Meade Farm Group IFC Group D, Rd 1 Bective v St Patricks
Bective went into this first round Intermediate championship opener in Duleek against St Pats as significant underdogs on a fine but windy Friday evening. Recent form in the league was not inspiring and with a few key players missing it looked like it would be a difficult night for the Bective lads. Playing with the strong breeze Bective midfielder Mark O’Brien won the throw-in and surged forward and delivered to Marty Mulhall who won space in front of goal but hastily fired wide from close range. Bective were showing great spirit and were taking the game to St Pats but fired four more wides before a long delivery from Declan McGuinnes, who was having a stormer in defence, was collected by Mulhall and he made no mistake with a fisted point on 13 minutes to open the scoring. The Bective defence was determined and with Jack Grant, Ben Malone and Finn Murray marking tight, they closed down scoring opportunities with further wides for St Pats. St Pats pressed hard and converted a free kick on 14 minutes. St Pats were awarded a further free kick on 16 minutes but the kicker went beyond the free position and the ball was thrown up and the danger cleared. Bective also kicked wides and St Pats converted a free kick on 20 minutes. Mark Dowdall came in to the Bective back line. O’Brien pointed from long range on 24 minutes and Mulhall pointed from a free kick on 26 minutes and again O’Brien fired over on 27 minutes.
Half time score:
Bective 0 –04
St Pats 0- 02
Bective were facing into a very strong wind and the Bective forwards carried at pace and the ball was fisted in to Tristan O’Neill who spun left and fired to the net on 1 minute. St Pats were not phased and fired over 3 points and followed with a goal on 7 minutes to take the lead. Ciaran Reilly and Ciaran Mc Connell came in to mid-field and half backs for Bective on 8 minutes. Mulhall pointed on 9 minutes and St Pats replied with a point on 10 minutes. Bective players were fully focussed with great contributions from all over the field with Neil Dowdall, Mathew Cully and Con Smith working very hard. Mulhall pushed Bective ahead with two pointed frees after Finn Murray and Sean Keating were fouled. St Pats had a player black carded on 20 minutes and Bective piled on the pressure with a fine move from Mc Connell to Mulhall to Murray and on to O’Neill who was hauled down in the box.
Keating dispatched the penalty and Bective went 4 points up on 23 minutes. Bective kept St Pats from penetrating the scoring zone and they fired a number of wides. However they found an opening and goaled on 29 minutes and pointed to draw level on 30 minutes. Simon Finn came into the forward line. Bective worked hard to limit scoring opportunities but St Pats, with the wind on their backs, fired over 2 points from distance to close out the game.
Bective were disappointed that this one got away from them but they will regroup for the next game versus Dunderry in two weeks time.
St Pats 2 –09
Bective 2 –07
Bective team: Scott O’Sullivan, Jack Grant, Ben Malone, Jarlath Brennan, Finn Murray, Neil Dowdall, Declan McGuinness, Mathew Cully, Mark O’Brien, Con Smith, LukeHeneghan, Marty Mulhall, Sean Keating, Tristan O’Neill and Craig Roche.
