Reece Gavin comes to Moorefield’s rescue with late free to draw with Broadford
The late set-piece score meant a share of the points between Moorefield and Broadford who drew 1-15 to 0-18 in Manguard Park, Hawkfield
A late late Reece Gavin free was enough for Moorefield and Broadford to share the spoils in Round 3 of the UMPC IHC on Wednesday evening last.
On a perfect evening for hurling it was Broadford who opened the scoring inside a minute through Josh O Donoghue but directly from the restart Moorefield wing back Oisin Kelly responded when his shot from all of sixty yards split the posts.Broadford were more economical in front of goal and points from Luke Ennis and Jack Cahill edged them two ahead after four minutes.
As would be the pattern over the hour the lead was short lived and within 90 seconds Reece Gavin and Tommy Walsh had Moorefield back on level terms. Conn Kehoe was getting on top around midfield and his 60 metre effort sailed between the posts. Broadford hit three wides before Jack Cahill landed his second. Luke Ennis edged the Johnstownbridge and Clogherinkoe amalgamation with his second as 15 minutes passed.
The next five minutes belonged to Moorefield and again Conn Kehoe was heavily involved,firstly setting up Reece Gavin before adding his own second score and after a brillaint piece of fielding he was taken down with a heavy hit of the hurl and Gavin added another free to open a 0-7 to 0-5 lead.
Moorefield added further scores before the break through Tommy Walsh and two from Reece Gavin but Broadford again reduced the gap with three Josh O Donoghue efforts as Moorefield held a slender 0-10 to 0-9 half time lead.
Broadford now had the stiffening breeze on the change of ends.and they made it pay with a single from Luke Ennis and another two from Josh O Donoghue.
The game swung back in Moorefield favour when Gavin McDonnell got a flick, in a goalmouth scramble,that forced the ball over the line.
Josh O’Donoghue was the main focus of the Broadford attack and while his accuarcy from frees was poor he added another from play.
With 15 to play you couldn't call a winner. Adam Quinn and Reece Gavin, from a free, swapped points to keep it level. Muiris Curtin got his first but again Luke Ennis levelled it as we headed down the home stretch. Two Reece Gavin frees looked to have given Moorefield the upper hand at the right but in keeping with the previous 50 minutes Broadford weren't finished.
Andrew Hill, Conor Flynn and Luke Ennis all pointed to somehow have Broadford back in front on the cusp of full time. They would then go on to miss 2 frees and a ‘65 as the clock ticked deep into injury but there was one last piece to the plot when Reece Gavin landed a pressure free to leave it all square at 1-15 to 0-18.
Important result for both sides as the season progresses and the avoidance of relegation could come down to this result.
MOOREFIELD: Eoin Carroll; Shane Delamare, Sean Maher, Malvin Maloney; Oisin Kelly,0-1, Colin Gleeson, Paul Dawson; Tommy Walsh 0-2, Conn Kehoe 0-2; Muiris Curtin 0-1, Alex Bell, Reece Gavin 0-9 (5f); Gavin McDonnell 1-0, Niall Barry, Eoghan Corrigan. Subs: Conor Price for Shane Delamare 17; Mark Tobin for Gavin McDonnell 41.; Ian McDonnell for Eoghan Corrigan 41.; Cormac O Connor for Niall Barry 41.
BROADFORD: Jack Dempsey; Pairic Farrell, Shane Flanagan, Billy Hackett; Kieran Ryan, Killian Galligan, Conor Flynn 0-1; Shane Grimes, Andrew Hill 0-1; Luke Ennis 0-5, Adam Quinn 0-1, Dan Perry 0-1; Jack Cahill 0-2, Josh O Donoghue 0-7 (1f), Jamie Boyle. Subs:Luke Flynn for Jamie Boyle 18; Ben Bradley for Dan Perry 39.
REFEREE: Alan Lagrue.