Regional FC: Boyne Valley edge out champions An Tuaisceart

Boyne Valley's Danny Watters with Rian McConnell An Tuaisceart during the opening round of the Regional FC at Dunganny

Boyne Valley 0-16 An Tuaisceart 0-14

Late scores from David Bell and goalkeeper Finn Moore were enough to earn Boyne Valley a two-point win over last year’s winners, An Tuaisceart, in the second game of the Regional Football Championship double-header at Dunganny.

Donaghmore Ashbourne’s Sean Tyrell opened the winners’ account with a fine two-pointer. David Bell and Tyrell again extended that lead.

An Tuaisceart were back on level terms at the end of the opening quarter, thanks to fine efforts from Dara Shine and corner-back Brian O’Reilly.

Dylan Keating restored the lead for Joe Cowley’s men with a two-pointer, but Tadgh Boyle’s charges began to dominate and were rewarded with points from Hughie Corcoran (2) and Castletown’s Rian McConnell.

Boyne Valley regained control with a Finn Moore two-pointer and a single from Keating. Points from McConnell and Killian Price left the minimum between the teams at the break, Boyne Valley leading 0-9 to 0-8.

McConnell had the sides level minutes into the second half and, with ten minutes remaining, An Tuaisceart held a 0-13 to 0-12 advantage, thanks to scores from Corcoran (3) and corner-back Dylan Garrigan.

Bell levelled matters before Rathkenny goalkeeper Moore landed another two-pointer.

Bell, with his fourth point, opened up a three-point lead as the final whistle approached.

Shane McEnry narrowed the deficit to two, but the score An Tuaisceart needed to level matters never arrived and Boyne Valley held on for the win.

Boyne Valley scorers: Finn Moore 0-4, David Bell 0-4, Dylan Keating 0-3, Sean Tyrell 0-3, Aaron Grant 0-1, Liam Stafford 0-1.

An Tuaisceart scorers: Hughie Corcoran 0-5, Rian McConnell 0-3, Paul Hennessy 0-1, Dara Shine 0-1, Dylan Garrigan 0-1, Killian Price 0-1, Brian O’Reilly 0-1, Shane McEnry 0-1.

Boyne Valley squad: Finn Moore (Rathkenny), Liam Brennan (St Patrick’s), Danny Watters (Seneschalstown), Ciaran O’Hare (Rathkenny), Liam Stafford (St Colmcille’s), James O’Hare (Rathkenny), Sean O’Hare (Rathkenny), Sean Emanuel (St Patrick’s), Eoghan McCloghan (St Colmcille’s), Davey Curtis (Rathkenny), Dylan Keating (Seneschalstown), Sean Tyrell (Donaghmore Ashbourne), Cathal Finnegan (Seneschalstown), Aaron Grant (St Colmcille’s), David Bell (St Colmcille’s), Evan Connor (St Vincent’s), Seimi Byrne (Seneschalstown), Liam Lynch (St Mary’s), Cillian Hegarty (Donaghmore Ashbourne), Evan Quinn (Donaghmore Ashbourne), Ryan Finnegan (Seneschalstown), Cian Commons (Seneschalstown), Senan McKeown (St Patrick’s), Alan Mulvaney (Seneschalstown), Luke Kealy (Rathkenny).

An Tuaisceart squad: Oisin McDermott (Ballinlough), Dylan Garrigan (Oldcastle), Rian Early (Kells Gaels), Brian O’Reilly (St Michael’s), Killian Price (Castletown), Killian Russell (Kilmainhamwood), Jason Scully (Oldcastle), Rian McConnell (Castletown), Oran Mulvaney (Oldcastle), Paul Hennessy (Oldcastle), Dara Shine (Ballinlough), Sean Reilly (Moylagh), Hughie Corcoran (Drumbaragh), Rian Stafford (Kilmainhamwood), Pat Crawley (Oldcastle), Johnny Lynch (Moynalty), Tom Shine (Ballinlough), Ajay Tormay (Kells Gaels), Shane McEnry (Simonstown), Cormac Browne (St Brigid’s), Ciaran Doyle (Kilmainhamwood), Eoin Briody (Ballinlough), Darren O’Higgins (Ballinlough), Oran Meade (Simonstown), Andrew Gormley (Kells Gaels), Conor Og Ferguson (Kells Gaels), Michael Hoey (Kilmainham), Gearoid O'Malley St. Michaels.

Referee: Ciaran Flynn.