Heading to Donore for this crucial round 3 championship encounter we knew that if we had any chance of qualifying for the play off stages we needed to get a victory against St. Patrick’s and go on from here in the final two games. Playing against a seasoned senior side and considering that we were missing four key players through injury a good early start was essential but this was not the way things worked out.
In fact it was the opening period of the game that ultimately resulted in our failure to secure a victory. By the end of the 12th minute we trailed by 1-07 to 0-02 and the gap proved too wide to bridge.

The Stamullen side started the brightest and while our lads were only getting into our stride the opposition had registered three points within the first two minutes. Andrew Tormey did reply with a 45 meter free in the third minute. With space at a premium in the tight Donore pitch St. Pat’s increased their lead minutes later with a point resulting from a turnover in our forward line. From the resulting kick out St.Pat’s gained possession and they ran straight through our defence to fire to the roof of the net.
Although shell shocked we did pull another point back on 8 minutes when Torney pointed from a 25 meter free after John Broderick was taken down. This was Broderick’s last action of the game as he suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Tadg Kelly. The Pat’s reply was instantaneous as they managed to extend the lead with three consecutive points on 10,11 and 12 minutes respectively.
Trailing by 8 points our lads could have folded but to their credit they did not go down without a battle. During this second quarter of the game we managed to score 5 unanswered points with the first tow coming from the Tormey as he pointed on both occasions from acute angles. He also added a further two points on 16 and 20 minutes when he slotted over two frees from close range. The fifth point came for Eoin Carroll as he turned his man and slotted over the bar from 20 meters.
We could have closed the gap further as we have three other chances but a Ciaran Ellis wide on 21 minutes was followed when Tormey hit the host with a free on 23 minutes and missed a 14 meter free a minute later. St Pat’s did get the final score of the half when awarded a free on 28 minutes.

Like the first period of the game it was St. Pat’s who started the brighter after the throw in. They had extended their lead with points on 35 , 39 and 41 minutes.
Eoin Carroll had a chance to cancel these scores out on 42 minutes but his first close range goal attempt was well saved by the Pat’s keeper and his second attempt under pressure just went over the bar. Andrew Tormey reduced the deficit towards the end of the third quarter with a superb point from the side line and then with a free minutes later.
Although Donaghmore Ashbourne looked like they were getting back into the game the turning point came on 48 minutes when referee Cormac Reilly awarded a free out to St. Pat’s when it could have gone either way. From the resulting free Pat’s went up the field and were awarded a penalty. The resulting kick sent MC Shane the wrong way and gave the opposition a seven point cushion. (The guidelines for writing match reports say that the report should be unbiased but this reporter would question the initial free as it, and a number of other decidions particularly in the second period were questionable. In fact his overall performance, considering that he is an intercounty official was inconsistent and poor on the night). The Stamullen side added another point from the resulting kick out.
Donaghmore Ashbourne were givena life line when Sean Harmon broke through the defence and found the back of the net on 52 minutes. When Eoin Riordan pointed with 5 minutes to go there was only 4 between the teams.
Going into the final minutes St.Pat’s got the safety point when Cormac Sullivan pointed from 50 meters out with a minute left on teh clock. Donaghmore Ashbourne did manage to reply with a point from Sean Harmon on 60 minutes with Andrew Torrmey capping a fine display with an injury time point.

Overall the eight point gap at the end of the first and third quarters proved too much for our lads to claw back. In addition, fielding without Mc Gill, O’Mealoid, Farrell and Morgan did affect our ability to compete against a physically stronger side. The loss of John Broderick after eight minutes also influenced the game.
After last night’s result the focus has changed but based on much of the performance we still have enough quality in this young team to retain our status.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne: Danny Mc Shane; Michael Roche, Joe Finnegan, Sean Curran; Sean Harmon(1-1), Martin Lynch, Eoighan Riordan(0-1); Rory O’Connor, Eoin Reilly; Bryan Menton, Ciaran Ellis, Eoin Carroll(0-2); Faolán Smith, Andrew Tormey(0-9) (5f), Faolan Smith
Subs: Tadg Kelly for Broderick (Injured), Stephen Kavanagh for Smith, Iarlaith O’Donnell for Ellis.