First championship honours for the newcomers
November 30, 2009mixed form, qualifying for the Division 1 League final but finishing bottom of their group in the SFC. By Noel Coogan.
After taking 140 minutes to get the better of Dunshaughlin at the semi-final stage, the team managed by Kenny McDonnell proved too good for well-fancied Moynalty in the Junior B FC final to gain possession of the Larry Kearns Cup in only the second year of the club's existence.
Duleek/Bellewstown suffered just one defeat from five outings in the group stages of the Junior B Championship, losing by the minimum margin to St Paul's. They scored wins over Seneschalstown, Walterstown, Dunderry and Syddan before getting a walk-over from Trim in their scheduled quarter-final tie.
The first instalment of the semi-final against Dunshaughlin finished 2-13 to 3-10 after extra-time. The replay at Skryne saw Duleek/Bellewstown win by 1-9 to 1-8 after they had led by six points with as many minutes remaining. Stephen Nolan kicked six points of the winning total and midfielder Daniel Martin netted the goal.
Although surviving a scary ending to the October Bank Holiday Monday final at Pairc Tailteann, Duleek/Bellewstown were well worth their 0-12 to 1-7 victory and would not have been flattered by a wider margin. They held the lead after Stephen Nolan put them ahead with the first of six points after about a minute.
Five of Nolan's scores were slotted over from frees and after the first three, Colin Duignan made it 0-4 to 0-0 on 12 minutes. Although it took Moynalty 21 minutes to get on the board, they were well in touch (0-3 to 0-5) at the break.
The east county side, for whom Casey Dunne impressed at centrefield, had hit five wides in the first half before their finishing improved in the second period. The difference was increased to four points, courtesy of white flags from Nolan and Jamie Bissett.
Two points from Bryan Cudden were also crucial and Nolan's fifth score left the margin five points with 55 minutes played. There was just one more score, a goal from half-time substitute Paul Govern three minutes into added time.
After the final whistle Duleek/Bellewstown's non-playing captain, Andrew Power, said he was honoured to receive the Larry Kearns Cup as the deceased Slane and Seneschalstown stalwart was his uncle.
The Duleek/Bellewstown team and scorers in the 2009 Junior B FC final : Adam Everard; Oran Curley, Stephen McArdle, Aaron Kelly; Brian Moore, Paul Callaghan, James Flaherty; Daniel Martin (0-1), Casey Dunne; Jamie Bissett (0-1), Stephen Nolan (0-6), John Flood (0-1); Tony Andrews, Colin Duignan (0-1), Bryan Cudden (0-2). Subs - Eanna Byrne for Andrews. Manager, Kenny McDonnell; selectors, Andrew O'Brien, Robert Moore, John Mooney, John Moore.
It has been said that Duleek/Bellewstown qualified for three finals in 2009, the A League Division 1 and the Junior B FC as well as the SFC relegation decider. They would obviously like to have done better in the Keegan Cup competition but after winning their first game, another victory eluded them.
The form of Colm Nally's charges in championship and league football were very different. In the group stages of the SFC, apart from one win, they had a draw and three defeats. In the Tommy Mooney Cup a final place was earned after seven wins from 10 outings with just one defeat suffered.
Duleek/Bellewstown's SFC programme began with a 1-9 to 0-8 win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne in a game in which the winners kicked just three wides compared to a wasteful total of 15 by the losers.
Paudge Howard's shot to the net eight minutes into the second half was described as "a magnificent goal," That score left the board reading 1-6 to 0-6 before points from Peter Curran and Howard increased the margin to five points. Duleek/Bellewstown had led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break and Mark Collins put over five points in the first half.
Duleek/Bellewstown again scored 1-9 in their second round outing at Pairc Tailteann but on that occasion they went down to a heavy defeat as Simonstown rattled up an impressive total of 5-11 with former Cavan county player Mickey Brennan getting 3-3.
Curiously the east county side led by 0-2 to 0-0 in the early stages after Mark Collins (free) and Paul Martin got on target. When Kevin Smith netted their goal, they trailed by 1-5 to 3-3 and it was 4-5 to 1-5 at the break.
Another Navan side, defending champions O'Mahonys, proved too good for Duleek/Bellewstown in the third round, winning by 1-12 to 0-8, the town team having been ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 at the halfway stage.
For a while in the second half Colm Nally's side gave indications that they might cause a major surprise. Points from Mark Collins (two) and Gordon Hynes left the board reading 0-5 each after 40 minutes. But then Ross Geraghty netted the goal and O'Mahonys added seven points to just three by their opponents.
Duleek/Bellewstown needed to win their fourth round game against St Patrick's in Ashbourne in order to keep alive their outside chance of reaching the knockout stages. That uneventful encounter finished up in a 0-8 each draw.
Pat's were ahead by 0-6 to 0-3 at the break before extending the advantage to 0-9 to 0-5. Points from Peter Curran (three), Darren Mills and Kevin Smith left Duleek/Bellewstown leading by 0-10 to 0-9 before a Barry Campbell converted free evened up matters before the final whistle.
Duleek/Bellewstown had to endure a disappointing conclusion to the group stages as Seneschalstown outscored them by 2-15 to 0-13 at Pairc Tailteann while Donaghmore/Ashbourne's surprise 1-11 to 0-9 win over Simonstown meant that Duleek/Bellewstown finished at the bottom of Group A.
Seneschalstown led by 0-10 to 0-5 at the break. Peter Curran kicked nine points, seven frees and a 45, of the losers' total as their disappointing championship form continued.
Duleek/Bellewstown were due to meet Rathkenny or Walterstown in the relegation final but were frustrated by the ongoing controversy over the playing of extra-time in the game 'won' by Rathkenny.
Before opening their SFC campaign in April, Duleek/Bellewstown were well on the way to the Division 1 League final. They started off with a win over St Patrick's at Stamullen before Dunboyne and Donaghmore/Ashbourne were also defeated.
The unbeaten record was preserved when Mark Collins last minute penalty goal earned a 2-8 each draw at Simonstown. The only league defeat up to the time of going to press was against Summerhill, who won by 1-14 to 1-8.
The final place was clinched in August, with a 2-12 to 1-3 win over an understrength Navan O'Mahonys who were relegated, having to play a number of games without a few inter-county players.
Duleek/Bellewstown also showed above average form in the Feis Cup. They started off with a narrow success over Castletown and then recorded a third victory over Donaghmore/Ashbourne, by 0-12 to 1-6. Then a 2-10 to 0-14 win over Blackhall Gaels put them through to the last four.
Long-serving midfielder Kenny McDonnell agreed that it was a mixed year for the club. "We geared ourselves to win as many games as possible, we did well in the league and the Feis Cup but our form in the championship was a big disappointment," he said.
"We are trying to step up to compete with teams like Seneschalstown and Navan O'Mahonys and we didn't manage to hold our own with them in the championship clashes. The manner of the defeats in those games was not pleasing, we were well beaten by both.
"While we had to play our games with much the same players (we have no countymen), a number of teams are strengthened for championship games when county players return to them and it can be difficult to beat such sides.
"The biggest disappointment for us was losing so heavily to Simonstown. We expected to be on a par with them but they beat us by 14 points. After getting the winning start, we didn't manage to win another game in the championship.
"We still had a chance of qualifying before meeting St Patrick's. That game took place after a long break and the lack of momentum in the championship can be frustrating, trying to maintain the intensity can be difficult.
"We would have had an outside chance of qualifying had we beaten Pat's. While we had a good run of scoring in the second half that day, we also hit a few wides. We weren't taking anything for granted in the last round but it was disappointing to finish at the bottom of the group," continued McDonnell.
Karl feels that relegating no team and have 17 sides in the 2010 Meath SFC would be the fairest course of action. "Rathkenny thought their season was over and had stopped training, so it would have been unfair to ask them to play again," he said.
"It was good to qualify for the final of the Division 1 League but waiting so long to play the final has been frustrating. As far as our club is concerned, the Feis Cup is a prestigious competition and we treat it seriously. It gives us the opportunity to test ourselves against other senior (and intermediate) sides," the midfielder added.
"The junior B success has given the club a big boost. It is great to win any championship and the B team had a good number of young players on it. Some of those lads will be knocking on the door for places on the senior team and that should be good.
"Three or four new players came onto the senior side this year and the competition for places has been healthy. The amalgamation is working well and manager Colm Nally, who is in his second year with the club, has put in a lot of positive work. He brought a freshness to training and with the emphasis on ball work the sessions have been very enjoyable," remarked McDonald.
At 33, Karl is the most senior member of the Duleek/Bellewstown team. He was centrefield for Duleek's JFC success in 1995 and for the intermediate triumph 10 years later. He is not ready to hang up the boots just yet and is already looking forward to lining out again come 2010. Tweet
