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ACFL DIVISION 2 - O'Dempsey's turn it around to beat Arles Kilcruise

In an incredible game, O'Dempsey's looked a poor shadow of the side that had done as they pleased during the league stages of this competition. Arles were more agressive, more direct and just much better. At half-time Arles led by 1-8 to 0-3 and were full value for their lead. In fact, they could well have been further ahead. Dominant around midfield and sharper up front, they looked as if they could push on and win by double figures.

Instead, the second half was completely opposite. There was only a slight wind favouring O'Dempsey's after the break but you'd swear it was a gale, such was the new-found O'Dempsey's swagger. They switched things around slightly, reverted to an orthodox line-up after a failed attempt at playing a two-man full-forward line and raised their game a couple of levels.

And slowly but surely they worked their way back in to contention. Stephen O'Leary kicked the first two points of the second half, Barry Kelly pointed a free and Adrian Slevin found the range to leave just four points between the sides ten minutes in to the new half. O'Leary pointed again to reduce the gap to three and although Chris Conway got Arles' first score of the second half with a well-taken free, O'Dempsey's hit the next four scores of the game to take control.

Crucially, the first of those scores was a goal, Barry Kelly doing well to intercept a JP Conway clearance before finishing smartly past Jimmy McDonald in the Arles goal. That left just a point between the sides and while McDonald made a great save on Brian Nugent moments later, all the momentum was now with O'Dempsey's.

Eddie Kelly finally shook off Paudge Conway to land the equaliser and Adrian Slevin put them in front with nine minutes remaining. A Barry Kelly free after a foul on O'Leary stretched O'Dempsey's lead to two and from there O'Dempsey's wouldn't look back.

Another Chris Conway free reduced the deficit to one but when David Conway missed a good chance to level it up, O'Dempsey's struck again, Eddie Kelly again finding the target with his left foot. Conway reduced the deficit once more with a free but Stephen O'Leary had the final say when he landed his fourth of the half and that score eventually settled the issue.

The first half had been a completely different affair. In a slow-burning contest, David Conway had got Arles off the mark with a point in the sixth minute and although Darran Finlay responded for O'Dempsey's, Arles soon took control.

Jason McLoughlin, Ross Munnelly and David Conway again all pointed with O'Dempsey's only response coming from Rory Bracken.

Kevin Sheridan hit 1-1 in a three-minute spell to push Arles six clear and after Barry Kelly landed a free, Arles hit the last three points of the half with Chris Conway, Kevin Meaney and McLoughlin all pointing from play.

At that stage we felt the second half would just be a procession. O'Dempsey's had other ideas, however, as they belatedly sprung to life to continue the club's good run of form. They claimed the ACFL Division 5 crown a couple of weeks ago and were in the U-21 'B' FC final last night.

The championship might only be starting but O'Dempsey's will certainly go in to it on a high.

SCORERS - O'Dempsey's: Barry Kelly 1-3 (0-3 frees), Stephen O'Leary 0-4, Eddie Kelly and Adrian Slevin 0-2 each, Rory Bracken and Darran Finlay 0-1 each; Arles-Kilcruise: Chris Conway 0-4 (three frees), Kevin Sheridan 1-1, Jason McLoughlin and David Conway 0-2 each, Ross Munnelly and Kevin Meaney 0-1 each

O'DEMPSEY'S: Padraig Bannon; Nigel Delaney, John Joe O'Connell, Peter O'Leary; Paddy Hyland, Robbie Kehoe, JP Kehoe; Rory Bracken, Darragh Meredith; Darran Finlay, Billy Walsh, Barry Kelly; Mark Kehoe, Eddie Kelly, Stephen O'Leary. Subs: Adrian Slevin for Walsh (24 mins), Brian Nugent for M Kehoe (half time), Brian Behan for Meredith (58 mins)

ARLES-KILCRUISE: James McDonald; Mick O'Shea, Paudge Conway, Sean Meaney; JP Conway, Rory Stynes, Anthony McElroy; James Conway, Kevin Meaney; Stephen Miller, Chris Conway, Jason McLoughlin; Kevin Sheridan, Ross Munnelly, David Conway. Sub: Francis Egan for Sheridan (51 mins)

Referee: Joe Brennan (Crettyard)

In Brief

Main Man - Stephen O'Leary (O'Dempsey's)

Although quiet in the first half, O'Leary burst into life in the second and by finding form, he gave O'Dempsey's a massive lift. He kicked the first two points after half time to kick-start the revival and also the one to leave just three points between them. Then, for good measure, he landed the last score of the game to seal the deal

Score of the game

While Eddie Kelly had found Paudge Conway a tricky opponent for most of the game, Kelly eventually managed to break free from him 19 minutes into the second half. O'Dempsey's were a point down at the time but Kelly broke through a couple of tackles and pointed off his left to level the game up. It was impressive and important and O'Dempsey's never looked back after it

Talking Point

How were Arles-Kilcruise so good in the first half, and so bad in the second? In the first 30 minutes they were completely on top and were full value for their 1-8 to 0-3 lead. Yet in the second half, they looked a different side as they sat back and allowed O'Dempsey's come at them. Arles-Kilcruise could only manage three Chris Conway frees in the second half as O'Dempsey's took over and turned an eight-point loss in to a two-point win.

Published Date: 28 July 2010
By Staff Reporter for The Leinster Express