Simonstown made to work for semi-final spot
Andy Kearney's impact off the bench was decisive as he scored 2-3 in the second-half to boost Simonstown into the SFC semi-finals following tonight's 3-11 to 0-11 victory over Dunshaughlin at Ashbourne.
The lively Matthew Moyles opened the scoring for Dunshaughlin in the third minute, but Simonstown replied with a brilliant goal from Sean Tobin and when Padraig McKeever (free) and Tobin added frees the Navan men were in the driving seat with a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.
However Dunshaughlin settled and defended superbly as they held Simonstown scoreless for 14 minutes and in that spell Luke Mitchell (two, one free and one '45), Niall Murphy and Moyles all pointed to restore parity.
A McKeever free ended Simonstown's barren spell in the 22nd minute, but they didn't score again in the half as Dunshaughlin dominated.
Anthony Moyles' side should have had a goal when Mitchell was put through, but Robbie Burlingham produced a fine save.
Mitchell did managed to fire over a brace of frees before Dan Ormsby got on the scoresheet to ensure a 0-8 to 1-3 interval lead for Dunshaughlin.
The prospect of a shock didn't last long. James Kilcullen and Kearney restored parity within four minutes of the restart and a minute later Mark McCabe edged Simonstown into a lead they didn't relinquish.
Despite kicking six wides in the third quarter Simonstown stretched their lead with Shane O'Rourke on target from 45-metres and in the 48th minute Kearney grabbed his side's second goal when Kilcullen and McKeever linked up to create the chance.
Murphy pointed Dunshaughlin's first score of the half in the 49th minute, but a free from McKeever and a brilliant point from Kearney put Simonstown in control 2-9 to 0-9 with seven minutes remaining.
A pointed free from Mathew Costello and a fine score from Shane Gallogly gave Dunshaughlin hope with three minutes of the hour remaining, but they didn't score again and it was O'Rourke who settled Simonstown with a fisted point before Kearney capped a memorable evening with a point and then a palmed goal from close range to secure his side's passage to the semi-finals.
Full match report and photographs in Tuesday's Meath Chronicle.