Despite leaking three first-half goals Dunshaughlin overcame Navan O'Mahonys in an exciting Under 21 FC quarter-final at wet and breezy Skryne on Tuesday night.

Dunshaughlin  1-13
O'Mahonys   3-4

Having fallen 0-5 to 3-2 in arrears after 27 minutes, Dunshaughlin - in their first outing in this year's competition - outscored O'Mahonys by 1-8 to 0-2 thereafter.

Tommy Kinsella scored 1-6 for Dunshaughlin. His 29th minute goal lifted the men in black and amber to within a point of O'Mahonys by half-time, 1-7 to 3-2.

Just two points were posted in the third quarter before Dunshaughlin conjured up four points from as many different players in five final quarter minutes.

The pick of the bunch was Shane Gallogly's 51st minute score that left it 1-11 to 3-3. Oisin Foley increased Dunshaughlin's lead before O'Mahonys late onslaught.

All it yielded was O Coileain's fourth pointed free before James O'Malley saw his close range stoppage time effort crash against the crossbar.

The concession of goals apart, Dunshaughlin were the superior team and now face Skryne in one semi-final

O Coileain's opening goal was brilliant seventh minute effort. Duggie Dillon's 17th minute shot left it 2-2 to 0-4. O Coileain's second goal came in the 27th minute.

Those scores couldn't sustain O'Mahonys as Dunshaughlin took control. Goalkeeper Mark Galvin did well to prevent Robbie Keeleghan netting for the Brews HIll side seven minutes into the second-half.

Dunshaughlin - Mark Galvin; Adam Kealy, Ronan Geraghty, Seamus Doyle; Oisin Foley (0-1), David Dunne, Conor Mooney; Ben Duggan (0-1 45), Daniel Quinn (0-1); Dermot Christie (0-1f), Shane Gallogly (0-2, 0-1f), Niall Byrne; Liam Carey, Stephen Duffy, Tommy Kinsella (1-6, 0-3 fs). Sub - Cian Gallogly (0-1) for Carey (42)

O'Mahonys - Colm Honan; James O'Malley, Conor Doyle, Michael Kelly; Declan McGuinness, Andy Leech, Kevin O'Hanlon; Declan McGuinness; Stephen Monaghan, Duggie Dillon (1-0); Ruairi O Coileain (2-4, 0-4fs), Eamon Ferris, Gavin Fox; Dylan Regan, Robbie Keeleghan,Ciaran O'Hanlon. Subs - Conor Murphy for Fox (20), Brian Gibney for Ferris (34), Niall Kearney for Monaghan (51).

Referee - Colm McManus (Gaeil Colmcille)

DUNSHAUGHLIN REPORT

Dunshaughlin 1-13 O'Mahony's   3-04

Father McManus Park Skryne on a deplorable night for football was the venue with a place up for the grabs in the U21 Meath Championship Semi Final the prize as both teams produced some excellent football at times to defy the elements. A converted free after 1 min got O'Mahony's off the mark with the black and amber responding well 2 mins later with Danny Quinn smartly pointing following some good work from wing back Conor Money.  A beautifully struck goal from O'Mahony's  Ruairi O'Coileain on 7 mins put 3 points between the teams but to their credit Dunshaughlin showed great character and passion to score 3 unanswered points on the bounce  to cancel out the Salles goal when a lovely Tommy Kinsella point from play was backed up with a converted Shane Gallogly free on 9 mins and a free from Tommy Kinsella on 12 mins made the game level pegging. It seemed that all Dunshaughlin's hard work had been undone after 17 mins when O'Mahony's were to find the back of the net for the second time in the half but a now trademark Ronald Koeman special coming off Ben Duggan's right boot from a 45 1 min later that sailed straight over the bar had two points between the teams with O'Mahony's looking very dangerous with an eye for goal.

They say lightening never strikes twice but as far as Dunshaughlin were concerned it was to strike three times in the space of 27 mins with O'Mahony's  once again raising the green flag to now have 6 points between the teams with the hoops in cruise control as the end of the half loomed. Dunshaughlin once again were to re-group and with Conor Mooney and Oisin Foley driving them on deserve ably managed  to get their own purple patch in the space of 3 mins with another  converted Shane Gallogly free on 29 mins and a soccer style Tommy Kinsella strike from range finding the back of the O'Mahony's  net on 30 mins now had 2 points between the teams but Dunshaughlin and Kinsella were not finished yet with him converting another free on 32 mins now leaving just one point between the teams in an entreating first half  as Colm McManus blew for half time.

Dunshaughlin were to start the second half the quickest with them getting the first score of the second half after 32 mins coming courtesy once again of Tommy kinsella who was giving an exhibition with a placed ball off the ground and was showing great composure and technique to once again level the game . O'Mahony's  responded with them converting another free on 35 mins but this was to be their last score for 20 mins. Things could have been very different however when Dunshaughlin keeper Mark Galvin was to perform a miracle save similar to the one Jerzy Dudek once made for Liverpool in a European Cup final to prevent O'Mahony's  an almost certain 4th goal on 36 mins with this save giving Dunshaughlin a wakeup call that could not allow for any more O'Mahony's  goals.

A beautiful score from substitute Cian Gallogly following some great work from Diarmuid Christie once again levelled this fascinating tie before a sublime long range effort from Niall Byrne was to raise the white flag and now have Dunshaughlin remarkably leading after 50 mins. Father McManus Park in Skryne has without doubt seen some majestic scores coming off Colm o'Rourke's left foot  countless times through the years but Shane Gallogly another man with roots from Aughavas was at hand to score a spectacular effort  from near the sideline on 51 mins to now have Dunshaughlin 2 points up with 9 mins remaining.

This Gallogly score seemed to inspire Dunshaughlin with wing back Oisin Foley stepping up one minute later to score an unbelievable score from the outside of his boot to have 3 points between the side with Dunshaughlin looking very good value to see out the game. A converted O'Mahony's  free on 53 mins put two points between the teams and meant it was going to be a nail biting finish but Tommy Kinsella was to have the final say of the evening with his shot sailing over the bar on 59 mins to once again put 3 points between the teams. O'Mahony's  to their credit never gave up and their luck seemed to have ran out as they were to rattle the Dunshaughlin crossbar deep into injury time but thankfully for the black and amber they were to hang on to record a memorable 3 point victory.

This was a fantastic Dunshaughlin victory with every player giving a fantastic showing with Oisin Foley, Conor Mooney and Tommy Kinsella outstanding for the winners.

Dunshaughlin - Mark Galvin; Adam Kealy, Ronan Geraghty, Seamus Doyle; Oisin Foley (0-1), David Dunne, Conor Mooney; Ben Duggan (0-1 45), Daniel Quinn (0-1); Dermot Christie (0-1f), Shane Gallogly (0-2, 0-1f), Niall Byrne; Liam Carey, Stephen Duffy, Tommy Kinsella (1-6, 0-3 fs). Sub - Cian Gallogly (0-1) for Carey (42). Subs - C. Gallogly (0-01) for L.Carey

Tweet

Most Read Stories