Seniors remain unbeaten
Oldcastle 2-13 Bective 1-16
Oldcastle remain unbeaten after round 5 of the league with a thrilling contest against Bective played on Sunday afternoon.
Bective got off to a flyer and hit 3 unanswered points until Oldcastle found their gears and stunned Bective by hitting 1-5 to lead by by points after 15 minutes. Impressive opening scores from Lee Healy, Paddy Gilsensan and Eoin Gilsenan helped Oldcastle grab a foot hold of the game and their pressure continued when Conor Delaney was fouled in the penalty area in which their spot kick was calmly slotted home by full forward Stephen Tierney.
After 24 minutes on the clock, the game took a turning point when Oldcastle were reduced to 14 men following a second yellow card for full back Robert Packenham. The vistiors held firm and withstood the Bective attack until the break to go in with a half time lead of 1-7 to 0-6 in favour of Oldcastle.
Bective started the second half as they started the first by hitting three unanswered points to come back within a point of Oldcastle. However it was Oldcastle’s place kicking that kept them in the lead kicking 4 frees in a row through Conor McHugh (2) Tierney and Paddy Gilsenan. Oldcastle were pegged back to lead the game by just 2 points when Bective’s numerical advantage really began to show and test Oldcastle’s strong resilience.
With 5 minutes to go Bective’s push paid off when they finally got the ball in the back of the Oldcastle net and hit a further two points to lead by 3 points. Oldcastle looked rattled and out on their feet in the dying stages but with one of their final attacks of the day they pushed on and made sure they were not leaving Bective empty handed.
Oldcastle’s persistence and swift attack split the Bective defence through great work from Jason Scully and Paddy Gilsenan, the ball fell to Tierney’s path who smashed home his second of the day and the equalizer to stun the home side.
Oldcastle probably may have felt they could have came away with the win after an impressive display with a man down for the majority of the match. Nonetheless, a fantastic effort of heart and determination by the north Meath men and an epic encounter for the neutral.
Next up for Oldcastle is a home game v Caranross in Millbrook on 22nd April.
Oldcastle: Packie Kevin, Darren Hawdon, Rupert Packenham, Colm Caffrey, Iggy Ramones, Peter Monaghan, Ronan Taggart, Conor McHugh (0-2, 2f), Ross Cadden, Eoin Gilsenan (0-1), Conor Delaney (0-1), Gerard Reidy, Paddy Gilsenan (0-5, 2f), Lee Healy (0-1), Stephen Tierney (2-2, 1 pen, 1f). Subs used: CJ Healy for C. Caffrey, Jason Scully (0-1) for I. Ramones 36, Barry Curran for L. Healy 50, Oran O’ Reilly for G. Reidy 55′
———————————–
Bective Report (Report in the hoganstand.com/meath website )
Bective 1-16, Oldcastle 2-13
This game was played at a fast pace through-out in Bective. Both teams were missing a few players but contributed to a very good and competitive game of football.
Bective started well against the wind and led by 3 points to one after 10 minutes. Oldcastle began to get into their stride and carried the ball forward very well with strong runs into the Bective half. This play frequently found Paddy Gilsenan and they added three points to their score. Oldcastle also converted a penalty during this dominance. However they were down to fourteen men when they lost their fullback to two yellow cards. The first card following a high tackle on Bective’s Mark O’Brien who was replaced by Michael Lyness. Bective continued to add on points from Marty Mulhall, Brian Cantwell and Paul McCabe but went in at half time behind at 1-7 to 0-6.
The tempo increased again in the second half and Bective took their turn to dominate exchanges and added points from Cathal Mc Connell, Jarlath Brennan, Marty Mulhall, Michael Lyness and Paul Lyness. Oldcastle also kept their scoreboard ticking over with a number of points. Bective also added a goal with a great passing movement through the middle and neatly put away by Paul McCabe and now went three points up. However Oldcastle continued to raid up field at pace and got their reward with a goal with minutes left after some heroic blocks by the Bective defence.
The game finished all square and was enjoyed by all present.
Bective: Ronan Murtagh, Ben Malone, Jack Grant, Cillian Reilly, Conall Shaw, Jarlath Brennan, Colin O’Rourke, Ciaran Reilly, Paul Lyness, Paul McCabe, Mark O’Brien, Cathal Mc Connell, Brian Cantwell, Marty Mulhall, and Kevin Brennan. Subs – Michael Lyness.