Bective 0-17 Drumconrath 1-6

Bective rounded off their All-County 'A' League Division 3 campaign with a win but it wasn't enough to secure a place in the final this year.

Jody Devine's side had bounced back from failure to take a single point from any of their first four games to get into contention for a final spot and promotion to Division 2.

However, the lads were always going to require favours from others, and in the final reckoning seven wins from 11 games was only good enough for fourth spot, behind top two Ballinabrackey and Meath Hill and third-placed Dunderry.

With key forwards Cathal McConnell, Brian Cantwell and Paul McCabe all missing through injury, there was a reshuffle in attack for the trip to north Meath with Mark O'Rourke coming in at centre forward, James Davis coming into the side at No 15 after returning from long-term injury and Marty Mulhall and Paul Lyness repositioned to the inside forward line. Kevin Brennan, recently returned from Australia, made his first start in three years at right half back.

On a fine bright and warm day at Drumconrath, with a crossfield breeze favouring neither side, Bective made much the better start. Despite missing a number of decent chances they kept the scoreboard ticking over and Drums struggled to make any inroads in attack in the opening half, which ended with a 0-6 to 0-0 lead for the visitors.
The home side quickly made amends for their scoreless opening 30 minutes on the restart, scoring 1-2 in the first few minutes. However, those scores were matched by a series of points from Marty Mulhall, Paul Lyness, Ciaran Breslin, Mark O'Brien and Mark O'Rourke at the other end.

The result was never really in doubt and when the final whistle sounded there were eight points between the sides (0-17 to 1-6).

Bective's next outing sees them try to defend their Tailteann Cup crown against Curraha at Pairc Tailteann next Sunday (2.30pm).

Bective: Shane Breslin; Craig Roche, Jack Grant, Jarlath Brennan; Kevin Brennan, Ciaran McConnell, Colin O'Rourke; Mark O'Brien (0-1), Ciaran Reilly; Ciaran Breslin (0-2), Mark O'Rourke (0-2), Philip Treacy (0-1); Paul Lyness (0-3), Marty Mulhall (0-8), James Davis.

Drumconrath Report

Drumconrath1-6 Bective 0-17

Drumconrath finished off their League campaign which had promised much on a disappointing note when going under to a more determined Bective side in this last round game which had no bearing on the business end top or bottom of the Division 3 Table.

Bective are shaping up for a decent season as after losing their 1st four League games have now gone 13 games undefeated as they prepare to defend  the Tailteann Cup in the Final next Sunday.

Bective led 0-6 to 0-0 at the break as both sides hit 14 wides shared equally between them along with a couple of dropped short shots also.

Drumconrath did put up a better challenge in the second half scoring two points in as many minutes with Daniel Byrne and Conor OHalloran pointing. Gavin Finnegan did notch the only goal of the game on 40th minutes but really normal service was resumed as Bective made little of Drumconrath's defensive system pointing at will throughout the half.

Drumconrath; Sean Kane; John Lynch, Thomas Carolan, John McDermott; Peter Tighe, Peter McEvoy, Aidan Tighe; Chris Tighe, Terry Skelly; Tomas Conlon, Stephan Crosby, Alan Byrne; Gavin Finnegan (1-1), Daniel Byrne (0-4), Colm McEvoy; Subs Conor OHalloran (0-1) for Lynch, Cathal Dunne for A Tighe, Robert McEntaggart for C McEvoy and Brendan Crosby for Conlon

Tweet

Most Read Stories