Dunderry recover from slow start to claim victory

Dunderry 1-20

Boardsmill 1-11

Eoin O'Leary

Boardsmill welcomed Dunderry on a cool Wednesday evening for this HL Div 2 encounter and raced into a three points to no score lead before Dunderry knew where they were.

Conor Leavy missed his first attempt from placed ball but, re-set his sights and tapped over the next five on the trot after Stephen Coogan, Kelly and O'Driscoll were pulled down looking for openings in the Boardsmill defence.

All was looking rosey for Dunderry until a goal against the run of play had it 1-3 to -5 mid way through the opening half.

The home team hit two from play - which Leavy cancelled out with frees. A vital intersection by wing back Níall Ó Laoire who, carried through the mill defence and picked out the youngest of the three Leavy brothers to get Dunderrys first from play.

Big brother Jamie struck a free from 70 yards and then received a sweet pass from brother Conor to score the visitors second from play with half time approaching. Frees were traded once more to leave it tied up at the interval 1-8 to -11.

The second-half started with Boardsmill pointing from a free before Dunderry took control of the contest. Kelly pointed, Leavy kept the frees going before Man of the match O'Driscoll struck an inspiring point under pressure.

He was at the end of another turn over in which O Laoire snatched again, found Conor Leavy up the line and he in turn gave it to O'Driscoll who made no mistake.

Dunderry punished indiscipline with Conor Leavy slotting over his 10th and final free. Boardsmill struck from play before Mark Leavy pointed.

The ball was dispatched to the net by Evan Nolan after the man in the middle signalled the penalty.

A brace from Mark Leavy, one from Kelly and a touch of class from Stephen Coogan had it 1-10 to 1-20 with only injury time remaining.

Boardsmill had the last word with a point from play. It finished 1 -11 to 1- 20.

Best for Dunderry were Mikey Dowdall, Brendan Wright and Niall Ó Laoire in defence, both midfielders, Adam Kelly and Conor Leavy, while Mark Leavy stood out while O'Driscoall also put in a great shift.

Dunderry - Mikey Dowdall; Cian Coogan, Rónán Brady, Darragh Fay; Brendan Wright, Jamie Leavy (0-2, one free), Níall Ó Laoire; Adam Kelly (0-2), Conor Leavy (0-10 frees); Rian Fay, Daire O Driscoll (0-1), Tadhg Dowd; Stephen Coogan (0-1), Liam Coogan, Mark Leavy ( 0-4). Subs - William Tracey for Dowd, Liam Rattigan for D Fay, Evan Nolan ( 1-0) (penalty) for R Fay.