Bective qualified for the semi final of Premiership Div 6 by beating Meath Hill in this round 5 clash in ideal conditions in Bective on Sunday morning. With a few regulars missing due to other commitments the game was played at 13 a side. Bective took the game to Meath Hill from the throw in but did not get their opening score until 9 minutes in after a fine run and point from midfielder Craig Roche. This was followed by points from Ben Clarke and veteran Shane Breslin of the 1998 Intermediate team. Dylan Cassidy pointed on 18 minutes before Meath Hill got their scoring underway with a point on 20 minutes. Bective’s defence were tight marking and tenacious in the tackle and held Meath Hill to 2 more points whilst Roche and Breslin scored 2 for Bective. Half Time score: Bective 0 – 6, Meath Hill 0 – 3.
On the resumption Bective kept up the hard running attacking movements and man of the match Roche pointed on 4 minutes. Meath Hill replied with a point before Cassidy converted a free kick for Bective on 10 minutes, followed by a fine point from midfielder Tristan O’Neill. Meath Hill, noted for their fighting spirit, blasted to the back of the net on 12 minutes and game on. Cassidy pointed on 15 minutes and put 4 between the sides again. Bective ball management needed to be at its best and foremost was Neil Dowdall, who covered every blade of grass from half forward. Eanna Reilly at centre back with wing backs Dylan Mulvey and Chris McGurn kept the Meath Hill threat outside the scoring zone until after the second water break. Meath Hill plied on the pressure and fired points on 21 and 28 minutes to leave just 1 point between these two evenly matched sides. Bective brought on Tomas “Mossie” Tiernan to corner forward and he was on the end of a good move and received the ball on the edge of the square. Over robust tackling gave Tiernan no chance to play the ball and resulted in an easy tap over free for Dylan Cassidy. Bective had to hold out for a further 7 minutes with Cian Deens Crooke and Gary Brennan holding firm in the fullback line before Meath Hill completed the scoring with a well taken point on 35 minutes.
Final score: Bective 0 – 11, Meath Hill 1 – 7.
Bective team: Robbie Coogan, Gary Brennan, Cian Deens Crooke, Chris McGurn, Eanna Reilly, Dylan Mulvey, Craig Roche, Tristan O’Neill, Neil Dowdall, Ben Clarke, Brian Hogge, Dylan Cassidy and Shane Breslin.
