Dunnamaggin on top in under-21 Roinn B semi-final with Lisdowney

Dunnamaggin qualified for the Roinn B under-21 county final when they beat Lisdowney in the semi-final in the MW Hire Centre, Dunmore on Saturday.

Tullogher-Rosbercon have already qualified for the final, which will be played in Thomastown on Sunday at 1pm.

Both teams enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening quarter, with the winners showing the sharper eye close to goal.

Points in the fifth (Jim O’Neill), 10th (Tim Doherty) and 12th (Ruaidhri Holden) minutes helped the winners into an early lead.

Despite the overnight storm Darragh impact, the pitch in Dunmore was in good shape, albeit that lifting the sliotar off the wet surface was problematic for both teams.

Lisdowney tended to overplay the ball in that opening quarter and it played into the hands of a superb Dunnamaggin defence, brilliantly anchored by the central axis of Shaun O’Keeffe and Ciaran Hickey.

Lisdowney eventually got on the scoreboard on fifteen minutes when their midfield pairing of Killian Dunne and Brandon Brophy combined to see the latter land a good score from 45 metres.

Five minutes later lively Dunnamaggin corner forward Noah Cahill won possession in front of his marker to score a point to see his side lead by three.

Two minutes later Lisdowney were on level terms when Richard McEvoy brilliantly finished a goal in a move which he started back in the Lisdowney defence.

The centre half-back continued to retain possession and laid the ball off to Andrew McEvoy who immediately dispatched it back to his namesake who finished with aplomb into the back of the Dunnamaggin net.

That score saw Lisdowney deliver a strong closing 10 minutes to the first half.

Tim Doherty edged Dunnamaggin ahead with a point on 23 minutes, but a brace of pointed frees from Charlie Brennan, after he had earlier missed a couple of opportunities from placed balls, saw Lisdowney lead for the first time on 26 minutes.

A Denis Walsh free for Dunnamaggin tied the game once again with the interval in sight, but it fell to Richard McEvoy to point a late free for Lisdowney to see them ahead by the minimum at the break.

The winners dominated the third quarter as Lisdowney struggled to build any momentum.

A few of their players looked tired, very understandable given the recent exploits of the club in the Leinster intermediate club championship.

Dunnamaggin’s move of Ruaidhri Holden’s to full-forward paid rich dividends in the second half with smart play between Holden and Denis Walsh key to the winners getting some important scores.

A brace from play by Holden and Walsh with three pointed frees saw the winners in a strong position at the end of the third quarter when they led by four points.

That margin was pushed out to six when Denis Walsh and Ciaran Hickey landed another brace of points by the 19th minute.

The winners’ defence, which was superb all through the game, came under strong pressure in the closing 10 minutes.

Lisdowney, at last, started to build some momentum and it began with a Brandon Brophy point on 20 minutes.

Charlie Brennan landed two further points from play and by the 25th minute the margin was back to two points.

Lisdowney were now in control and when Brandon Brophy landed another point in the 30th minute, extra-time loomed.

Lisdowney continued to press forward, but outstanding defending from the winners sealed up all avenues to goal for Lisdowney.

One minute into injury a Dunnamaggin goal from wing back Jamie Tallon was the crucial score that turned the game in Dunnamaggin’s favour.

Tallon’s lobbed delivery saw Lisdowney goalie James McEvoy unsighted by the low sunshine as the ball landed into the top right hand corner of the goal.

Dunnamaggin now had new momentum and they finished the game with late points from Denis Walsh (free) and sub Sean Lawton.

Dunnamaggin’s victory was built on an outstanding defence with Shaun O’Keeffe, Ciaran Hickey and Jamie Tallon superb.

Further up the field Colin Fitzpatrick, Denis Walsh, Noah Cahill and especially Ruaidhri Holden all delivered impressive performances.

Lisdowney’s fourth quarter recovery almost brought the game to extra time, but Dunnamaggin had that bit more energy and better team play to secure the county final spot.

Teams and Scorers

Dunnamaggin - Denis Walsh (0-6, 0-5 frees); Ruaidhri Holden (0-3); Jamie Tallon (1-0); Tom Doherty (0-2), Jimmy O’Neill, Noah Cahill, Ciaran Hickey, Sean Lawton (0-1, each).

Lisdowney - Richard McEvoy (1-1, 0-1 free); Charlie Brennan (0-4, 0-2 frees); Brandon Brophy (0-3), Andrew McEvoy (0-1, free).

Dunnamaggin - Killian Tallon; Pierce Costello, Shaun O’Keeffe, Thomas Deegan; Eoin Sheil, Ciaran Hickey, Jamie Tallon; Colin Fitzpatrick, Ross O’Neill; Tim Doherty, Denis Walsh, Ruaidhri Holden; Noah Cahill, Jimmy O’Neill, Aaron Moore.

Subs: Sean Lawton, Ciaran Lawton Conor Aylward.

Lisdowney - James McEvoy; MJ Banville, Alan Dunphy, Evan Perry; Jamie Thornton, Richard McEvoy, Conor O’Gorman; Killian Dunne, Brandon Brophy; Charlie Brennan, Andrew McEvoy, Eibhlin McEvoy; Seamus Murphy, Tadgh Blanchfield, Matthew Grogan.

Sub: Liam O’Gorman.

Referee – Gay Rafter (Threecastles).