I doubt very much that Keepak Park has had a more exciting game yet in its very short history than what was served up by two cracking minor hurling teams tonight. The game had everything – impressively talented players, long range points, net bursting goals, point blank saves and some wides, but credit must go to both sets of players and management teams for the spirit it was played in from first to last whistle.

The visitors were first off-the-mark with a pointed ’65 before Evan Murphy levelled matters in the 7th minute after beating his marker and splitting the posts. Rathmolyon/Bordsmill (Rn/Bm) had the better of the early exchanges and got the next 4 points leading up to the 15-minute mark. In the middle of that scoring spree Daniel Slevin in the Dunboyne goal pulled off a wonder save to deny the team in green an almost certain goal. This was a crucial moment in the first half.

Dunboyne began to settle into their task now and went on a mini spree of their own with the next 5 scores all helping to put them ahead by one at the 23rd minute. Rory Callanan and Joel Managan notched the first 2 from placed balls, while Shea Mooney, Sean Delaney and Harry Clarke-Murphy grabbed one each from play. Score on 23 minutes: 0:06(1f, 1’65) to 0:05 (1f, 1’65).

Momentum then swung back to the visitors and following a well taken goal by their corner forward in the 26th minute, they were to close out the half with a further 4 points on the bounce and looked in total command heading into the break. Half Time: Dunboyne 0:06 (1f, 1’65) Boardsmill 1:09 (1f, 1’65).

The second half roared into action, and both had 2 points on the board within the first 4 minutes, with Dunboyne’s scores coming from Sean Delaney. By this stage the backs were getting to grips with all the dangermen in green shirts. Eoghan McDonald was immense again at 6, Pierce Hayes won and charged out with ball after ball and set up many attacks while this scribes Man-of-the match, Shay Coone, delivered his best performance ever in a black and amber shirt (Of course im open to correction on this – please root all objections though my solicitor).

Mangan hit another free in the 7th minute and Delaney added another, two minutes later. Shortly after the former landed a monster point from play way out on the right wing to a thunderous roar from the sizeable home support and followed this up with another free 4 minutes later. Score at the halfway point in the send half: Dunboyne 0:12 Rn/Bm 1:12.

Evan Murphy won a great ball on the right wing as the final quarter kicked in, took on his man and sent a neat pass into Shea Mooney who was now operating on the edge of the square. Mooney offloaded to Delaney who cut in and buried the ball to the back of the net. Poetry in motion! What a goal to level up the match. Delaney and Mangan (f) pushed the home team two ahead but the visitors pulled it back level again by the 23rd minute with two placed balls, score on 23 minutes: Dunboyne1:14 Rn/Bm 1:14.

What a game we had on our hands now. Unbelievably Rn/Bm scored their second goal of the game in the 24th minute to regain the lead, a net-burster that gave Slevin no chance. What now for our lads? No need to worry, Managan pulled one back from a placed ball before Rn/Bm countered with a free of their own – back to 3points. Dunboyne closed the gap following another Delaney point after a great offload by young Daragh Harkin in the 27th minute and Mangan brought it back to the minimum one minute later from another placed ball. Dunboyne 1:17 Rn/Bm 2:15.

Ah here lads, the visiting centre-forward split the posts in the first minute of injury time to put them 2 up once more and the home crowd were hoping Eamonn Barry would leave his whistle in his pocket for another few minutes. Thankfully he did. Dunboynes work-rate in the forwards during this period of the game was unbelievable. This meant that the visiting defence were under severe pressure as they tried manfully to clear their lines and it paid dividends. Clark-Murphy, Stephen Tighe and Delaney never gave up and eventually won back the ball in the left corner forward position and found Rory Callanan on the ’21. Rory hit a pile driver through a crowded area and Mangan was on hand to drive the ball to the back of the net – a goal that was built out of sheer work-rate! In the 3rd minute Clake-Murphy was making a nuisance of himself again and won a free which Mangan pointed to put two between the teams. The ref blew the final whistle shortly after and left both sets of players out on their feet. A word of commiseration must go to the visiting side who did their part in what was a thoroughly enjoyable game and, on another day, may have come out with a win.

Final score: St Peters Dunboyne 2:18 (7f, 1X’65) Rathmolyon/Boardsmill 2:16 (3f, 1X65)

With our two minor football teams already in county finals this talented group now have another one to look forward to on the hurling front. This will be against a very impressive Loughcrew Gaels combination in a couple of weeks (TBC).

Team: Daniel Slevin; James McCarthy; Ed McDonnell; Cillian Cunningham; Shay Coone; Eoghan McDonald; Pierce Hayes; Rory Callanan (0:01’65); Shea Mooney (0:01); Evan Murphy (0:01); Sean Delaney (1:06); Neil O’Connor; Liam Kennedy; Joel Mangan (1:08, 7f); Harry Clarke-Murphy (0:01):

Bench: Tadgh Brennan for James McCarthy; Stephen Tighte for Liam Kennedy; Daragh Harkin for Neil O’Connor; Rory Lynch; Charlie Leonard; Kevin Tighe; Charlier Gallagher (inj).