Lucky '13' for Duleek/Bellewstown

CORN NA BOINNE

Duleek/Bellewstown's dominant first-half laid the perfect platform for them to get the better of Blackhall Gaels by 0-13 to 0-10 in the Corn na Boinne.

After trading early points it was Duleek/Bellewstown who dominated the first quarter with Shane Crosby, Jamie Flaherty and Mark Collins all on target while the visitors also kicked three wides and dropped one into the goalkeeper's hands in that spell. Blackhall hit back after the water break, but James McWeeney, Flaherty and Johnnie McDonnell secured a 0-9 to 0-4 half-time lead for Duleek/Bellewstown.

When play resumed Blackhall Gaels were more competitive, but they struggled to take their scores as John McDonnell settled Duleek/Bellewstown.

When Duleek/Bellewstown lost Shane Crosby to a black card it gave Blackhall hope and they kicked the next three points. However, they rarely looked like getting the goal they needed as Duleek/Bellewstown defended well and saw out the win.

Duleek/Bellewstown - Anthony Dowling; Stephen McArdle, Kevin McCann, Chris Woods; Sam O'Leary, David Moore, Cianan Byrne (0-1); Shane Crosby (0-1), Cian Ryan; John Flood (0-3), Jamie Flaherty (0-2), John McDonnell (0-2); Mark Collins (0-1), James McWeeney (0-3), Eoghan Heeney. Subs - Jason Brannigan for McArdle, Oisin Miland for Heeney, Kyle Callaghan for Byrne.