Pearson denies Denn at death

Denn 2-7 Gowna 1-10 A point from Gowna"s Gerald Pearson in the fifth minute of added time denied a determined Denn side their first victory in this year"s league campaign last Saturday in Crosskeys. The home side opened up the scoring with a point from Colin Kiernan in the first minute of the game. Gowna responded with a goal from Ciaran Fitzpatrick and then went further ahead with a point from a free from Mark McKeever. Denn were level in the ninth minute with a goal from John Smith but Gowna went back in front with a point in the 14th minute from Raymond Keogh only for the hosts to respond with a free from Colin Kiernan a minute later. Ciaran Fitzpatrick got a point for Gowna in the 18th minute but a point from Paul Donohoe in the 21st minute saw the sides level again. A pointed free from Gerard Pierson put Gowna back in front. The home side were level again in the 29th minute with a point from a free from Colin Kiernan. Both sides had a chance to take the lead just before half time but efforts from Gowna"s Ciaran Fitzpatrick and Gerald Pierson and a sideline kick from Denn"s Paul Donohoe went wide, as the sides went in all square at 1-4 apiece. Gowna were first out of the blocks in the second half with a point in the first minute from Mark McKeever. The home side went back in front in the third minute of the half thanks to a well-taken goal from Ronan Kiernan, beating the goalkeeper to put the ball in the top corner of the net. Denn could have gone even further ahead in the 36th minute but a Denn free went wide. Gowna responded with points from Mark McKeever in the 38th and 39th minutes. Gowna then introduced Dermot McCabe for Fergal Harten. The visitors were back in front in the 13th minute after Gerard Pierson converted a free. Denn then introduced their influential county player Matin Cahill for Sean McGivney. A point from Ciaran Brady Jnr put two points between the sides. Denn responded with a point from Colin Kiernan in the 19th minute and were level a minute later with a point from the recently-introduced Martin Cahill. There then followed a grandstand finish as both sides went looking to win the game. Denn introduced both Darren Costello and Eoin McPhilips as Gowna brought on Ciaran Brady. Denn thought they had it won when Padraig McGovern scored a point in the 32nd minute of the half but victory was denied with a late point from Gerard Pierson in the 35th minute. Denn: Brian Boylan, Philip Galliagan, Ciaran McGovern, Paul Hyland, Raymond Smith, Martin McKiernan, David McKiernan, Thomas Corr, Ronan Kiernan(1-0), Sean McGivney, Padraig McGovern(0-1), Aidan McKiernan, John Smith(1-0), Paul Donohoe(0-1), Colin Kiernan(0-4) Subs: Martin Cahill(0-1), Darren Costello, Eoin McPhilips Gowna: Ronan Bannon, Joseph McLoughlin, Emmett Madden, Gearoid O"Reilly, William Stevens, Gavin Harten, Bernard Sorohan, Fergal Harten, Mark McKeever(0-4), Raymond Keogh(0-1), Christopher Madden, Ciaran Brady Jnr(0-1), Gerald Pierson (0-3), Shane Briody, Ciaran Fitzpatrick(1-1)