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Junior A Championship
Tuesday 22nd September 2009 – Simonstown

Fulltime; Donaghmore/Ashbourne 3-9 Bective 2-10
Halftime; Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-5 Bective 1-5

Donaghmore/Ashbourne securing third place in competitive group A showing they have adapted very well to life at Junior A. Despite a quarter final spot having passed them by this year both teams displayed eagerness for a win producing an entertaining encounter.
The game started at a brisk pace with Bective opening the scoring on 3 minutes. Eric O’Callaghan equalised with a free a minute later as Donaghmore/Ashbourne took control. Paul Gilligan, Ian Dowd and Stephen Condon (2) put the east Meath side four points ahead at the end of the first quarter. Ian Dowd was enjoying superiority at midfield but Bective soon found their rhythm and set about reeling in their opponents. Some speedy play from the Bective forwards produced points on 13, 16 and 19 minutes. Their dominance could have been further rewarded was it not for two corrageous saves from Padraig Durkan in the Ashbourne goal on 14 and 20 minutes. One of these followed the Bective attacker bearing down one on one on Durkan. Bective did find the net on 26 minutes to push ahead. As Donaghmore/Ashbourne pressed forward they were guilty of poor marking and this allowed Bective to shoot to the net past the helpless Durkan. A further point on 27 minutes put Bective three points ahead at the interval.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne wasted no time in regaining the momentum following the break. They showed their metal as Ian Dowd scored a splendid point on 32 minutes. Dowd asserted a presence in the centre which was a launching pad for many of the Ashbourne attacks. Keith Skally got on the end of a move on 34 minutes and shot to the net. Bective had an ample response as they netted two minutes later. Once again the speed of the Bective attack conquered the Ashbourne defence to give the lead back to the village side. Tony Morgan produced the score of the game, and possibly the season, when he crashed to the net on 37 minutes. Having fielded 40 metres out, he raced through the Bective defence before nestling the ball in the roof of the net for a hugely inspiring individual effort. This was a fine score from Morgan who has been showing signs of his best form over the past three games. Donaghmore/Ashbourne were now in command which they were in no mood to relinquish. Stephen Condon stepped up on 44 minutes with a point and found the net three minutes later. A clever pass to Condon saw him turn quickly to beat his marker and shoot low to the corner. Condon too was showing his best form of the season. Bective responded with points on 48 and 49 minutes to take the deficit back to two points. Paul Gilligan compounded the plight for Bective when he pointed from a free with 7 minutes remaining. The Donaghmore/Ashbourne defence was not in a generous mood and Adam Fitzgerald was commanding. The deficit was reduced to a single point as Bective scored twice with 2 minutes remaining. Eric O’Callaghan quelled this challenge on fulltime as he shot over a free to earn victory for the newly promoted side.

Despite not earning a playoff spot Donaghmore/Ashbourne will be satisfied with progress this season. Junior A has been a big step up for the 2008 Junior B Champions and they have coped impressively. With plenty of young talent coming through the ranks next years playoffs will be a realistic objective for this squad.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne; Padraig Durkan; Fiach O’Loinsigh, Joey Long, Adam Fitzgerald; Ciaran Finn, Padraig Finn, Paul Gilligan (0-2, 1f); Ian Dowd (0-2), Eric O’Callaghan (0-2, 2f), Cathal Field, Tony Morgan (1-0), Keith Skally (1-0); Ross Tormey, Stephen Condon (1-3, 1f), John Paul Lynch.
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