Clanna Gael Fontenoy's AIB Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship campaign comes to an end in Dunganny

CLANNA GAEL FONTENOY 3-12 

DUNDERRY 1-24

Dunderry turned on the style in the second-half as they overcame Dublin champions ClannaGael Fontenoy by six points in their AIB Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship quarter-final at the Meath GAA Centre of Excellence in Dunganny on Saturday afternoon. 

Having narrowly overcome St Fechin’s of Louth a fortnight earlier, Clanna Gael were well in the mix at the break as the teams were deadlocked at 1-7 with a 16th minute goal from Enda Carroll cancelled out by Dunderry’s Evan Nolan with the last attack of the half.    

The Meath Senior B runners-up improved significantly after the break with substitute Mark Leavy adding class to their forward line with goals by Max Morgan and Carroll failing to spare Clanna Gael their fate by the final whistle. 

The visitors could not have wished for a brighter start with an excellent opening score from Carroll added to by a similarly smart effort by Max Morgan inside the opening two minutes. 

The hosts replied through scores from Cathal Barron and Nolan (free) but the lively Morgan edged Clanna Gael back in front with his second score from play in the 7th minute. 

Dunderry’s Luke Martyn and Sean Curzon of Fontenoy (free) exchanged points as the contest evolved with parity restored by the 12th minute as Adam Kelly fired over for the hosts. 

The visitors were handed a boost early in the second quarter as Curzon’s free from distance dropped short and Carroll was on hand to pounce for an emphatic finish from close range.

However, their shooting deteriorated from this juncture, allowing Dunderry to claw their way back into contention through a trio of Nolan points before the busy Liam Ó Laoide ended a barren period of nine minutes for the Irishtown outfit. 

Seamus McCann added to the away tally towards the end of the half but in injury time, Nolan burst through on the left-hand side and struck a rising shot beyond the reaches of Dean Fitzpatrick in the Clanna Gael goal. 

The contest seemed to be slipping away from Clanna Gael as Nolan converted a quartet of frees within seven minutes of the resumption while talented substitute Mark Leavy added an excellent point from play for Dunderry. 

While Max Morgan opened the away account in the 39th minute, the visitors found themselves seven points in arrears following a Ciaran O’Brien brace and Barron’s second score of the game. 

After Curzon had replied with a brace of frees, Clanna Gael were handed a lifeline early in the final quarter as Carroll was initially denied by Jack Fagan in the Dunderry goal but had sufficient composure to transfer to Morgan, who batted home with ease. 

Far from building on that score, the visitors conceded the next four points of the game with Nolan, Martyn, Jamie Leavy and O’Brien all on target as Dunderry reaffirmed their control of matters. 

There was sufficient time for Carroll to double his goal account as the deficit was reduced to three points in the 60th minute but once again, the hosts replied in an impressive manner to finish out the scoring through points by Nolan, Mark Leavy and O’Brien. 

Scorers – Clanna Gael Fontenoy: E Carroll 2-2; M Morgan 1-4 (0-1f); S Curzon 0-4 (4f); L Ó Laoide, S McCann -1 apiece. Dunderry: E Nolan 1-10 (0-9f); C O’Brien, M Leavy 0-4 each; L Martyn, C Barron 0-2 each; A Kelly, J Leavy 0-1 each.  

Clanna Gael Fontenoy: D Fitzpatrick; M Culligan, B Barron, N Madill; A Culligan, A Carroll, M Cullina; J Crowley, K Morgan; S McCann, S Curzon, L Ó Laoide; M Morgan, E Carroll, A Duffy. Subs: P Kobus for A Culligan (43), D Hanley for Curzon (53), K Drea for Madill (53). 

Dunderry: J Fagan; D Fay, C Leavy, TJ Loughran; N Ó Laoire, J Duffy, R Fay; W Treacy, A Kelly; C O’Brien, L Martyn, C Barron; E Nolan, J Leavy, H Crinion. Subs: R Brady for D Fay (half-time), F McHale for Treacy (half-time), M Leavy for Crinion (half-time), P Stephens for Ó Laoire (59), N Darcy for Martyn (59). 

Referee: Sean Michael Maher (Offaly).