Dunlavin beaten by narrowest margin
Wednesday March 10 2010
DUNLAVIN made their long awaited return to the top table of football in Wicklow and although it wasn't a winning one I'm sure everyone would agree that they should be able to hold their own in division one.
This game was played at championship pace from the start and it was Blessington who got off to the better start and got the first couple of scores then two great points from Shane Corrigan levelled the match and then a hotly disputed goal gave Blessington a three point lead.
Another point from Blessington put Dunlavin under pressure but scores from Mark Rigley and Thomas Harney kept Dunlavin in touch another score from a free from Blessington put them three points up nearing the end of the first half.
Thomas Harney narrowed the gap with another point and then Dunlavin were awarded a penalty right on the stroke of half time a great save from the Blessington goalkeeper left the half time score line at Blessington 1-4 Dunlavin 0-5
Blessington got the first score of the second half from a free but scores from Mark Rigley and Shane Corrigan had Dunlavin right back in it. A point each from Thomas Harney and Steve Carty left it all to play for with only points up nearing the end of the first half.
Thomas Harney narrowed the gap with another point and then Dunlavin were awarded a penalty right on the stroke of half time a great save from the Blessington goalkeeper left the half time score line at Blessington 1-4 Dunlavin 0-5.
Blessington got the first score of the second half from a free but scores from Mark Rigley and Shane Corrigan had Dunlavin right back in it.
A point each from Thomas Harney and Steve Carty left it all to play for with only minutes to go. Two more points from Blessington left them just in front and another point from Thomas Harney left the minimum in it. Dunlavin lost Seán Metcalf and Alan Bownes through injury which seemed to take their momentum away and Blessington got the last score of the game to finish winners on a score line of 1-9 to 0-11.
Blessington short a lot of players through injury and county. A penalty taken by Thomas Harney was saved by Wesley Callaghan. The winning point came from Eoin Keogh in injury time.
- PETER KEOGH
