GAA | McCabe’s flurry saves The Hill

Division Three League | Dowdallshill 1–10 Westerns 0–13

Aidan McCabe rescued Dowdallshill a point from their Division Three opener with Westerns on Saturday evening at St Brigid’s Park.

Staring down the barrel of an opening round loss, the corner-forward — who scored 1–8 in total — snatched Gary Corrigan’s side a draw with three points in the dying stages.

The visitors lined out without the services of county star Tommy Durnin but played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half and were 0–8 to 0–3 ahead coming up to the break.

However, Dowdallshill replied when a well worked move ended with Conor McGailey setting McCabe up for the only goal of the game.

McCabe also kicked a ’45 and a free in the opening half along with a fine point from play by the impressive McGailey.

The early stages of the second half saw the Hill pile on the pressure and they took the lead with three points from McCabe while league debutant Johnny Burke also capped a fine performance with a well deserved score.

The men from Reaghstown hit back with four unanswered points to take what seemed like a winning lead but the introduction of veteran Gerry McShane saw the game take a final twist.

Showing all his guile, McShane caused havoc in the Westerns rearguard and it was him who won three late frees, all of which were converted by ace marksman McCabe, the last one from a very acute angle with the final luck of the game.

Best for the home side were the three scorers along with another minor, Luke O’Brien, Justin Halley and Eamonn Duffy along with super sub McShane.

DOWDALLSHILL: Robert Arthur; Luke O’Brien, Vincent Roe, Sean Duffy; Aidan Moran, Justin Halley, David McCrave; Ciaran Thornton, Eamonn Duffy; Conor McGailey (0–1), Johnny Burke (0–1), Noel Finnegan; Aidan McCabe (1–8), Peter Begley, Paul Gill. Subs; Anthony Quinn for P Begley, Gerry McShane for D McCrave, Ridwan Bodunrin for S Duffy; Conor McGeown for C Thornton.