A League Division 1

Round 7 – Thursday 2nd July 2009
Venue: Stamullen

Full Time: Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-10 St. Patrick’s 0-3
Half Time: Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-4 St. Patrick’s 0-1

Donaghmore/Ashbourne showed no sign of ill effect from their senior championship defeat two weeks ago with this highly impressive display against St. Patrick’s at Stamullen. Donaghmore/Ashbourne have been hit hard with the injury bug this season and this was most likely the strongest side fielded yet.

From the start of this game Donaghmore/Ashbourne produced the flair and cohesion which has evaded them for much of this season. St. Pat’s opened the scoring with a point from a free on 3 minutes but this was to be the extent of their scoring for the next 40 minutes as the visitors took control. Eoin Reilly opened the Donaghmore/Ashbourne account with a point on 6 minutes followed by an Eoin Carroll point on 11 minutes. Scores soon followed from Tadhg Kelly and Sean Harmon as the visitors were moving the ball at pace. Donaghmore/Ashbourne were in control in defence and runs forward by Joe Finnegan and Tadhg Kelly kept St. Pat’s possession curtailed. The improved strength in the Ashbourne performance was noticeable with great intelligence to their play. St. Pat’s were finding it difficult to respond and this was further compounded when Eoin Carroll had the net dancing on 30 minutes. The ball was worked forward from defence to Carroll who found himself in a 2 on 1 situation with the advancing St. Pat’s netminder. He coolly slotted over the goalkeeper’s head to cap a solid first half display. This was a tough game with no quarter asked or given. Emotions spilled over just before the break as players from both sides were involved in an incident which resulted in 3 yellow cards being issued.

The visitors began the second period as they left off at the break. Early points from Andrew Tormey (2) and Eoin Reilly opened an eight point gap. St. Pat’s badly needed a goal to inject some momentum into their challenge but visitors’ defence were not in a generous mood. Two pointed free kicks on 44 and 51 minutes was all the hosts could find in reply. On 54 minutes the ball found its way to Andrew Tormey who struck over his fourth point of the day and essentially squeeze any competitive element from the contest. Roaming corner forward Ciaran Ellis made a fine run through the centre on 56 minutes and finished with a well taken point to complete fine all round team display.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Andy McEntee will be satisfied with this performance as in many respects it is the display the team has been waiting for. Constructive intelligent play was the theme and for the second game in a row did not allow the opposition a score from play.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne: Danny McShane; Ciaran Finn, Cormac McGill, Sean Curran; T. Kelly (0-1), Colm O’Mealoid, Joe Finnegan; R. O’Connor, Bryan Menton; Sean Harmon (0-1), Eoin Reilly (0-2), Eoighan Riordan; Eoin Carroll (1-2), Andrew Tormey (0-4), Ciaran Ellis (0-1).
Subs: Iarlaith O’Donnell for O’Connor (40 mins), Rory Maguire for Tormey (50 mins)