Nobber secure status for another year
John O'Brien
Nobber secured their Intermediate football championship status for the 2024 season with an impressive performance against Dunderry on a cold, dry evening played under the Friday night lights at Paddy O’Brien Park, Navan.
The North Meath men (who won 1-15 to 1-9) showed great determination, teamwork, and attitude throughout the 60+ minutes to end their season on a positive note and avoid the dreaded relegation play-off match in two weeks’ time.
The black and ambers started off brightly with a fine score from wing forward Conor Owens into the town end goals. Dunderry responded quickly with a point of their own followed up by raising a green flag to put them three in front.
Both sides traded scores with midfield maestro Thomas Murtagh raising a white flag for the black and ambers, and Dale Larkin kicking two important scores for Nobber to leave two points between the sides going into the final five minutes of the first half.
On 26 minutes, up stepped Conor Owens who finished off a fine team move, as he collected the ball, whilst running directly at the Dunderry defence, the Maynooth University student blasted high and hard into the top corner of the net to the joy of the Nobber supporters.
The impressive Owens kicked another well-worked team move to leave the Deesiders going into the break with a narrow lead. In truth, Nobber could have been more ahead going into the break but knew there was still a big battle ahead of them in the second half against a tough Dunderry outfit.
Half-time score – Nobber 1 – 5 (8) Dunderry 1 – 3 (6)
Paddy Bates’ charges rallied on in the opening minutes of the second period with Niall Farrell and the hard-working Paddy Clarke who put in a great shift on the night kicking some powerful scores for Nobber.
Dunderry responded with three quick scores of their own to leave the minimum between the sides, Nobber leading by one in the third quarter. Nobber’s resilience and determination came through and they responded well to the Dunderry fightback.
In a 10-minute period, the black and ambers outscored Dunderry 5 v 0, with Larkin (2), Lorcan McEntee, Karl Casserly, and Jamie Owens all adding to Nobber’s lead. To Dunderry’s credit, they didn’t give up and tried hard to get a goal, but the Nobber defence stood firm with Dary Hutchinson making a huge safe for the North Meath men which helped to galvanise them forward.
As always, Eanna Fagan, Barry Cassidy, and Barry Bradley put in a massive shift in defence, along with Niall Farrell and Thomas Murtagh around the middle.
Dean Halpin and Clarke who covered every blade of grass on the O’Mahonys' pitch sealed the tie for the North Meath men with two scores towards the end of the game. A huge effort by the whole panel on the night including notable contributions from the substitute bench including Brian Farrell, Pauric Weldon, Alan Farrell, and Joe Tierney.
Nobber - Dary Hutchinson, Seamus Fagan, Eanna Fagan, Barry Cassidy, Kian Donohoe, Niall Farrell (0 – 1), Barry Bradley, Jamie Owens (0 – 1), Dean Halpin (0 – 1), Conor Owens (1 – 2), Karl Casserly (0 – 1), Paddy Clarke (0 – 2), Lorcan McEntee (0 – 1), Thomas Murtagh (0 – 1), Dale Larkin (0 – 5). Subs – Brian Farrell for Karl Casserly, Pauric Weldon for Seamus Fagan, Alan Farrell for Jamie Owens, Joe Tierney for Lorcan McEntee.