BRU NA BOINNE…1-11
BOYNE VALLEY…0-14
If one was to go by team names alone, this second round Regional Football Championship encounter had all the makings of a local derby. That is to say, not much between the sides and a little bit of needle thrown in. However, geographically speaking they’re not actually that close to one another but that didn’t stop it being a feisty affair.
Niall Ronan’s side opened the brighter with the promising Sam Victory of St Mary’s among their early scorers. An efficient looking attacking unit appeared to have given those representing St Mary’s, St Patrick’s, St Vincent’s and Duleek/Bellewstown the upper hand on the run in to half time but it was the Richie Barry Cup holders who had the final say in the opening stanza with a triumvirate of points courtesy of the Syddan duo of Daire Rowe and Mark Fedigan and another from Matt Tully of Slane. All of which left the men from the Valley ahead by 0-07 to 0-06 at half time.
After registering the last three scores of the first half, the holders repeated the trick on the resumption to push four clear. Add to that Bru Na Boinne being reduced to 14 after Ryan Hand was red carded for two yellows and you’d think that would be game over.
But no, substitute Sean Nulty was then black carded from the side managed by the former rugby international before his fellow replacement Alan Wall and Rowe pointed to leave the defending champions three up in the 62nd minute.
Undeterred, as long as referee Kieran Olwell kept playing, those trailing kept going. And you couldn’t see they didn’t deserve it when full forward Alan Bowden netted right at the end to ensure a divide of the spoils.