Sheridan’s men to down the Hill

IFC QUARTER-FINAL PREVIEW

Anybody who was at Drumconrath for the clash between Meath Hill and Bective the other week couldn't but be impressed with a number of aspects surrounding that game. One of them was the splendid condition Drumconrath had their ground.

Another feature of that occasion was the performance of Meath Hill. Both teams had gone into the game with very similar records from their previous two Group B outings. It all pointed to a keen, close encounter. What we got, instead, was a one-sided contest with Meath Hill producing an exhibition of fast-paced, at times devastating football that Bective simply couldn't live with. It was, indeed impressive to watch.

As we subsequently discovered a number of Bective players carried injuries into the game. That shouldn't, in any way, serve to diminish the quality of the fare produced by the boys in blue who are managed by former Louth goalkeeper Shane McCoy.

Meath Hill have a talented goalkeeper themselves in Dominic Yorke who also proved against Bective he can tuck away a penalty kick when called on to do so. Gary Breslin, Jack Slavin, Cormac Sheehy and Jack McMahon were some of the other players who sparkled for the Hill as they marched to a 3-15 to 1-7 victory.

The movement, off-loading, support play of the Meath Hill players was awe-inspiring at times as they dismantled the tired-looking Bective defence. It all auguers well for them as they prepare to take on Duleek/Bellewstown at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, 2pm. And yet there are reasons for them to be fearful, and wary, going into Sunday's showdown.

There's no doubt Meath Hill won't get the kind of space and latitude against Joe Sheridan's Duleek/Bellewstown they were allowed in the Bective game. Duleek/Bellewstown go into this quarter-final clash having emerged from an extremely competitive Group B undefeated.

In fact Duleek/Bellewstown have shown considerable attacking verve and defensive fortitude in winning all their games, defeating St Michael's (0-15 to 1-10), Blackhall Gaels (0-12 to 1-6) and Castletown (1-16 to 1-8). Impressive. Johnny McDonnell, who hit 1-5 against Castletown, John Flood and James McWeeney are only some their number capable of turning chances into scores.

Winning can become a habit and the kind of record Duleek/Bellewstown have put together suggests they are on a roll that Meath Hill, for all their effervescent, attacking football, are unlikely to halt in this encounter. Verdict - Duleek-Bellewstown.