Blackwater end long wait for victory

Having gone winless in the inaugural Regional FC last year, Blackwater signalled their intent with a hard-fought 1-13 to 0-13 win over fellow north Meath rivals An Tuascairt in Moynalty this evening, writes Davy Rispin.

Meath u-20-star Brian O’Reilly struck the decisive goal in the 57th minute, a score worth the admission fee alone and worthy of winning any game at any level.

The first half proved to be a topsy-turvy and highly entertaining affair with the lead changing hands on several occasions as each side took turns to land their respective blows. A fine individual score from Nobber’s Dean Halpin had An Tuascairt in front prior to a Dylan Morgan free cancelling this out in the third minute.

The sides traded scores with Niall Farrell (free) and the excellent O’Reilly on target in the fourth and sixth minutes respectively. However, a brace of quickfire scores from makeshift full forward Dominic Yorke and Killian Price had Seamus Kenny’s charges two in front after 10 minutes.

Conor Lynch and Seamus Doherty exchanged fine points prior to Blackwater reeling off four scores in succession, three frees from Morgan and a neatly taken effort from Kilmainham’s Freddie Newman, in helping to open up a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage after 20 minutes.

An Tuascairt finished the half stronger and took an unlikely lead into the interval with a trio of scores in a row from Thomas Murtagh (mark), Farrell (free) and Gary Breslin (free) handing them a 0-8 to 0-7 advantage at the end of an encouraging 30 minutes of football.

David Nolan’s words of wisdom clearly paid dividend at the beginning of the second period with Morgan (free) and Liam Ward helping to give Blackwater the lead once again. Dogged, gritty and supremely clinical – An Tuascairt refused to lie down and a brace from Breslin helped to regain the initiative for the Meath Hill, Drumconrath, Kilmainhamwood, Nobber and Castletown combination.

It started to feel like it would not be Blackwater’s night when Ward was foiled superbly by the flawless Dary Hutchinson who produced a string of outstanding saves throughout the course of the encounter. Paddy McDermott and Morgan (free) did briefly have the Kilmainham, Drumbaragh, Carnaross, Moynalty and St Michael’s amalgamation back in front but in keeping with the nature of the contest it was short lived.

Doherty landed a monster score, and Farrell added another free to nose An Tuascairt into a slender 0-12 to 0-11 lead with 10 minutes left.

Substitute Kian Lynch equalised for Blackwater, but another pointed free from Farrell had An Tuascairt in front with time ebbing away.

Step forward O’Reilly with three minutes to go. The St Michael’s man picked the ball up in his own half, played a tidy one-two with McDermott, penetrated and rifled home an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner to swing the pendulum once more.

Morgan added the insurance score with his seventh free of the night and thanks to stout defending from Ciaran O’Reilly and Ronan Lynch from some late aerial bombardment, Blackwater held firm to open up with a deserved win but only just.

Blackwater - Conor Gilsenan (St Michael’s); Ronan Lynch (Moynalty), Ciaran O’Reilly (St Michael’s), Harry Dunne (St Michael’s); James McGovern (Drumbaragh), James Cassidy (Moynalty), Luke Fagan (Drumbaragh); Brian O’Reilly (St Michael’s 1-1), Liam Ward (Drumbaragh 0-1); Freddie Newman (Kilmainham 0-1), Paddy McDermott (Carnaross 0-1), Conor Lynch (Drumbaragh 0-1); Dylan Morgan (Kilmainham 0-7 frees), Daragh O’Reilly (Carnaross), Daniel Murphy (St Michael’s). Subs - Jack Roche (Carnaross) for McGovern 23 mins, Joey Gilsenan (Moynalty) for Roche 30m, Kian Lynch (Moynalty 0-1) for Newman 48m, Newman for O’Reilly 54m, O’Reilly for R Lynch 63m.

An Tuascairt - Dary Hutchinson (Nobber); Barry Cassidy (Nobber), Thomas Carolan (Meath Hill), Barry Bradley (Nobber); Killian Price (Castletown 0-1), James Mooney (Meath Hill), Brian Cassidy (Kilmainhamwood); Thomas Murtagh (Nobber 0-1 mark), Ryan Owens (Meath Hill); Seamus Doherty (Castletown 0-2), Gary Breslin (Meath Hill 0-3 two frees), Niall Conlon (Kilmainhamwood); Dean Halpin (Nobber 0-1), Dominic Yorke (Meath Hill 0-1), Niall Farrell (Nobber 0-4 frees). Subs - Daniel Byrne (Drumconrath) for Yorke 41 mins, Tomas Conlon (Drumconrath) for Halpin 41m, Oran Brady (Drumconrath) for Bradley 41m Sean Murray (Drumconrath) for Price 49m, Jamie O’Neill (Drumconrath) for Carolan 51m, Conor Marry (Meath Hill) for Owens 54m, Jack McMahon (Meath Hill) for Conlon 59m.

Referee - Ian Dowdall (Bective).