AFL1: Dunshaughlin win in Stamullen
July 06, 2015
Dunshaughlin's Trevor Dowd
St Patricks 0-08
Dunshaughlin 1-13
The highly impressive St Patricks of Stamullen GAA grounds was the venue as Dunshaughlin were back on the road once again in a bid to keep their recent impressive league form intact as we draw near the business end of the season.
It did not take the home side long to get off the mark with their sharpshooter Donal Landy getting the first two scores of the game within the first 2 minutes before a Trevor Dowd point a minute later got the black and amber off the mark. Following a patient build-up that involved some nice passing from Ben Duggan and Fergus Toolan up stepped Tadhg O'Dushlaine to level the game but Donal Landy for St Pats certainly knew where the goal post were with him getting his third of the evening to put St Pats back into to the lead by 1 point after 5 mins. Maynooth graduate Niall Murphy has been enjoying a rich vein of form lately at centre back and it was his turnover that led to Ray Maloney levelling the game on 8 mins while a converted St Patricks free six minutes later once again levelled the game in this ding dong scoring affair with a cross field breeze favouring St Patricks.
The game however was about to change on 18 mins when some slick build-up play from midfield duo John Crimmons and Ray Maloney and wing forward Fergus Toolan seen Trevor Dowd bury the ball into the back of the St Pats net to have Dunshaughlin now leading by 2 points in this somewhat physical encounter. This goal seemed to roar Dunshaughlin into life and was well backed up a converted Shane Gallogly free following a foul on the impressive Ray Mlaoney on 22 mins and another converted free coming this time from the man from Mooretown Cathal O'Dwyer seen Dunshaughlin lead by a goal at half time.
The second half resumed with the pats getting the opening score of the half but this was cancelled out by an almighty thump from a 45 coming from the boot of Ben Duggan while Dunshaughlin can thank Michael Ahern for making an impressive save that was driven at him by force a minute later. Vice captain Tadhg O'Dushlaine has been enjoying his best season to date in a Dunshaughlin jersey and there was nothing slow and ponderous about his second point of the game on 49 mins while Cathal O'Dwyer got his first score of the game from play on 50 mins following some more impressive build up play from Jack Crimmons and Ray Maloney who were both complementing each other like a fine cheese and wine enjoyed on a summers evening in July on the Italian riviera.
It was all Dunshaughlin from here on with their 7 minute purple match accounting from three points from the deadly accurate Shane Gallogly with one of his points coming from play with the help of Mark Devaney with the balance coming from converted frees. St Patricks did manage a score on 52 mins but Fergus Toolan was to have the final say in the game with him getting a fine point for the black and amber while he was well assisted by Conor Devereux and Niall mini Murphy.
This was an emphatic Dunshaughlin victory with all 6 backs giving a fine account for themselves with vegas bound Fearghal Delaney and Niall Murphy standing out. Ray Maloney's ability to drive at the opposition is priceless and would not look out of place in a relay in Mosney with his partner in crime John Crimmons getting his hands on the fiddle in the middle more often than once to help his team. The crafty Trevor Dowd had another fine night at centre forward pulling the strings while Fergus Toolan, Ben Duggan, Shane Gallogly and Cathal O'Dwyer worked tirelessly for the cause and can feel proud of their efforts that sees Dunshaughlin top of Div 1.
Dunshaughlin - M.Ahern, D.Ormsby. A.Doyle, F.Delaney, M.Devaney, C.King, T.O'Dushlaine(0-02), J.Crimmons, R.Maloney(0-01), F.Toolan(0-01), T.Dowd(1-01), B.Duggan(0-01), S.Gallogly(0-05), N.Murphy, C.O'Dwyer(0-02). Subs - D.McMahon for S.Gallogly, N.Byrne for N.Murphy, C.Devereux for T.Dowd, D.Dunne for M.Devaney, T.Johnson for F.Delaney (black card).
