Dunsany drew their first round match against St. Ultan's in a tough battle on Sunday in Carlanstown. 

Dunsany 0-11 St Ultans 2-5

St. Ultans opened the scoring with a goal in the first few minutes of the game and immediately put Dunsany under pressure. 

But Dunsany fought back with a scores from Danny Thynne, Mark Brennan (2), and Gary Leddy (2)  to go in at half time 0-5 to 1-1 in front. 

After the break Dunsany were under pressure again when St. Ultans scored another goal from the penalty spot. Dunsany up the pace and remained in contention with points from Danny Thynne, Ger O'Neill, Gary Leddy before Mark Brennan sent over the last point from a free to equalize.   

Dunsany: Cian O'Neill; Gavin Kilbane, Emmet Ferguson, Fionn Maguire; Richie Donnelly, Mark Munnelly, Charlie O'Donnell; Karl Duffy, Jak Harlin; Danny Thynne, (0-2), Ger O'Neill (0-1), David Boyle; Mark Brennan (0-5), Gary Leddy (0-3), Christopher Smyth.  Subs: Andrew Duffy for Smyth, Darren Maguire for Leddy, Jack Brady for O'Donnell)

Junior C Championship. 21/5/2017, in Carlanstown.

St Ultans Report

St Ultans GFC 2-05 Dunsany 0-11

St Ultans made the perfect start to their first group game in the Junior C championship, when full-forward Stephen Kelly was put through for a one-on-one with the Dunsany goalkeeper. The former Tyrone starlet finished coolly to the back of the net. 

Dunsany quickly replied scoring the next two points. One from a free, the other after an excellent close range save from Ultans keeper, Alan Ball. Ultans had to wait until the 22nd minute before registering their first point of the game. Wing back, and making his championship debut, Lee Hennessy drove forward. Blocked once, he collected the loose ball and finished coolly over the bar. 

That's where the scoring stopped for the men in green and black in the first half. Dunsany went on to kick the last three points of the first half. Leaving the score at half-time, 0-05 to 1-01.

The second half started much like the first. Dunsany kicked the first two points, both from play. Things were looking ominous for Ultans. Stopping the rot was Centre-back Barry Brady, when he found himself in space, turned and shot over the bar to register the Ultans' first score of the second half.

Dunsany dominated the following exchanges but failed to make it count on the scoreboard. With 20 minutes to play St Ultans were thrown a lifeline. A good ball into the full-forward line was caught by Tommy Fitzsimons. Before he had a chance to turn, the Dunsany goalie had hauled the corner-forward down in the square. The referee signalled a penalty.  

Eoin Kavanagh stepped up and slotted the penalty into the bottom right-hand corner. This brought Ultans right back into it. Plus the subs introduced of Shane Rennicks, Patrick McLoughlin and Paudin Boggins were starting to have a positive effect. 

Brady again came up the field to score a long range point. This gave the Ultans a one point lead. Dunsany started to dominate again though. Scoring two points and missing several goal chances. 

Eoin Kavanagh levelled the game up with a well taken free. Not long after Shane Rennicks scored his first to put the Bohermeen/Martry outfit in the lead. 

Dunsany fought hard for an equaliser. Only for a terrific save from Alan Ball, they might have found a winner. With the game almost up Dunsany eventually found the space in a packed defence to swing over the levelling point.

Ultans will be disappointed they couldn't hold out for the win. However they'll be delight with the fight and passion on display. Plus, being able to hand championship debuts to Adam Tallon and Lee Hennessy was an added bonus on the day. Next up in championship is Blackhall Gaels. 

St Ultans: Alan Ball, Jack Murray, Luke O'Reilly, Greg McKeever, Shane Mulroe, Barry Brady (0-02), Lee Hennessy (0-01), Kevin Galligan, Robbie Daly, Conor Martin, Robert Duffy, Eoin Kavanagh (1-01, 1 pen, 1f), Tommy Fitzsimons, Stephen Kelly (1-00), Adam Tallon. Subs Shane Rennicks (0-01) for Tallon, Patrick McLoughlin for Fitzsimons, Padin Boggins for Kelly.

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