; John Crimmins, Ray Maloney (0-1); Cathal O'Dwyer (0-6 five frees), Trevor Dowd (0-3), Ben Duggan; Shane Gallogly, Niall Murphy (0-1), Fergus Toolan (0-3).
Subs – Conor Devereux (0-1) for Gallogly 44 mins, David Dunne for Devaney 52m, Danny Quinn for O Dushlaine 57m, Joe O'Brien for Duggan 58m, Tommy Johnston for Maloney 60m.
Referee – Padraig Coyle (Seneschalstown).