Delvin advance after disappointing encounter

Gerry Buckley reportsFor the second game in succession, Delvin failed to set the world alight but still managed to qualify for the semi-final of the Leinster club junior hurling championship with a four-point win over a disappointing Drumree side at Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon.The ‘Valley men always looked the better side, but they will need to improve if they are to overcome Adamstown from Wexford in the provincial semi-final on Sunday week. Last Sunday’s game was a low-key affair and it took a third goal of the campaign from full forward Niall Williams to effectively seal victory for Jimmy O’Grady’s charges. Ironically, this was to prove to be the winners’ only score in a lacklustre second half performance.Delvin had wind advantage in the first half and they raced into a six-point lead by the end of the first quarter, despite shooting some poor wides in a period of almost total territorial dominance. As was the case in the first round in Arklow, Delvin had trouble in establishing a reliable freetaker but Niall Williams managed two successful frees in the second and sixth minutes, sandwiched between which the winners shot no less than four wides.Two fine points from play ensued from the sticks of Killian Murphy and Anthony Clune, but more wastefulness followed from the maroon and whites before Drumree’s first real attack of any note almost resulted in a goal, Thomas Clune doing well to scoop David Crimmins’ effort off the goal line. Ger Clune pointed neatly to put Delvin five points to the good and Anthony Clune followed up with a classy score, with 15 minutes on the clock.Christopher Doyle’s instinctive strike for a goal shaved the Delvin upright as Mickey Cole’s troops came more into the contest and, after a fine point from 55 metres by Pat Farrington, the Meath men eventually opened their account in the 23rd minute, centre half back Brian Coughlan showing the way with a terrific individual point.Killian Murphy and Niall Williams both came close to raising a green flag for the home team and, in the next passage of play, Kevin Williams pointed in style. Two terrific points from Barry Williams and Killian Murphy ensued, but the visitors finished the half well with a point apiece from David Wallace and Brendan Walsh, the latter scoring with the last puck of the half in added-time. At the break, the scoreboard read: Delvin 0-10 Drumree 0-3.The men in the red and white hoops almost got right back into the game within 25 seconds of the resumption, but a timely hook from full back Francis McGrath prevented a likely goal by Christopher Doyle. The gap was down to two goals when Stephen Doyle pointed a 30-metre free, but the general mediocrity of the exchanges was well summed up in the next passage of play when Brian Coughlan struck a very poor lineball directly out of play just a few metres from where he struck it.Ace goalpoacher Niall Williams then pounced for the game’s only three-pointer, availing of slackness in the losers’ defence. At the other end, Shane Troy came forward to try and blast a goal for Drumree from a close-range free, but the full back’s weak shot was easily saved at the expense of a ‘65’ which Stephen Doyle converted. The same player tapped over a routine free just past the midpoint of the second moiety.Delvin then appeared to be denied a free when substitute Garreth Halpin was impeded close to the losers’ goal. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Drumree spurned the chance to set up as grandstand finish when Fergal Delaney hesitated when a goal seemed certain and allowed John O’Shaughnessy to produce a great save, with Brendan Walsh pointing from the rebound.An attempt at a deft flick by Killian Murphy failed as Delvin went in search of a score and an immediate counterattack yielded a neat point from a man better known for his football skills, Caoimhin King. With two minutes of normal time remaining, Stephen Doyle rounded off match scoring from a 30-metre free and a poor quality game petered out to a lame conclusion, with both sides missing chances.Delvin: John O’Shaughnessy; Thomas Clune, Francis McGrath, John Cogan; Patrick Farrelly, Patrick Clune, Kevin Williams (0-1); Pat Farrington (0-1), J.P. Farrelly; Anthony Clune (0-2), Ger Clune (0-1), Padraic O’Shaughnessy; Killian Murphy (0-2), Niall Williams (1-2, 0-2 from frees), Barry Williams (0-1). Subs: Garreth Halpin (for P. O’Shaughnessy, half-time), Ross Fay (for A. Clune, 60 + 1 mins).Drumree: Ronan Curley; Ciarán Kenny, Shane Troy, Stephen McGroder; Paul Walsh, Brian Coughlan (0-1), Johnny Gilsenan; Brendan Walsh (0-2), Fergal Delaney; Stephen Doyle (0-4, 0-3 from frees, 0-1 from a ‘65’), Caoimhin King (0-1), David Wallace (0-1); Keith Rooney, David Crimmins, Christopher Doyle. Subs: Mark Devaney (for Gilsenan, 19 mins), James Reilly (for Doyle, 47 mins), Pete Rattigan (for Rooney, 47 mins), James Gaughan (for Crimmins, 53 mins).Referee: Alan Lagrue (Kildare).