Domhnach Seachnaill 0-15 Bhulf Tón 0-11

On Saturday, we welcomed Bhulf Tón (Wolfe Tones), a proud Gaeltacht club where the Irish language is deeply rooted in their identity and traditions. With memories still fresh from last year’s thrilling senior championship final, many wondered if we were in for another nail-biter. In the end, the only similarity was the weather but it was, nonetheless, a memorable day for our club.

Ben Duggan opened the scoring for the Gourmet Food Parlour sponsored Dunshaughlin with a stylish scór dhá phointe" (2 pointer ), marking his first score in this year’s Division 1 League. Wolfe Tones responded through their No.13, the ever-lively TikTok star Caolan Ward, who slotted over their first point.

Tadhg Ó Dushlaine added his first scór dhá phointe ( 2 pointer) of the division 1 league to push Dunshaughlin three clear in the opening stages. A couple of wides followed from the home side before Caolan Ward fired back with a sharp 2-pointer into the College End to reduce the gap to just one.

A powerful run from Fursey Blake set up Aaron Murphy nicely to find the black spot, restoring a two-point cushion, though Wolfe Tones quickly responded with a score of their own.

Danny Quinn was introduced, possibly due to an injury to Darryl McKenna.

A moment of real quality followed , David Fildes linked with Adam Hanley, who found Seán O’Neill in space for his first point of the evening, putting Dunshaughlin two ahead once more.

Tadhg Ó Dushlaine turned provider moments later, dispossessing his man brilliantly and launching a cross-field ball to Fursey Blake, who picked out O’Neill again on the wing. O’Neill made no mistake, slotting over a fantastic scór dhá phointe" (2-pointer) to extend Dunshaughlin’s lead to four.

But Wolfe Tones, as ever, weren’t going away quietly. Caolan Ward responded with another classy 2-pointer.

Adam McDermott was called into action soon after, making a superb save when Ward threatened a goal following a scramble in front of the Dunshaughlin posts. Referee Patrick Coyle awarded Wolfe Tones a 45, which Ward duly converted.

Dunshaughlin worked the ball upfield but gave away a soft foul. A quick tap-and-go followed, and dissent led to a 50m advancement setting up another opportunity for Ward. However, his shot fell kindly into the hands of McDermott.

The halftime whistle sounded shortly after, with the scoreboard reading Bhulf Tón 0-7 Domhnach seachnaill 0-8

Dunshaughlin emerged from the dressing room with intent, eager to remind everyone why they’re the reigning Senior Champions.

Aaron Murphy opened the second-half scoring, but Wolfe Tones hit back quickly with two points of their own, bringing the game level at 0-9 apiece just three minutes in.

Then came a passage of play that showcased everything this 1886 spirited Dunshaughlin team is about.....grit in defence and ruthless in attack.

Niall Byrne kicked off a dominant spell with a signature score, followed by a classic John McDonagh point from the corner. Adam Hanley fisted over another before Jared Rushe struck the crossbar only for ball to find it way back to him in the rebound, an from a fair distance slotted one home, continuing his consistent “one-score-a-game” streak.

With 10 minutes to play, Adam McDermott stepped up again, this time at the other end coolly converting a 2-pointer (scór dhá phointe") with a touch of class to put Dunshaughlin six points clear.

For nearly 25 minutes, Wolfe Tones were kept scoreless as Dunshaughlin’s defence held firm, refusing to let the visitors penetrate beyond the 45. When a Wolfe Tones forward finally broke through, it looked like a certain goal only for McDermott to deny him with a sensational save.

As the game ticked into the final moments supporters could be heard praising the team’s “savage work rate.” Caolan Ward had the final say with a 2-pointer from a late free, it was too little, too late.

Dunshaughlin scorers: Sean O’Neill 0-3 (1x2pt), Ben Duggan 0-2 (1x2pt), Tadhg O'Dushlaine 0-2 (1x2pt), Aaron Murphy 0-2 (1f), Adam McDermott 0-2 (1x2pt), Jared Rushe 0-1, Niall Byrne 0-1, John McDonagh 0-1, Adam Hanley 0-1

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