The Brian Dillons third choice Junior Footballers were in sparkling form in the opening round of the City Division Junior (C) Football Championship when they recorded a resounding, 3-14 to 1-6, victory over Bishopstown, at Ballinlough on Monday evening, 17th June,2013. They now have qualified for a quarter-final clash with Nemo Rangers, which will be a repeat of last years tussle between the sides at the same stage of the Championship. After the disappoinment of the Brian Dillons second string bowing out of the City Division Junior (B) Football Championship to Lough Rovers on the previous Saturday evening, this victory by the (C) team was like a breath of fresh air. Firing on all cylinders from the throw-in, Brian Dillons raced into a three point lead in as many minutes. The bigger Bishopstown side settled and scored the next two points to leave Brian Dillons leading,0-3 to 0-2, after seven minutes play.However, for the remainder of the first half, the Brian Dillons side completely dominated the proceedings. With midfielders, Mark Kelly and Mark Walsh, winning plenty of possession, the Brian Dillons forwards saw loads of the ball and with Michael Peters, Kevin Varian, Kevin Allen and Tossy Kelleher tormenting the Bishopstown defence, the scores came fast and furious and by half-time they had built up a 2-7 to 0-3 lead. The two first half goals came from full-forward, Andrew Daly and centre-half-forward, Michael Peters. Brian Dillons could have been further ahead at this stage but for the brilliance of the Bishopstown "keeper who denied certain Brian Dillons goals with some heroic saves. Tossy Kelleher, who was on fire at left corner forward pushed Brian Dillons further ahead with a point in the first minute of the second half and after Bishopstown replied with a similar score ,three minutes later, Tossy again pointed to push his side ahead, 2-9 to 0-5, with five minutes of the second half gone. The scoring dried up for a while for Brian Dillons as they persisted in trying for goals ,which were prevented by the brilliant Bishopstown goalkeeper. Taking encouragement from the heroics of their goalkeeper, Bishopstown came more into the game and applied plenty of pressure on the Brian Dillons defence, which yielded a goal and a point to leave them trailing, 2-9 to 1-5, after ten minutes of the second half. However, Bishopstown found the Brian Dillons defence in defiant mood for the remainder of the game,particularly Derek McDonnell, Ciarain Kelleher, Eoin Hennessy and Ken McCarthy. When Tossy Kelleher had his third consecutive point midway through the second period , the game was done and dusted and Brian Dillons added another 1-4, with the goal coming from an excellent Mark Kelly piledriver. A most satisfying performance by the Brian Dillons team who now are through to the quarter final of this Championship in which they will meet Nemo Rangers, a team which they beat , at the same stage, in 2012. Scorers for Brian Dillons against Bishopstown were; Tossy Kelleher,0-6; Michael Peters, 1-2; Andrew Daly,1-0; Mark Kelly, 1-0; Kevin Varian, 0-2; Kevin Allen,0-2; and Seanie O"Dwyer, 0-2 (0-1 free); The Brian Dillons team lined out as follows; (1); John Shek; (2), Eoin Hennessy; (3), Derek McDonnell; (4), Ciarain Kelleher; (5), Stephen Kearney; (6), Ken McCarthy; (7) Stephen Walsh;(8) Mark Kelly;(9) Mark Walsh;(10), Kevin Varian; (11), Michael Peters; (12), Kevin Allen; (13) Seanie O"Dwyer; (14), Andrew Daly; (15), Tossy Kelleher; Subs; Kieran Delaney for Andrew Daly, 52 mins; Jamie O"Connor for Derek McDonnell, 52 mins; Eric O"Donoghue, Sean Kelly and Jason Heffernan for Tossy Kelleher, Seanie O"Dwyer and Kevin Allen, all after 55mins; |
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