Final Score

Bective 2-04

Drumbaragh 1-08

Bective, under new manager David Nolan, travelled to a new venue of Deerpark in Carlanstown for their first round 2023 Corn na Boinne cup match versus Drumbaragh Emmets. It was a home match for Drumbaragh, who have temporary use of Deerpark whilst their own grounds are been worked on. The Bective team also had a new look with 4 debutants as some of the older brigade were unavailable. A strong wind across the field meant passing was kept short as both teams worked the ball into scoring positions. Drumbaragh struck first when they attacked through the middle and put their centre forward through to belt to the back of the Bective net on 5 minutes. Drumbaragh followed up with points on the 7^th and 10^th minutes. Both sets of backs worked hard with the youthful Luke Heneghan and Finn Murray showing that they are well able for this grade and Pat O’Sullivan, Jarlath Brennan and Paul McCabe showed their experience in managing the centre territory in front of goal, and gave away few scoring chances. Mark O’Brien converted his own free kick on 17 minutes to open the scoring for Bective. O’Brien pointed from a mark on 22 minutes and from a free kick after Mark Dowdall was hauled down on 24 minutes. Drumbaragh pointed a further free kick on 29 minutes and Paul McCabe pointed a free kick on 33 minutes to bring the half time score Drumbaragh 1 – 3, Bective 0 – 4.

Drumbaragh were first out of the blocks again with a point from a mark in 1 minute. Tristan O’Neill drifted into a good position and Bective midfielders Mathew Cully and Declan McGuinness combined to release to Tristan, who booted to the net on 4 minutes and levelled the match. Gary Brennan took over the goal keeping duties as Scott O’Sullivan came out into the forward line and was much involved in the play in the middle third. The next twenty minutes saw a number of missed point opportunities on both sides with Mark Dowdall, Neil Dowdall, Chris McGurn, Cully, Murray and McCabe working hard to carry the ball forward. Colm Barry came into the back line. Drumbaragh gained the initiative with a pointed free kick on 25 minutes. They followed up with long range points in the 28^th and 29^th minutes and looked like they could not be caught. But Tristan O’Neill thought differently and used his pace to create enough space for him to deliver a beautiful low shot inside the right post and level the game on 29 minutes. Bective, seeking the winner, overplayed the ball in front of the Drumbaragh goal and the overturn released Drumbaragh down the field and they pointed on 32 minutes to win the match. Drumbaragh 1 – 8, Bective 2 – 4.

Bective Team:

Scott O’Sullivan, Neil Dowdall, Jarlath Brennan, Luke Heneghan, Paul McCabe, Pat O’Sullivan, Finn Murray, Mathew Cully, Declan McGuinness, Chris McGurn, Tristan O’Neill, Mark Dowdall, Ben Sherlock, Mark O’Brien and Ciaran Casey. Subs also Marc Walshe, Simon Heneghan, Mickey Lyness and Simon Finn.