Dramatic Comeback Seals Memorable Finish to League Campaign

Div4 Rd11: St Peters Dunboyne 0:23 St Ultans 3:13

Liam Duggan has seen it all and done it all—sometimes twice. So, despite Dunboyne's second string trailing by a whopping 15 points at half-time, there was no panic. Duggy certainly wasn't concerned. The message at the break was simple: increase the physicality, keep making the right decisions, and with the aid of the wind in the second half, there would still be an opportunity to turn the game around. The opening half was one to forget, unless you were supporting St Ultans. Dunboyne were second best to a slick and well-organised Ultans outfit and, in trying to chase the game, often overcommitted in attack. That left gaps at the back, which the visitors ruthlessly exploited. Playing into a strong wind, scores were hard-earned. Dunboyne battled for every point, with Eoghan MacDonald (0-2), Darragh Nolan and Evan McCrudden (free) accounting for the early scores. On 22 minutes, St Ultans led 2-09 to 0-04. Dunboyne had a golden opportunity to close the gap when Conor Murphy's goal-bound effort was foot-blocked, resulting in a penalty. Nolan struck it well, but the Ultans goalkeeper produced a remarkable save, pushing the ball over the bar for a point instead. Ultans finished the half strongly, adding 1-02 without reply to leave the scoreboard reading: Half-time: Dunboyne 0-05 (1f, 1 pen), St Ultans 3-11 (3 two-pointers). The second half could hardly have started better for Dunboyne. Evan McCrudden opened the scoring inside the first minute, setting the tone for what followed. Two minutes later, Jack Doyle produced one of the moments of the game, sprinting the length of the field to chase down his man before making an incredible turnover that sparked another Dunboyne attack. Harry Healy then showcased the accuracy of his right boot, landing two massive two-point frees in the eighth and tenth minutes. James Lonergan followed with a superb two-pointer from play just two minutes later, reducing the deficit to 3-11 to 0-12. At the other end, Ronan Taggert made a brilliant interception to launch another attack which led directly to McCrudden adding Dunboyne's fourth consecutive two-pointer. Nolan and Diarmuid Delaney followed with points to leave just four between the sides at the second-half water break, with Ultans remarkably still scoreless after the restart. Water break: Dunboyne 0-16, St Ultans 3-11. Ultans finally got off the mark in the 21st minute of the second half with a converted free, but Dunboyne continued to pile on the pressure. Five unanswered points followed from Nolan (0-3, including two frees), McCrudden and Paul Dempsey to draw the sides level as injury time approached. A well-worked Ultans free edged the visitors back in front, but the men in black and amber refused to buckle. Showing great composure, they patiently worked possession before James Lonergan arrived to strike a magnificent two-pointer, putting Dunboyne ahead for the very first time in the 62nd minute and completing one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the season. It was a fitting way to end the 2026 Division 4 league campaign. Although Dunboyne's second string narrowly missed out on a semi-final place, this squad has improved steadily with every outing and heads into the championship round-robin full of confidence. Team Aidan Flynn; Briain Comiskey; Paul Dempsey (0-01); Ronan Taggert; Oran Boylan; James Lonergan (0-04, 2 two-pointers); Eoghan MacDonald (0-02); Diarmuid Delaney (0-01); Ronan Duggan; Jack Doyle; Harry Healy (0-04, 2 two-point frees); Luke Harte; Darragh Nolan (0-06, 2 frees, 1 penalty); Conor Murphy; Evan McCrudden (0-05, 1 two-pointer, 1 free). Subs: Killian Smith (for MacDonald), Tadgh Brennan (for Harte), Andrew Norman, Cillian Murphy, Stephen Hendry.

Report by Eamon Murphy