McComiskey goal destroys Ardglass

29 June 2016

IT took 80 minutes of football to separate Dundrum and Ardglass in a truly terrific Centenary Cup showdown at Pairc Esler on Sunday night.

There was rarely more than a kick of the ball between the sides for most of the game with Dundrum managing to pull away in the second period of extra-time.

The first half of normal time was extremely closely fought and the sides went in level at 0-9 at half-time.

Neil Teggart was the Ardglass ‘go to man’ in this period as he swooped for 0-4 from full forward, three of which arrived from play.

Dundrum produced some fine passages of play and Cormac Venney was unlucky to slam his rasping effort against the bar midway through.

It was Venney who led Dundrum’s charge in the second half with three well struck efforts from play.

Five set-pieces from Daniel Smyth for Ardglass kept Ryan Kelly’s side in touch, but with only minutes remaining Paul McComiskey’s free had Dundrum 0-15 to 0-13 ahead.

However, Ardglass showed resolute character to draw the game level with a Smyth free and a sublime Neil Teggart strike bringing the tussle to extra-time.

It was Teggart who sparked Ardglass into life at the beginning of extra-time when he breached Paul Burns’ net with a goal.

Dundrum’s reply was immediate and Venney lobbed the ball over Mark Cahir’s head to score an unlikely major.

It was a Venney free that gave Francie Toner’s charges a 1-16 to 1-15 lead with ten minutes remaining. It was in these dying embers that the Duns really came into their own.

Ardglass looked out on their feet as John McKibben put the Reds two up.

Clifford O’Connor replied, but Paul McComiskey’s goal put the icing on the cake when the former county star cut in from the wing to neatly dispatch past Cahir.

Further strikes from Hurley and Venney sent Dundrum well on their way with Stephen Rooney’s late minor putting five in it at full time.

This was a pulsating game of football that neither side deserved to lose. Ardglass were a credit to their club and played some sprightly football throughout.

Caolan O’Shea and Sean Paul Halpin were resolute in defence with the midfield pairing of Stephen Rooney and Chris Armstrong forceful for the 80 minutes.

Neil Teggart was the focal point of an attack that also saw a major contribution from Daniel Smyth. Cormac Venney was Dundrum’s standout player due to his contribution to the scoreboard.

Donal Brennan, Ruairi McGuigan and substitute Stephen McGeown held the defence together while Martin Coughlan, Conor McShane and John McKibben persevered to the death in the attack.

Dundrum: P Burns, D Brennan, R McGuigan, C Rooney, P Curry, J Hurley (0-1), K Glavin, K Walsh (0-04, 4f), A Doyle (0-1), E King (0-1), M Coughlan, P McComiskey (1-3, 1F), C McShane, J McKibben (0-1), C Venney (1-7, 3f). Sub: S.McGeown for C Rooney.

Ardglass: M Cahir, D Kearney, M Crangle, C O’Shea, SP Halpin, E McEvoy, P Curran, S Rooney (0-2), C Armstrong, Christian O’Connor (0-1), D Armstrong, D Smyth (0-7, 1 45’, 4f),

C Dorrian (0-1), N Teggart (1-5, 1F), O Curran. Subs: C Conlan for O Curran, Clifford O’Connor (0-1) for Christian O’Connor, Shane Teggart for D Armstrong, N Cahir for Smyth.

Dundrum 2-19

Ardglass 1-17

DOWN CENTENARY CUP FINAL

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