Late John Forrest goal earns Meelin vital win over Dromtariffe in Duhallow JAHC

Meelin 1-20 Dromtariffe 0-22 

Pure determination secured Meelin a dramatic victory over Dromtariffe in an exciting conclusion to the E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Dealer Duhallow JAHC Round 2  at Kanturk.  

By doing so, Meelin reignited their challenge thanks to a late John Forrest goal that swayed the outcome by the minimum of margins.

Having disappointed in the opening round against Kilbrin, Meelin required a strong performance and it surfaced thanks to desire and resolve.  Last season, Meelin were demoted from Co. Premier Junior ranks and without a championship win since 2024, they grinded out victory here thanks to Forrest taking a pass from Ciarán Curtin to net in the 62nd minute.

Closely contested all through and deadlocked on 11 occasions, made for an engaging encounter yet  both sides spurned a plethora of missed opportunities through inaccurate shooting.  Dromtariffe enjoyed a promising start on points to Seán Howard and Andrew Healy.

Steadily, Meelin got into the swing of the game once late arrival Shane Curtin entered the fray with Nicholas Linehan obliging from frees. 

As both sides fluffed their lines, Meelin shading the wides tally 9-8,  points from Jimmy McAulliffe and Linehan pushed the 2010 All-Ireland Junior champions ahead.

Dromtariffe finished the opening half strongly, Evan Murphy and Conor O’Callaghan on target to force a deadlock at 0-10 apiece. It remained nip and tuck into the third quarter,  the teams content to add five points each.  After McAullife gave Meelin a brief lead, Dromtariffe answered with three points from the Howard brothers and Stephen Coyne.

Given the trend of the game, Meelin countered through McAuliffe and Jason O’Callaghan scores.  

The action remained end to end, Tomás Howard pushed Dromtariffe ahead before the match-defining goal surfaced, created by a great run from Curtin to open up the Dromtariffe defence and the chance critically converted by Forrest.

Elsewhere in Group 1, unbeaten Kilbrin overcame Banteer 2-18 to 2-11 while defending holders Newmarket delivered a statement 4-30 to 0-16 Group 2 victory over Freemount. 

All to play for in the concluding Group 1 series when Kilbrin play Dromtariffe and Meelin meet Banteer, all four teams  remain with a chance of advancing to the semi-final stage.

Scorers for Meelin: N Linehan 0-5 (0-4 f), John Forrest 1-1, J McAuliffe 0-4, J O’Callaghan, C Curtin 0-3 each, James Forrest 0-2, M O’Keeffe 0-2 (0-1 f).

Dromtariffe:  S Howard 0-9 (0-7 f), T Howard 0-4, S Coyne 0-2, B Murphy 0-2, E Murphy 0-2, C O’Callaghan, M O’Connor, A Healy 0-1 each.

MEELIN:  J Moynihan, M O’Keeffe, B Carroll, A Curtin; Cian Curtin, W Murphy, D Linehan; M Collins, Ciarán Curtin; J O’Callaghan, John Forrest, S Hehir; N Linehan, J McAuliffe, James Forrest. 

Subs: S Curtin, S McCarthy, J Dineen.

DROMTARIFFE: G O’Keeffe; K Cremin, M O’Gorman, M Sheehan; J Kelleher, C O’Callaghan, M O’Connor; S Howard, T Howard; C Byrne, A Healy, E Murphy; M O’Callaghan,  S Coyne, D O’Riordan.

Subs: B Murphy, F McKee.

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer).