‘B’ League Division 1
Donaghmore / Ashbourne vs Dunshaughlin

Date:  04 July 2011
Venue:  Dunshaughlin
Time:  8:00 PM

HT: Donaghmore / Ashbourne 0-7 Dunshaughlin 0-9
FT: Donaghmore / Ashbourne 1-13 Dunshaughlin 2-12

The clash between Donaghmore / Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin was a high-intensity encounter from the throw –in, with the home side scooting up to the Donaghmore / Ashhourne square and some quick action from Joey Long restricted Dunshaughlin to a ’45,  which they converted within the first minute. Donaghmore / Ashbourne  won the kick-out,  and with some good distribution play from Martin Lynch and Leon Tormey, got the ball forward. The first shot went wide, but Rory McGuire made no mistake when he got on the end of a great ball in from Tony Morgan on 3 minutes . The action moved back to the Donaghmore half, with Eric Callaghan tracking back to pull off a fine defensive block, and some effective defending from Martin Lynch. Tony Morgan was again supplier of a killer pass, this time to Mattie Devine who  pointed on 6 minutes. Dunshaughlin seized the initiative, clocking up two points on  8 and 10 minutes,  before Martin Lynch found Leon Tormey, who sent  in a ball for Tadhg Kelly who put the  ball over the bar in an immediate response. The home side scored again on 11 minutes,  before Tadhg Kelly turned supplier for Keith Scally,  who scored a brace inside 2 minutes, the second of which was deflected over the bar by an excellent stop from the Dunshaughlin keeper. Padraig and Ciaran Finn worked tirelessly in defence, getting the ball to Leon Tormey who pointed on 18minutes.  We then had a good passage of play from Dunshaughlin, with a foray into the  Don/ Ash square which caused the defence a bit of a wobbly moment, with Padraig Durkan  retrieving the ball from close to the end line, but getting back into position quickly. A Dunshaughlin point on 19 minutes was followed shortly by a Don/ Ash wide, then  by  a  Dunshaughlin shot heading goalwards  being  deflected over the bar on 19 minutes  by Padaig Durkan in goal, dislocating his finger in the process !  Some slick interplay between Rory Mc Guire, Eric Callaghan  and Paul Gilligan resulted in Gilligan getting on the scoresheet on  27 minutes. This was to be the last Donaghmore / Ashbourne score of the half, with Dunshaughlin levelling the score at 28 minutes, then seeing out the half with a point in each of the last two remaining minutes, leaving the score at the break 0-9 to 0-7, in the home side’s favour.

The restart saw the introduction of Robert O’ Connor in place of the injured Joey Long, and also a Dunshaughlin goal inside the first minute  from a weaving run which split the Don / Ash defence. The home side forced a fine save from Durkan in goal, before the action moved to the Dunshaughlin square. Eric Callaghan had a good shot on goal saved, then Rory Mc Guire was unfortunate to have his fisted effort hit the woodwork.  The home side added to their tally with a pointed free on 7 minutes. Leon Tormey responded in kind, with a point from distance 2 minutes later, but this was more than cancelled out by a Dunshaughlin goal within the minute.  We then had a good interval of play from the Don/ Ash lads,  with a double strike on goal, with Mattie Devine and then Paul Gilligan trying to get the ball in the net – the first attempt smothered by the keeper, the second hitting the woodwork. Eric Callaghan scored a point on 12 minutes, and another great ball in from Tony Morgan went just wide of goal. The home side  pointed on 15 minutes, and on the 17 minute mark Daithi Murtagh came on in place of Keith Scally.  Dunshaughlin clocked up their last point of the evening on the  18 minute mark, and less than a minute later Rory McGuire had pointed yet again. Dunshaughlin were attacking in waves, but all our defence, particularly Rob O’ Connor, were stalwart in resisting the onslaught.  Tony Morgan added to the points tally on  22 minutes, then turned provider for Daithi Murtagh’s point on 23 minutes. The Donaghmore / Ashbourne lads rallied hard , with Rory McGuire finding the back of the net on 24 minutes, to leave just a goal in it.  Padraig Durkan was called into action at the Don/ Ash end almost immediately after, but gathered the ball promptly and sent it outfield.  Despite camping in the opposition half, the elusive goal did not materialise, but Leon Tormey once more pointed on 28 minutes, to leave the scoreline at the final whistle 1-13 to 2-12, in favour of Dunshaughlin.

Team and Scorers

Padraig Durkan, Darryl Lawlor, Joey Long, Padraig Finn, Ciaran Finn, Michael Roche, Martin Lynch, Leon Tormey (0,2), Tony Morgan (0,1), Keith Scally (0,2), Tadhg Kelly (0,1), Eric Callaghan (0,1) , Paul Gilligan (0,1), Rory Mc Guire (1,2), Mattie Devine (0,1) . Subs Rob O’ Connor for Long, Daithi Murtagh (0,1) for Scally