Wolfe Tones 0-11
Dunshaughlin 0-6
Kilberry was the venue on this wet, dull, dreary, damp, overcast, and generally nasty April morning. Referee Padraig Coyle deemed the pitch playable after an inspection. Coyle actually refereed the match in a pair of Wolfe Tones after a bizarre mix up with his washing.
Dunshaughlin lined out without inspirational leader Parrick McHale who is currently sunning himself in the Choa Chu Kang district of Singapore. Father of two Martin Reilly returned to the Dunshaughlin fold after a 6 week sabbatical. Reilly looked refreshed, but must have spent some of his 6 week holiday watching Conor Murray’s box kicks judging by a few of his passes in the first half. Wolfe Tones started the brighter with former star Alan Fox kicking 3 points from play. His direct opponent Kenny McTigue (combined age of the two men is in its 80’s apparently) eventually got to grips with Fox and kept him quiet for the remainder of the match.
Dunshaughlin got on the scoreboard through Niall Byrne and Tommy Kinsella. Byrne, was another player to return to the Dunshaughlin team after a spell in Liverpool with his new girlfriend. It was a day for defenders and Dunshaughlin’s two corner backs stood out in particular. Adam Kealy had a very impressive outing. His size, power and strength marks him out as a future star of the club and perhaps county. Shay Doyle proved equally effective and reliable in the other corner.
Andy ‘The Godfather’ Smith made his competitive debut in goals and he was reliable throughout. He, like his role model Cake Curran, made some great runs forward in the first half. Smith did make some good saves and was also involved in a goal saving collision in the first half. Team manager Ronan Gogan was calling for a stretcher at one stage after the collision, but Smith refused to go off. Tones led at the break 4 points to 3.
Wolfe Tones were the more economical team in the second half and made the most of their chances. They kicked 6 points in a row to kill off the Dunshaughlin challenge. Dunshaughlin never gave up and with great play from Tommy Kinsella and Cian Gallogly, younger brother of bookie and senior star Shane, they remained in the game. Brendan Duggan, a loyal Meath supporter, came off the bench to spring life into the Dunshaughlin team and he did just that with an outrageous flick which Lionel Messi would have been proud of. Duggan also popped up with a great point, further staking his claim to Mick O’Dowd and the Meath Senior management.
Although losing the match, Dunshaughlin fought well to the end and can be proud of their effort. With a bit more luck and a dryer pitch they could have had a couple of goals. Wolfe Tones had a strong team out with senior stars Eoin Harrington and Stephen Corrigan lining out as they picked up their first points of the year.
Andy Smith, Adam Kealy, Ronan Geraghty, Shay Doyle, Oisin Foley, Ken McTigue, David Dunne, Garfield Ward, Conor Mooney, Mark Galvin, Martin Reilly, Niall Byrne, Liam Carey, Cian Gallogly, Tommy Kinsella. SUBS: Liam Ormsby for Oisin Foley, Paul Walsh for Martin Reilly, Bren Duggan for Mark Galvin