Junior C Championship 

29th May 2010

Venue: Seneschalstown

Full Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 3-11 Oldcastle 2-05
Half Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-06 Oldcastle 0-04

Donaghmore Ashbourne’s third team opened up their Junior C championship campaign with a good opening round victory over Oldcastle on Saturday evening. The blend of youth and experience worked well with a number of lads making their adult championship debuts in a game that saw the team play their first game in the higher grade.
The first half was a tense and even affair as both sides started at championship pace with every ball being contested to the full. The North Meath side opened the scoring with a point on 3 minutes with Stephen Condon replying for Donaghmore Ashbourne on 6 minutes with a 20 meter free.
The sides traded points again with Cathal Field opening his account with a point on 12 minutes to cancel out Oldcastle’s score minutes earlier.
Although both sides had equal chances in the middle period of the half the North Meath side hit a number of wides while at the other end points from Condon, David Carey and Gerry Kelly gave Donaghmore Ashbourne a three point lead. Oldcastle did reply with a free on 23 minutes to reduce the deficit.
Donaghmore Ashbourne did have a goal chance on 26 minutes in a move that involved Sean Smith, Condon and John Lynch with the latter two linking up well in front of goal only to see Condon’s quick pass being flicked by Lynch over the advancing keeper but just inches over the bar. The final say of the half went to Oldcastle with a point in Injury time to leave the interval score line Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-06 Oldcastle 0-04.
The second half saw Donaghmore Ashbourne take control of the game as the spaces opened up in the forward line. Cathal Field opened the scoring with a point within a minute of the restart and Oldcastle replied with a free on 32 minutes.
The score of the game came on 34 minutes with a great goal that involved the cuteness and guile of Condon, Field and Lynch. Condon found Field with a perfect ball over the top of the defence. When Field collected at speed he headed towards goal and with a two against one situation he found Lynch at the edge of the square. Rather than collecting the ball Lynch drew the keeper and defender and completed the one-two with a flick to leave Field with the easy task of firing to an empty net.
Oldcastle were awarded a penalty a minute later and when it found the back of the net they were still in the game. Although Field pointed on 38 minutes Oldcastle drew the sides level on 39 minutes with a well taken goal. 
The turning point of the game came on 41 minutes when Field found the net for the second time. This score seemed to lift the Donaghmore Ashbourne side and within minutes later Colin Sullivan had also fired to the net. Futher points from Field, Ross Tormey and Lynch saw Donaghmore Ashbourne close out the game and take their first two points in the Junior C Championship.
Overall it was a good team performance from Donaghmore Ashbourne with Field’s second half performance impressing.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: S. Kent; M. Finn, B. Murphy, N. Moran;  R. O’Connor, A. Mulvihill, G. Deery; D. Carey (0-1), S. Smith; C. Field (2-4), R. Tormey (0-1), C. Sullivan (1-0); S. Condon(0-2), G. Kelly(0-1),  J.P. Lynch(0-2)

Subs: F. O’Loingsigh for Finn, F. Mulvihill for Deery, D. Reeves for Condon