Donaghmore / Ashbourne vs Skryne

Venue:            Simonstown

 The Junior “D” team overcame Skryne with a combination of youth and experience in Simonstown Gaels on Saturday night.

 Donaghmore / Ashbourne was on the offensive straight from the throw –in, winning a free in the first minute, but sending it wide. Action quickly moved to the other end, where Skryne won, and converted a free to leave them a point up. Initiative moved back to the Donaghmore / Ashbourne lads, with a point from Brian Fitzgerald and a shot on goal from Matthew Nugent which went just wide. We lost possession in midfield (  a rare occurrence ) and the opposition put over their second point as a result. This was followed up by a wide of their own, before Don / Ash won the kick –out and worked the ball upfield to Ciaran Buckley, who put over our second point, which was almost immediately cancelled out by what was to be Skryne’s last score of the evening, their third point. Skyrne then conceded a free in their half, which was converted by Vinny Carton. Donaghmore / Ashbourne now had a very firm grasp of the match, with a great ball in from Matthew Nugent, and an attempted fisted goal , before a fine pass in from Sean Benville to Brian Fitzgerald resulted in Donaghmore’s first goal. A Skryne wide preceded another attack from Don / Ash. Scott Tormey was wrestled to the ground in the square, and the penalty was coolly slotted in by Vinny Carton. Shortly afterwards, the referee blew for the break, to leave the score at 2-2 to 0-3, in Donaghmore / Ashbourne’s favour.

Niall Brady was quick out of the blocks after the restart, with a very quick point. The Donaghmore / Ashbourne team were raining ball into the Skyrne half  - we had a wide, a point from Tom Dreaper, a ’45 which hit the post, then another wide. We then had a brace of points from Brian Fitzgerald, followed by one from Vinny Carton. Niall Fitzpatrick came on for Paul Finglas.  Donaghmore / Ashbourne’s sustained attacks led to some over- robust  Skryne defending led to a free in  front of goal, converted by Vinny Carton. Shortly after his introduction, Niall Fitzpatrick put through a fine ball to Brian Fitzgerald, who calmly slotted in his second goal. Skryne camped in Donaghmore / Ashbourne’s half, but our defenders rose to the challenge, especially when Matt Davis and Andy Keogh repelled two goal attempts in quick succession ! Mark Byrne came on for Brian Fitzgerald. There was some more brilliant defending from Donaghmore , with another good save from Davis  and multiple blocks from the defenders. Skryne were forced into trying a long-range effort, but it went wide. We regained possession from the kick-out and Matthew Nugent scored a very slick point from long range. Donaghmore / Ashbourne had a point each from Ciaran Buckley and  Sean Bernville, before Eoin Caffrey put over a brace.  Scoreline at the final whistle was 3-13 to 0-3 to the Don/ Ash lads.

Team and Scorers

M. Davis, A. Keogh, K. Callaghan, M. Mc Cabe, P. Finglas, E. Caffrey (0,2), S. Robinson, S. Benville (0,1),T. Dreaper (0,1) ,C. Buckley (0,2), B. Fitzgerald (2,3), M. Nugent (0,1), N. Brady (0,1), S. Tormey, V. Carton (1,2 – 1p, 2f) . Subs N. Fitzpatrick for Finglas, M. Byrne for Fitzgerald, P. Ryan.