Drumconrath survive Slane test
Drumconrath set up a mouthwatering Tailteann Cup decider against neighbours Meath Hill when they survived a stern Slane test at Pairc Tailteann this evening where they emerged with a 1-14 to 1-13 victory.
Drumconrath created all the early chances as they ran at the Slane defence and moved the ball smartly.Â
Three points and a couple of woeful wides was their reward for dominating the opening five minutes with Steven Crosby, Derek Duff (free) and Terry Skelly splitting the posts.
The impressive Paudge McGowan got Slane off the mark with the first of his five first-a half points, but Drumconrath continued to call the shots and they found the net in the eighth minute through Paul Tighe after Brendan Lyons made the opening.Â
Further points from Skelly (three), Duff (two frees) and Jamie Myles eased Drumconrath into a 1-9 to 1-6 interval advantage with Slane grabbing a lifeline from Allie Harding's goal close to the interval after he had opened his account with a well-taken 25th minute point.
The early second-half exchanges saw the sides trade three points each with Matthew Tully, Eanna Mooney and Jim Marry for Slane countering a brace from Lyons and one by Tomas Conlon for Drumconrath in the third-quarter.
Slane had a goal chance, but Ollie Harding hit the bar before Mooney converted a free and that closed the gap to two points (1-10 to 1-12).Â
Drumconrath heeded the warning signs and replied with another Lyons point and one from substitute Wayne Reilly with 10 minutes remaining and then they survived a siege as Slane finished with a mini-flourish that produced two pointed Mooney frees that sandwiched a Danny Carolan, but the leveller proved elusive.
Drumconrath - Â Eoin Muldoon; Cathal Dunne, Peter Tighe, Packie Dunne; Jamie Myles (0-1), Steven Crosby (0-1), Robert McEntaggart; Sean McMahon, Tomas Conlon (0-1); Derek Duff (0-3 frees), Terry Skelly (0-4), Brendan Lyons (0-3); Graham Tighe, Paul Tighe (1-0), Christopher Tighe. Subs - Daniel Byrne (0-1) for C Tighe 40 mins, Wayne Reilly for P Tighe 47m.
Slane - Darren Berrill; Stephen Kells, Willie Clarke, Shane Harding; Rory Finnegan, Damien Carolan, Kevin Reilly; Tommy Macken, Jim Marry (0-1); Eanna Mooney (0-4 three frees), Ollie Harding (1-1), Eoin Feeley; Eoin Gibbs, Matthew Tully (0-1), Paudge McGowan (0-5 two frees). Subs - Ultan McAdam for Reilly 12 mins, Danny Carolan (0-1) for Lane 40m, Cillian Gough for Gibbs 59m.
Black card - R Finnegan (replaced by Aaron Lane 19m).
Referee - Martin Griffin (Simonstown Gaels).
NEXT UP
Tailteann Cup final - Drumconrath v Meath HillÂ
A provisional date could be Sunday 30th July - this is not confirmed by Meath Co Board.