Milltown march on after Royal rumble
Job done for Milltown as Colin O'Shea and Kevin Byrne congratulate each other at full time. Photo: Sean Brilly.
Kildare Intermediate champions, Milltown, marched on to an AIB Leinster Intermediate Football Championship semi–final after a right royal scrap with Meath champions, Duleek Bellewstown in the quarter final at a cold, breezy but dry Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Saturday afternoon. Milltown had three points to spare in the end and will now host Wicklow champions, Dunlavin in the semi-final at the Kildare venue in two weeks.
In a tension filled, nervy encounter where both teams found difficulty in maintaining their footing at times after early morning rain, Milltown looked to be in control coming up to half time when they were leading by six points but they conceded a fortuitous goal on the stroke of half time to bring their lead back to three at 0-9 to 1-3 at the break.
Midway through the second half, after a goal by Conor Sheerin and a point by Alan Dignam, Milltown led by five but were pulled back to two in injury time following a Shane Crosby two pointer for Duleek Bellewstown. A fisted Ben Curran point, however, ensured that a leveller wasn’t on the cards.
Milltown were solid in defence throughout, as you might expect, while Joe Dunne and Conor Sheerin had some good moments at midfield but probably lost possession in contact more often that they would have liked. Up front, apart from Alan Dignam, the Kildare champions were less fluid that usual and made life a bit more difficult for themselves that it probably should have been.
Playing with the breeze from the Kilcullen end in the first half, Milltown were 0-3 to 0-1 up after ten minutes with an opening point from Sheerin and a two pointer from Joe Dunne. Sheerin received plenty of attention from the off and eventually had to leave the field with what is hoped will not be a serious shoulder injury in the 48th minute.
John Flood kept the Duleek Bellewstown scoreboard ticking over with two frees into the breeze and Kyle Doherty added another from play. Still Milltown looked comfortable at six up coming up to half time thanks to two great two pointers from Alan Dignam, one from play and one from a free, and a usual effort from Liam Kelly. The Kildare champions were then punished on the stroke of half time. Joe Dunne was penalised for overcarrying in a good attacking position and when Duleek Bellewstown quickly swept the ball up the field, wing back, Cianan Byrne fed corner back, Cillian Kirwan who’s looping shot dipped under Omar Dunne’s cross bar and into the net and the lead was cut to three points.
Now playing with the wind the Meath champions cut the deficit to a point within ten minutes of a tension filled restart with another Flood free and one from play from James McWeeney. As we approached the end of the third quarter two pieces of magic turned the game in Milltown’s favour again. Joe Dunne won a great kick out from cousin, Omar and the ball was quickly transferred to Sheerin who flashed the ball to the net. Almost immediately Colin O’Shea won another Milltown kick out and this time it was Dignam who split the posts with another fine shot and the lead was out to five.
Three in a row from Duleek Bellewstown through Flood, Johnny McDonnell and substitute, Alan Bowden put pressure on Milltown again, but two Paddy Donoghue frees eased that pressure. Still, it took two brilliant blocks by Cian Buckley and Kevin Byrne to keep the Meath men at bay and although an injury time two pointer from midfielder Crosby left just two between them, Ben Curran lifted the siege by racing forward to fist over an insurance point. Game won!
Omar Dunne; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Sean Murphy; Kevin Byrne, Colin O’Shea, Liam Kelly 0-1; Joe Dunne 0-2 (tp), Conor Sheerin 1-1; Ben Curran 0-2, Alan Dignam 0-5 (1tp, 1tpf), Niall Finnegan; Paddy Donoghue 0-2 (2f), Ronan O’Shea, Ben Heuston.
Shane Daly for C Sheerin 48, Sam O’Hara for B Heuston 58.
Ryan Lynch; Cillian Kirwan 1-0, Colm Regan, Glen Callaghan; Cianan Byrne, Tom Bowden, Oisin Miland; Shane Crosby 0-2 (tp), Robin Clarke; Kyle Doherty 0-1, Eoghan Heeney, Sam O’Leary; Johnny McDonnell 0-1, John Flood 0-4 (3f), James McWeeney 0-1.
Alan Bowden 0-1 for J McWeeney 41, Kyle Callaghan for E Heeney 44, Tiarnan McKeon for O Miland 53, Joe Hartford for J McDonnell 56, R Caffrey for C Byrne 60.
Eamon O’Connor (Offaly).
