AFL1: Dunshaughlin exit race
August 01, 2014
Dunshaughlin's Ray Maloney
Dunshaughlin 0-11
Na Fianna 2-14
All roads led to Dunshaughlin on Thursday evening as the last round of the Div 1 A League campaign came to a close for another year. It was the visitors Na Fianna who took the early initiative with them registering an unanswered 1-02 after 12 minutes of play with the opening goal coming from the impressive Jamie Queeney who looked dangerous all night when he did manage to get away from the watchful Michael Ahern who was making a rare start at centre back.
Two quick successive Dunshaughlin scores from Maynooth student Niall Murphy and Conor Devereux and a converted Eoin Hagarty free has now just the goal between the sides before Eoin Hagarty went on a free taking crusade with the former WBA trainee beautifully converting four long range frees in a row to now level the game with two of these frees coming from fouls on full forward Ronan Geraghty.
Growing in confidence Dunshaughlin were now starting to get to grip with Na Fiannas short kickouts and starting to dominate and it was fitting that the home side went in leading by a point at half time with Michael Ahern showing great athleticism to get onto the end of a sublime Eoin Hagarty pass to punch over from close range. Two converted Na Fianna frees at the start of the second half put them back in front before Mark Devaney slotted over his first score of the evening with a beautiful left footed strike sailing over the bar to level things once again.
The injury to Ray Maloney was a big turning point in the game with the influential Dunshaughlin skipper having to leave the field for treatment and it was this 5 minutes in which Na Fianna capitalised and started to put some light between them and Dunshaughin as they rushed out into a 3 point lead. Eoin Hagartys accuracy from the dead ball was keeping Dunshaughlin still in the game with a weak pulse before the killer below came after 56 minutes with Daniel Queeney finding the back of the Dunshaughlin net to now have Na Fianna looking very good to reach the league final. Another brace of Na Fianna points now made them never in doubt before an Eoin Hagarty long range point from play and 3 more unanswered Na Fianna points meant they ran out comfortable 9 point winners.
Dunshaughlin can feel proud of their efforts with some key senior figures missing and were best served by Ray Maloney, Mick Ahern, Fergie Delaney while Eoin Hagarty showed great maturity and responsibility in his role as free taker tonight with his general play also catching the eye.
R.Gogan, D.Ormsby, A.Doyle, F.Delaney, T.Johnson, M.Ahern(0-01), T.O'Dushlaine, F.Toolan, R.Maloney, E.Hagarty(0-07), N.Murphy(0-01),M.Devaney(0-01), B.Duggan R.Geraghty, C.Devereux(0-01)
Subs - T.Dowd for C.Devereux, K.McTigue for A.Doyle, C.Hoary for R.Maloney, R.Maloney for M.Devaney, L.Ormsby for T.O'Dushlaine, S.Gallogly for R.Geraghty
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