Two goals each in the opening half from Tadhg Brosnan and Mark Crampton boosted Blackhall Gaels to a facile Commons Hardware Group A third round win over a poor Duleek side at Ratoath on Sunday afternoon. Blackhall Gaels 4-13 Duleek 0-7 Brosnan carded a total of 2-7 (0-6 frees) with both of his majors arriving in the opening quarter by the end of which it was 2-2 to 0-1. Duleek never looked like overhauling the deficit and managing a draw, as they did in last year's first round meeting at Skryne. Crampton netted twice inside a minute in the run up to half time and it was 4-6 to 0-2 at the break. Blackhall lost their former goalkeeper John O'Brien - who was operating alongside Anthony Moyles at midfield - in the opening minutes - with an ankle injury with less than five minutes on the clock. John Callanan filed the breach and capped an industrious display by completing Blackhall's total near the end of the second-half. Crampton might have got in for two more goals, but was denied by county panelist, Ricky Nolan, on both occasions. First after just seven minutes and also in the last action of the hour. Urged on by manager, Newbridge-based Ray O'Sullivan (in his first year in charge), the 'Gaels blew early as they sought to atone for the 0-9 to 2-9 loss to neighbours Summerhill in their previous outing. Conor Burke and George Beirne formed a formidable spine in defence while wing-back Colm McElligott pushed forward to register two second-half points. County man Peter Curran worked diligently to prevent Duleek from being overwhelmed and was his side's only scorer in the opening half (both frees). Within ten minutes of the restart, the Batterstown/Kilcloon side tagged on five more points (4-11 to 0-2) and it wasn't until the 42nd minute that Duleek finally registered from open play through Conal McGinley. Eamonn Barry's men - who lost narrowly to Dunshaughlin before comfortably seeing off Ballinlough in round two - enjoyed a good spell when sending over five times in a row, with Curran completing their total with a fine solo effort in the 50th minute. Alan Nestor was denied a goal at the clubhouse end when striking the butt of Nolan's right-hand upright before Blackhall (who beat Simonstown in round one) completed the rout with points from Brosnan (free) and Callanan. Blackhall Gaels - M. Whelan; D. O'Neill, G. Beirne, D. O'Brien; D. Dalton, C. Burke, C. McElligott (0-2); J. O'Brien, A. Moyles (0-1); A. Nestor, D. Beirne, P. O'Brien; S. Whelan (0-1), T. Brosnan (2-7, 0-6), M. Crampton (2-1). Subs - J. Callanan (0-1) for J. O'Brien (7 mins). Duleek - R. Nolan; K. Smith, P. Howard, D. Teeling; D. Crosby, G. Hynes, C. Dunne; Kark McDonnell; M. Dowling; C. Duignan, B. Finn, B. Cudden (0-1); Keith McDonald, P. Curran (0-5), 3 frees), C. McGinley (0-1). Sub - D. Ferguson for McDonald (18 mins). Referee - S. O'Connor (Carnaross). Tweet

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