Bective went into this second round championship match against Nobber in Castletown on Saturday evening hoping for a win that could place them in a quarter final qualifying position.
A 7.30 throw-in, was to accommodate viewing the All Ireland semi final, and lights could be required. This was the case as a knee injury to a Nobber player took 6 minutes to attend to in the first half and a further 20 minutes in the second half as the ambulance needed access to the dressing room through the playing pitch. Bective started strongly and Marty Mulhall pointed from a free kick on 4 minutes, and again on 8 minutes after midfielder Cathal Mc Connell was pulled down. In the opening 10 minutes Nobber had kicked 3 wides and then lost their full forward to a serious knee injury as he tried to reach a ball towards the stand side side-line on 12 minutes and he was stretchered to the dressing room.
We send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
On the resumption of play Nobber attacked the Bective goals and Dale Larkin pointed from a free kick on 18 minutes and Nobber added a further 2 points before the first water break. Half forwards Con Smith and Mulhall tried hard to break through the Nobber defence but often Bective were forced to try long ball into Sean Keating at full forward who was outnumbered. Nobber pointed again on 26 minutes and Keating pointed for Bective and Nobber replied with a further point on 29 minutes. Bective introduced Ciaran Mc Connell and his high fielding, winning of dirty ball and game reading gave Bective an advantage in the midfield area. Colin O’Rourke came in to half forward and after a penetrating run, brought a fine save from the advancing Nobber keeper on 36 minutes. Nobber were more accomplished at carrying the ball and protecting their front of goal but Cathal Mc Connell broke through to point on 34 minutes. Nobber finished the first half scoring with a point on 38 minutes.
Half time score: Nobber 0 – 6, Bective 0 – 4.
Bective struck first in the second half with a point from Cathal Mc Connell on 1 minute but Nobber added 3 points before Keating got his second point on 10 minutes. The arrival of the ambulance onto the field at 8.35 caused both teams to stand down until play resumed at 8.55. A Mulhall pointed free kick and a Keating point left only a point between the sides. A Bective back was judged to be holding and the ball brought forward 80m for a Nobber tap over free kick. Bective brought in Jarlath Brennan and Mathew Cully. Nobber’s speedy forwards began to find more space up front and Jordan Morris blasted to the Bective net on 20 minutes and Nobber followed up with 2 further points before they bagged their second goal on 30 minutes. There was not enough time for a Bective recovery but a Cathal Mc Connell run delivered to Keating and he blasted to the net after a rebound and the ref blew full time at 9.15.
Final score: Nobber 2 – 12, Bective 1 – 8.
Bective’s final game in the group stage is in two weeks and they will need a win against Blackhall Gael.
Bective team: Dylan Kenny, Donagh Garvey, Paul Lyness, Jack Grant, Jack Clarke, Kevin Brennan, David Keating, Ciaran Reilly, Cathal Mc Connell, Scott O’Sullivan, Marty Mulhall, Con Smith, Brian Cantwell, Sean Keating, Paul McCabe.
