Longwood and Duleek Bellewstown kicked off championship proceedings in Group B of the Intermediate Championship in a sun-drenched Dunsany on Saturday afternoon.

The glorious sunshine made things very pleasant for the spectators but there is no doubt it sapped the energy of both sets of players.

The contest was tight throughout with never more than a kick of the ball between the teams.  Indeed it could be argued that the final two-point margin was harsh on Longwood, as they pushed for an equalising point deep into injury time, a late turnover afforded the men in green an opportunity to kick a late, late insurance point.

Missing a number of regular starters, Longwood’s mantra was to keep things tight, work like dogs and make it hard for their opponent to work a score.  And to be fair to the boys, they performed their duties to the letter.   The energy displayed by all the players, particularly the two Adam’s, O’Brien and Leacy, was relentless and they caused all sorts of problems for their opponents.

The opening half was very cagey; it mirrored an Olympic fight with both teams using their jab to great effect but unable to land a clean, game-changing blow.

Scores were very much at a premium.  Billy Hogan kicked points from a 45 and a long distance free and this was embellished by a Sean Coloe point from play.  Even so, Duleek Bellewstown seemed to have taken a measure of control as the game edged towards the half-time break.

Enter Conor Dixon, the young dual star using his searing pace to charge forward before kicking a prodigious point off his right foot.  Within sixty seconds the game was completely turned on it’s head when Sean Coloe took a handpass from Ciaran Sheridan before bulldozing his way along the endline and finishing to the net after the keeper had parried his initial shot.

Referee Martin Dawson’s whistle soon followed and the men from Longwood took a lead to the dressing room.

Half-time:  Longwood 1-4  Duleek Bellewstown 0-11

The men from east Meath stormed out of the blocks in the second half, kicking two excellent points in the opening ninety seconds.

If Longwood were tempted to press the panic button, it didn’t show.  They stuck to their game plan and began to shut down their opponent’s scoring opportunities.  In fact, they would keep them scoreless for the following eighteen minutes.  In that same period, another Sean Coloe point and the point of the game from Niall Mulvey put them back on top on the scoreboard.

The work rate of the players from 1 to 15 was incredible and Duleek Bellewstown’s frustration was palpable as they kicked a number of wides, all under severe pressure from Longwood tacklers.  

Sadly, the effort expended seemed to catch up with Longwood in the closing stages and points from the Bowden brothers saw Duleek Bellewstown take a crucial lead with seven minutes on the clock.  

The final minutes were unbelievably tense as both teams tried to engineer a score.  Longwood pushed with all their might, but the equaliser proved elusive.

A late point from substitute Eamonn Armstrong provided the cushion that Duleek Bellewstown sought, and the final whistle followed soon after.

Full-time:  Longwood 1-6  Duleek Bellewstown 0-11

 

So a cruel defeat for Longwood.  While their collective efforts deserved more, such is the nature of sport.  The boys will lick their wounds and go again.

A special mention for Tomás O’Brien, Conor Dixon. Brian Stagg and Ben McLoughlin who all made their football championship debuts for Longwood.  Each and every one of these boys performed with great credit and looked very much at home at this level.

 

Longwood: Billy Hogan (0-2), Adam Leacy, Tomás O’Brien, Conor Dixon (0-1), Adam O’Brien, Joey Stenson, Ross Kerrigan, Sean Coloe (1-2), Mickey Burke, Anthony Healy, Damien Healy, Brian Stagg, Bob Maguire, Ciaran Sheridan, Niall Mulvey (0-1).  Subs: Ben McLoughlin for Anthony Healy, David Coloe, Coyle O’Brien, Lorcan Hannon, Kevin Maguire, Aaron Murray, Jason Kerrigan, Adam Peacock. 

No rest for our boys as they face up to Ratoath in the senior hurling championship next Saturday afternoon in Páirc Tailteann.

Maigh Dearmhaí abú!  🏁🏁🤍🖤