Simostown 1—10 Dunboyne 0—11.
As both teams had won their first-round matches, the reward for the winners of this contest would qualify for a quarter final spot with a round of matches still to play. Dunboyne were out of the traps fast and 0—2 to 0--0 after five minutes. Aaron Farrelly with converted mark got Simontowns first score. Dunboyne tagged on two points to lead 0—4 to 0—1 at end of first quarter. A Padraig McKeever free and a fine long-range point from wing back Aaron Chinchilla left 0—4 to 0—3 in favour of Dunboyne after nineteen minutes. Dunboyne then had two points from play making it 0—6 to 0—3. Eoghan Gough was introduced for the Navan men and immediately scored a point. He was then fouled and McKeever converted. Ben Hoey converted a free and the teams were level at the break 0—6 each. Simonstown had being playing second fiddle to Dunboyne for three quarters of the half and were lucky to be level while Dunboyne could or should have been further ahead.
Hoey from a free in first minute put Simstown 0—7 to 0—6 ahead. Dunboyne began to dominate with County players Ronan Jones and Donal Lenehan prominent and chalked up three points (2)fs while Hoey added another free to leave Dunboyne in front 0—9 to 0—8 with forty-eight minutes on the clock. Two more Dunboyne points put them 0—11 to 0—8 in front at the end of normal time. Mark Devlin got possession near his own goalmouth and released Josh Carolan who played a one two with Mark Gardiner. Carolan then travelled into opposition territory and a kicked pass inside to Padraig McKeever who slid the ball under the goalkeeper into the net to equalise. What a clinical finish it was. Simonstown now pressured the kickout, won possession and McKeever pointed from an acute angle to put Simonstown ahead. Simonstown secured the resulting kick out and Brian McGrath fired over the bar to make it Simonstown 1—10 Dunboyne 0—11. Dunboyne men had one last attack and a low shot rebounded off several knees, shins etc before it was cleared by the Navan men and the long whistle sounded. It was an incredible finish and Simonstown's will and perseverance paid off in the last five minutes reaching our first quarter final in three years. Dunboyne played well throughout the match and should consider themselves very unlucky not to get something out of game. Our final game is against Seneschalstown in Pairc Tailteann in two week's time.
Simonstown:
Robbie Burlingham,...Mark Devlin, Stephen Moran, Mark Gardiner, ...Briain Conlon, Josh Carolan, Aaron Chinchilla (0—1),....Shane Barry, Michael Gavin,...Jimmy Heaney, Padraig McKeever (1—3)2f, Brian McGrath (0—1),... Aaron Farrelly(0—1)m, Sean Conlon, Ben Hoey(0—3)3f.
Subs;; Eoghan Gough (0—1)/ S.Conlon...Sean Tobin /M.Gavin..Andy Kearney/ B.Hoey..Luke Caffrey / A.Farrelly
Extended Panel; Peter Duffy, Shane Kavanagh, Sean O Connell, Cody Chinchilla, Shane McEnery, Colin Wickham, Robert Smith, Liam Purvis, Kyle McEvoy, David McKeever, Blessed Oromo Jor, Conor Staunton, Tadgh Hanrahan, Darragh Dooner, Jack Melia, Eoghan Foley, Fionn O Hanluain.
