League consolation for Dunderry
November 27, 2011It was a case of déjà vu for the Dunderry intermediate footballers who were knocked out of the championship at the semi-final stage for the third year-in-a-row.
The Dunderry hurlers' quest for intermediate honours also goes on after Kildalkey beat them after a replay in this year's quarter-final. The black and whites did, however, have the consolation of winning the Division 3 B League football title when they gained a measure of revenge for their IFC semi-final loss to Moynalvey by overcoming them in the final.
"At least we didn't finish the year empty-handed," says a grateful Kevin Dowd, who featured prominently for both the Dunderry football and hurling teams this year and also scored a goal in the B League decider.
"We were awful disappointed after going out of the intermediate football and hurling championships, so it made us appreciate the B League success that bit more. You could say that beating Moynalvey, who beat us in the championship semi-final only a few weeks earlier, made it all the sweeter."
Despite playing with the aid of a strong wind in the final at Trim, the Dunderry seconds fell behind to an early Moynalvey goal from Ciaran Ennis. But they recovered to go into break leading by 1-6 to 1-2 thanks to points from Ivan McCormack and Aaron Newman, and a goal from county minor Steven Coogan.
Coogan extended their advantage on the restart from a free before Moynalvey hit back with a Ciaran Ennis goal and a brace of points from Willie Byrne and Ennis to get themselves back into contention. Serious questions were now being asked of Dunderry, but they responded with points from Newman and Coogan before Kevin Dowd found the net after great work by Trevor Conety and Jordan Martin. Steven Coogan added two late points to seal a 2-11 to 2-6 victory for Dunderry and their first senior title since 2004, much to the delight of their large support.
Dunderry's two major goals at the start of the year were to win the intermediate football and hurling championships. Since surrendering their senior status in both codes in 2005 and 2004 respectively, they have been frustrated in their efforts to return to the top flight and, unfortunately, it was more of the same in 2011.
Under the management of 1996 All-Ireland winner Barry Callaghan and his selectors Tommy Garry, Stephen O'Rourke, Pete Conaty and Conor O'Neill, who Callaghan succeeded as manager at the beginning of 2010, Dunderry opened their IFC Group B campaign with a 0-10 to 1-11 defeat to Jody Devine's Gaeil Colmcille. A fortuitous second half goal from Danny McGovern, which was deflected into the Dunderry net by Damien Clarke, proved decisive after the black and whites had battled back from being five points down after only 12 minutes to draw level.
Dunderry put that disappointment behind them when new recruit and former Meath All-Ireland winning full back Darren Fay inspired them to a 2-9 to 0-9 victory over St. Michael's at Kilskyre. The foundations for the win were laid late in the first half when goals from Steven Coogan and Damien Clarke propelled them into a 2-4 to 0-5 lead. St. Michael's reduced the deficit to three points, 0-7 to 2-4, midway through the second half, but that was as close as they got to the winners.
Further wins over Carnaross (0-14 to 1-8) and Syddan (0-12 to 1-7) saw Barry Callaghan's charges progress to a quarter-final meeting with Na Fianna at Kildalkey. The Enfield-Baconstown combination weren't lacking in confidence after coming through the group stage unbeaten and they opened the scoring through ex-Leitrim player Michael Foley. Dunderry replied with a punched goal and had opened up a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes. However, Na Fianna outscored them by 0-7 to 0-1 in the second quarter to lead by 0-8 to 1-3 at half-time.
Dunderry started the second half in whirlwind fashion by hitting 1-3 without reply - the goal coming from TJ Garry in the 32nd minute - to go four points clear. Na Fianna were restricted to just four second half point as the more experienced Dunderry men prevailed on a 2-9 to 0-12 scoreline, though Harrison Silke was unlucky not to earn the losers another day out when his late effort struck the butt of the post.
With memories of last year's IFC semi-final defeat to Nobber still fresh, Dunderry were determined to go one better when they squared up to Moynalvey at Pairc Tailteann. Two goals from county minor Cillian O'Sullivan proved crucial in a 3-5 to 1-5 success for the Moynalvey men who went on to beat Gaeil Colmcille in the final.
O'Sullivan netted in each half, while the winners' other goal came in the 38th minute when their captain John Donoghue was successful from the penalty spot. That gave them a 2-2 to 1-4 lead, and they were never headed thereafter. Ken Hyland extended Moynalvey's lead shortly before Steven Coogan's third pointed free in the 43rd minute left the minimum in it again. However, that proved to be Dunderry's only score of the second half and when O'Sullivan cut in from the left wing to fire home his second goal two minutes later, the maroons were on their way to the final.
Dunderry had opened brightly with Andy Coogan and Steven Coogan both raising white flags and they went on to lead by 1-4 to 1-2 at the interval thanks to TJ Garry's fisted goal in the 28th minute after his initial effort from a penalty had rebounded off the crossbar.
"We just weren't good enough," concedes Dowd, who is one of only a handful of survivors from the Dunderry team which lifted the Keegan Cup in 1995.
"We had high hopes of winning the intermediate this year, but once again we failed to produce the goods when it mattered. We were probably short a bit of firepower up front where young (Steven) Coogan was left to do most of the scoring. Paddy Kennelly was missing with a bad knee injury and he was a huge loss to us. Our minors got to a county final against Moynalvey this year, so there are good prospects in the club. Hopefully our luck will change next year."
Darren Fay's transfer from Trim to Dunderry caused a huge stir at the start of the year and Kevin says the black and whites are delighted to be able to call on a player of his experience and calibre.
"Darren was a massive addition to us this year. He has unbelievable enthusiasm for a lad of his age. Against Moynalvey, he was probably the best player on the pitch. He's still one of the top players in the county."
In Division 2 of the A League, Dunderry had to settle for a mid-table finish, while a 1-10 to 1-15 defeat to county champions Summerhill ended their interest in the Feis Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Beaten by Boardsmill in last year's intermediate championship semi-final, the Dunderry hurlers - under the guidance of former player John Joe McGourty (manager), Tommy Keenan, Gerry McLoughlin and Tommy Coogan - were disappointed to make their exit a round earlier this year. Drawn in Group B, they lost their first two games to Wolfe Tones (2-7 to 1-13) and Rathmolyon (2-9 to 3-9) before chalking up wins against Kilmessan (0-18 to 2-3) and Blackhall Gaels (1-15 to 0-14). They lost their final group game to Boardsmill by a point (0-12 to 1-10), but still qualified for a quarter-final joust with Kildalkey's second team.
After the sides finished level on 0-12 apiece, Kildalkey scored three late points to win a low-scoring replay at Simonstown by 0-8 to 0-6. Some Dunderry supporters considered the defeat to be just as heartbreaking as the SHC final replay loss to Trim 10 years ago.
""It was a step back after reaching the semi-final last year," laments Kevin, who managed the Meath U21s to an All-Ireland 'B' final appearance against Kerry in 2010 and was also involved with the management of the Drumree hurlers this year.
"We have a great crop of hurlers, but they're just not committing. There is much more of an emphasis put on the football. During the championship, we train three nights a week in the football and only one night in the hurling. That says it all. The highlight from a hurling point of view this year was our victory in the Division 2 league final against Kilmessan," he concludes.
Dunderry's BFL Division 3 winners were: Kenny Patterson; Kenny Fay, Thomas Doherty, Eoin Dempsey; Seamus Harte, Peter McKeaver, Conor Farrell; Robert Doherty, Kevin Dowd (1-0); Alan Waters (0-1), Trevor Conety, Ivan McCormack (0-2); Jordan Martin, Aaron Newman (0-1), Steven Coogan (1-7). Subs used: David Callaghan, Paul Bartley and Conor Daly.
Dunderry lined out as follows against Moynalvey in this year's IFC semi-final: D Jennings; Darren Callaghan, D Fay, D McCormack; D Clarke, E Stephens, J Kelleher; David Callaghan, P Callaghan; A Coogan (0-1), TJ Garry (1-0), S Coogan (0-3 fs); K Dowd, S Carty, K Callaghan (0-1). Subs used: G Newman, B Doherty, I McCormack, C Harte and A Newman.
League silverware for Dunderry hurlers
Dunderry defeated Kilmessan (1-15 to 1-9) to win the Meath Division 2 Hurling League at Trim.
Dunderry went two points up courtesy of David Gilkenson and Evan Stephens before Kilmessan hit back with a goal and a point to lead for the only time in the game. Corner back Conor O'Shea scored an inspirational point and another from Gilkenson levelled the match. A goal from Jordan Martin midway through the half put Dunderry in control. Points from Paddy Gorey, Gilkenson and Killian Minogue put the winners 1-7 to 1-2 ahead at the break.
Kilmessan landed the first three point on the resumption but Gilkenson steadied the Dunderry ship with a fine point. The intermediate side took control of proceedings from there on. Dillon Keenan landed a long range free and two great efforts from Bob Doherty had Dunderry 1-11 to 1-6 ahead with ten minutes left.
Dunderry: Conor Farrell, Conor O'Shea (0-1), David Stephens, Brendan Ryan, Darren Callaghan, Ivan McCormack, Dillon Keenan (0-1), Bob Doherty (0-2), Kevin Dowd, Jordan Martin (1-0), Brendan Wright, Killian Minogue (0-1), Paddy Gorey (0-2), Evan Stephens (0-2), David Gilkenson (0-6). Subs: Christopher Harrington, Stephen Coogan, Keith Callaghan, Thomas Doherty
Dunderry Camogie club thriving
The present Dunderry Camogie Club commenced in 2003 when the club re-grouped having folded in 1998.
The pre-1998 team had won every championship in Meath with the exception of the senior title. In the last few years major reorganization has began in the club and a huge number of parents are actively involved. We now field teams at U8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 and junior. We won the Meath junior championship in 2008 to move up to intermediate level.
Two years ago our U12 team won the Meath U12B championship final and we were also runners up in the U13 league final in 2009 which proves the huge talent we have at under age level. We travelled to Feile na nGael last year as the Meath representatives and were thrilled with the experience.
We came back and won the Meath U14B Shield final the following week. This year we reached the U14 semi-final narrowly missing out on a place in the final and we also have county players in adult and underage levels and hope to have many more in the future.
One of our underage girls represented Meath in the Feile long puc and the Feile skills after winning the Leinster Feile competition. She came third in the skills and fifth in the long puc in the All-Ireland competition.
This year we were delighted to travel to Wexford to represent Meath in the All-Ireland Pink Day camogie blitz for U16's. Our U16 team is now through to a semi-final championship and our U13 team are in the middle of their championship and doing really well. This year our club purchased new club hoodies and we were sponsored for two sets of jerseys ,one from Dunderry Fair and the other from TMC cars.
We have over 120 members in our club and train twice a week.
MFC Shield win for Dunderry
Dunderry got the better of Wolfe Tones in a dramatic end to MFC Division 3 shield final in Sean Newman Park.
Despite heavy rain and slippery underfoot conditions this encounter turned out to be a great game of football, with both sides evenly matched. Wolfe Tones got off to a better start with two points for Tones before Dunderry got their first score from boot of Stephen Coogan. Simon Carty, Stefan Clarke and Stephen Coogan pointed for Dunderry to leave the scores level. A goal by O Fionnagain in 25 minute gave Tones a three point lead. Coogan finished the half with a point for Dunderry to leave the half time score Wolfe Tones 1-4 Dunderry 0-5.
Wolfe Tones had ball in Dunderry net within a minute of restart and they followed up with points to take what looked like a winning lead of six points. However Dunderry did not panic and upped the pace of their game three points by Coogan and one by Carty left two points between the teams with 44 minutes gone. Two Tones points were cancelled out with two from Coogan to leave Tones two points clear with time almost up. Dunderry threw caution to wind and went on all out attack. Dillon Keenan won ball around the middle transferred to Carty, hand passed to Coogan who gave the return, his shot was parried by Tones goalkeeper the ball ran loose in penalty area and Carty was quickest to react to shoot to net. The final whistle went on the kickout and Dunderry had won by a point.
Dunderry - James Mitchell, Michael Keavney, Ciaran Halpin, Luke Martin, Dillon Keenan, Brendan Wright, Stephen O'Donnell, Connor O'Shea, Darren Clabby, Conor Dempsey, Simon Carty (1-2), Richard O'Brien, Alan Casey, Stephen Coogan (0-8), Stefan Clarke (0-1). Subs - Mark Kane, Cillian Leonard. Tweet
