IFC final: Rathkenny reap rich reward
October 07, 2023
Rathkenny's Ross Gore with Shane Crosby and John Flood Duleek Bellewstown during the Meath IFC final at Pairc Tailteann
In a thrilling final where fortunes ebbed and flowed, Rathkenny eventually saw off a spirited Duleek-Bellewstown challenge by the minimum margin at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening. PHOTOS
Rathkenny ....................... 1-18
Duleek-Bellewstown .......... 2-14
after extra time
Both sides made strong claims for the Mattie McDonnell Cup. Early on, Rathkenny looked set to march to the podium. Two Duleek-Bellewstown goals turned the tide in favour of the team from east of the county.
Rathkenny responded in the third quarter and looked a good bet for the cup until a late Duleek-Bellewstown rally forced extra time with main marksman Alan Bowden prominent.
Keith Curtis produced 11 points of Rathkenny's tally while Eoghan Heavey's 49th minute goal tied the scores at 1-11 to 2-8. It was the penultimate score in his side's second-half scoring surge that ultimately led them to the podium.
Extra time produced seven scores in 20 minutes but the most significant moment came courtesy of Charlie Cullen's penalty save three minutes into additional time.
Rathkenny sprung from the traps with a string of points, four to be exact. When Alan Bowden pulled one back (free) for Duleek-Bellewstown, Rathkenny wasted little time in reasserting themselves and were four ahead again thanks to Jack Gore.
Five points to one ahead after 11 minutes, then things began to unravel for Rathkenny. The concession of a point to John Flood wasn't bad. Seconds later, John McDonnell's goal tied the team, 1-2 to 0-5 with 13 minutes on the clock.
Rathkenny reacted positively with points from Keith Curtis (free) and Brian Meade. By the 23rd minute it was all-square again, 0-7 to 1-4. Rathkenny last score in the frist half was from Keith Curtis' 18th minute free. Joe Sheridan's side closed out the half with 1-4 without reply.
Duleek-Bellewstown's second goal came courtesy of a 26th minute penalty netted by top scorer midfielder Alan Bowden. Sam O'Leary's forward surge led to Tom Bowden's point that left the east county side with a five-point half-time advantage.
Building on a 2-6 to 0-7 interval lead, Duleek-Bellewstown moved two goals clear by the 39th minute. An overcast evening created good conditions for football. However the team in green failed to score again until the 60th minute.
Having posted an unanswered 1-6 in a 17-minute spell, Rathkenny moved three points clear by the 57th minute. Duleek-Bellewstown pulled the game out of the first with two Alan Bowden pointed frees before Jamie McWeeney's stoppage time point left it level, 2-11 to 1-14.
Rathkenny were first to show in ectra time with a Keith Curtis point from play. The third minute of the additional 20 brought a penalty to Duleek-Bellewstown. Rathkenny 'keeper Charlie Cullen was equal to Alan Bowden's effort struck to the goalie's left.
Donal Curtis's charges took advantage from this let off to move 1-17 to 2-11 clear at the break in extra time. Sub Oisin Cummins-Fuller's second point proved to his side's final score, but proved to be enough to secure Mattie McDonnell Cup.
It wasn't over yet. Two Alan Bowden frees trimmed the deficit to the minimum before time ran out on Duleek-Bellewstown.
Scorers: Rathkenny - Keith Curtis 0-11 (7fs, one mark); Eoghan Heavey 1-0; Oisin Cummins-Fuller 0-2; Daniel Gavigan 0-1; Max McKenna 0-1; Brian Meade 0-1; Jack Gore 0-1; Noah Jenkinson 0-1.
Duleek-Bellewstown - Alan Bowden 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-1f); John McDonnell 1-0; John Flood 0-3; Tom Bowden 0-2; Jamie Crosby 0-1; James McWeeney 0-1...
Rathkenny - Charlie Cullen; Sean O'Hare, Adam Byrne, James O'Hare; Cormac Jenkinson, Mark Byrne, Noah Jenkinson; Donal Keogan (c), Christy Meade; Jack Gore, Max McKenna, Daniel Gavigan; Keith Curtis, Brian Meade, Eoghan Heavey. Subs - Ross Gore for C Jenkinson (ht), Padraig McKeever for C Meade (36), Oisin Cummins-Fuller (41), James Macken for N Jenkinson (44), Niall Brannigan for Gavigan (59). Extra time - Shane Crosby for C Byrne (8) Aaron Johnson for S O'Hare (17).
Duleek-Bellewstown - Ryan Lynch; Tom Bowden, Kevin McCann, Sam O'Leary; Brian Fitzpatrick, Robin Clarke (c), Cianan Byrne; Alan Bowden, Shane Crosby; John Flood, Cian Ryan, Oisin Miland; John McDonnell, Jamie Crosby, Eoghan Heeney. Subs - Elliott Lenehan for J Crosby (45), Darren Heeney for S Crosby (56), Colm Regan for Fitzpatrick (56), Ciaran Flynn for Ryan (75). Subs in extra time - Shane Crosby for Byrne (8), Dylan Collins for Miland (12), Joe Hartford for E Heeney (20).
Referee - Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin)
