Trim: 1:11

Dunderry 3:06

Dunderry opened their league campaign for 2018 with a one point win over near neighbours Trim in St Lomans Park.

The first game of 2018's league campaign saw Dunderry line up without county trio Paddy Kennelly, Conor Dempsey & Luke Martyn. Kevin Dowd's team included two senior debutants, Ronan Brady & Dermot Kelly in a team which had a good sprinkling of young and experienced players.  The game started at a decent pace, with some heavy hits from both sides with Oisin Martin singled out for some attention from the home side. Dunderry stormed into an early lead with Liam Dempsey getting onto the end of a good team move involving Marc Kane for the first goal of the season. Soon after that, 2018’s captain Stephen Coogan added a very well taken goal to leave Dunderry 2:00 to 0:01 after 10 mins. Trim battled back well aided by the conditions to level the scores with 5 unanswered points, and went in at half time on a scoreline of 8 points to Dunderry’s two goals.

Much to consider at half time but with the elements in their favour in the second half, no cause for panic for Dowd & co on the sideline. Jamie Leavy made an appearance at half time for Conor Daly in a reshuffled line up.

The second half opened with an immediate score from Trim, then Coogan got Dunderry’s first point of the day. This was followed by a free out on the left touchline which caused havoc in the Trim goalmouth and went straight in. Dunderry led again on the remarkable score of 3:01 to 0:09. The impressive Liam Dempsey added to this with a long range score. Trim battled back as the lead changed hands again. Shane Heffernan also on for his senior debut replaced Ronan Brady. A Marc Kane solo effort left Dunderry on level terms in the last ten minutes with all to play for.

Captin Coogan then showed his class with the next three points leaving Dunderry in control at 3:06 to 0:11with time almost up. Trim then conjured a goal of real class to leave a nervous period in injury time as they sough out one final score. It was not to be and Dunderry held on for a one point win and a welcome two league points.

Credit must go to Oisin Martin, Conor O’Shea, Aaron Newman, Liam Dempsey and Stephen Coogan who showed great maturity and leadership. The debutants performed well and hinted of a bright future for Dunderry. Curraha will provide a tough test in Dunderry next Sunday, 

Dunderry

David Jennings, Aaron Newman, David McCormack, Aaron Feeney, Marc Kane ( 0-1), Eoin Dempsey, Oisin Martin, Liam Dempsey (1-1), Conor O’Shea, Ronan Brady, Conor Farrell, Conor Daly, Alan Waters, Stephen Coogan (2-4) Dermot Kelly

Subs: Jamie Leavy for Daly, Shane Heffernan for Brady, Jack Brady for Farrell (black card).