SFC: Goals see Gaels secure senior status
September 01, 2013
Tadgh Brosnan Blackhall Gaels
Blackhall Gaels 4-7
Dunshaughlin 0-8
Results elsewhere meant Blackhall Gaels just missed out on a place in the knockout stage on points difference. A failure to add to their tally following Tadhg Brosnan's 35th minute goal put paid to their chances of advancing.
Before the off survival was uppermost on Blackhall Gaels' agenda while Dunshaughlin harboured ambitions of reaching the business end. Now the team in black and amber find themselves in the relegation dogfight along with Nobber and Oldcastle.
Brosnan scored 2-2 from play for the 'Gaels while all bar two points of the winners' tally came from play. Blackhall's fourth goal left it 4-7 to 0-4.
Backed by the elements, Dunshaughlin managed just four points with two of those coming from Fergus Toolan frees. Joe O'Brien punched a Niall Kelly free over for his side's first score of the second-half, in the 37th minute.
Cathal O'Dwyer managed Dunshaughlin's final score when his close range effort was tipped over the bar by Blackhall 'keeper Tommy Dalton in the 56th minute.
Moments earlier Dalton got down well to his right to save an O'Dwyer penalty, one of the few highlights of the second-half.
Most of the excitement came post-match as the Blackhall Gaels' contingent wondered if the margin of victory could somehow propel into the knockout stage. However, the main objective had been achieved.
Wind-assisted Blackhall Gaels took the game to Dunshaughlin from the off. Less than two minutes in Brosnan bagged their first goal, firing to the net at the town end with assistance from Alan Nestor.
Brosnan added a point while Dunshaughlin posted three wides in the opening eight minutes. Moments later Nestor landed a long range free.
Team captain Brosnan created the opening for Tom Murphy to fire home Blackhall's second goal and the board read 2-2 to 0-0 after 11 minutes.
Dunshaughlin came into the game with a chance of reaching the business end of the SFC while spectre of a relegation play-off also loomed.
Three of Dunshaughlin's first-half scores came from free with Fergus Toolan getting two of them including his side's opening score in the 14th minute.
It was quickly countered by one of the scores of the game. Blackhall full-back Noel O'Hora pushed forward to exchange passes with Brosnan before pointing from about 45 metres. That left it 2-3 to 0-1 midway through the half.
Centre-half-back John Kelly was next to register for the Batterstown-Kilcloon outfit.When Sean Whelan landed a 26th minute free he became Blackhall's sixth different scorer.
A foul on Brosnan led to a penalty which the Blackhall number 11 expertly netted low to Ronan Gogan's right in the 30th minute. David Tonge posted Dunshaughlin's first score from play in the last act of the half and it was 3-7 to 0-4 at the break.
Blackhall Gaels: Tommy Dalton, Dan Carty, Noel O'Hora (0-1), Denis Beirne; JJ Kelly, John Kelly (0-1), Stephen Morris; Tom Delany, Johnny Meyler; Dan O'Neill, Alan Nestor (1-2, 1f), Dermot Carty; Tom Murphy (1-0), Tadhg Brosnan (2-2), Sean Whelan (0-1f). Sub - Aidan Dalton for Dermot Carty (48).
Dunshaughlin - Ronan Gogan; Alastair Doyle, Kenny McTigue, Liam Ormsby;Eoin Hagarty, Niall Kelly, Tadhg O Dubhshlaine; John Crimmins, Ray Maloney; Fergus Toolan, Niall Murphy, David Tonge (0-1); Caoimhin King (0-4 fs), Joe O'Brien (0-1), Cathal O'Dwyer (0-2, 1f). Subs - Martin Reilly for Ormsby (ht), Tommy Johnson for McTigue (48).
Referee - Patrick Neilis (Kilmainham) Tweet
