Slane 2-18
Nobber 2-8

Slane went into this game knowing a draw or a win would at the least secure them a preliminary quarter final spot.

Slane started the game in a nervy manner and despite having a lot of the ball they struggled to find the target. Nobber took full advantage of this sluggish start as they took a 2 point lead before Slane swung into life. Slane scored their first point of the game through Kevin Dunne before Podge McGowan went on a private scoring burst as he popped over 4 points in a row to give Slane a 3 point lead. Nobber replied with a fine score before Slane produced a great move that ended with a superb finish by Daniel Carolan. Slane were in the ascendancy now and after McGowan registered his fifth of the game, the impressive Kevin Dunne buried a fine strike to the Nobber net to leave Slane 8 points ahead. The teams traded scores again before Carolan and Jim Marry pointed for Slane to leave them 8 points clear at half time.

Slane began the second half where they left off when Marry attacked the heart of the Nobber defence from the throw in before scoring his second of the game. Slane seemed to switch off at this stage and Nobber sensed this as they reduced the difference by 2 before scoring a goal of their own after a scramble for possession in the Slane square.

Slane, although not playing their best at this stage always had enough quality moving forward to keep Nobber at arms length and scores from Marry and Dunne opened the gap once more. Nobber would.not give up and when they hit a 14 yard free to.the back of the Slane net they felt they may have a way back into the game. Slane were not to undone and nothing teams scored again before Slane's superior fitness and scoring showed with points from Dunne, McGowan and Lynch. Slane emptied their.bench at this stage and substitutes Kevin Reilly and the returning Declan Kearns finished the scoring for the Boynesiders.

Slane now progress to the knockout stages of championship football for the first time since 2007.

Slane: D Berrill, G Smith, W Clarke, D Carolan, C Smith, R Finnegan, S Harding, J Marry, U McAdam, P McGowan, D Lynch, E Feeley, K Dunne, S McDonagh, D Carolan. Subs: K Reilly, J Cassidy, S Gough, T Maloney, D Kearns, D Forde.

Slane Scorers: P McGowan 0-7, K Dunne 1-3, D Carolan 1-2, J Marry 0-3, D Lynch 0-1, K Reilly 0-1, D Kearns 0-1.

Nobber: T McEntee, P Olwill, S O Brien, C Carty, B McEntee, B Cassidy 1-0, D Halpin, P Clarke, G Campbell 0-1, J Halpin, K Casserly, B Kelly 0-6, J Donohue, A McEntee, T McCormack 1-1.
Subs C Kellett for Donohue, R Lambe for Campbell, J Campbell for Kelly, J Donohue for Cassidy Tweet

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