Date: Sunday 22nd August 2010

Venue: Skryne

Full Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-10 Dunsany 1-11
Half Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-08 Dunsany 0-02

Of all the quarter finals Donaghmore Ashbourne were involved in at the weekend the second team’s manner of defeat on Sunday evening is the most disappointing. In summary our lads were in full control for the first three quarters of the game but the final quarter saw us concede 1-07 without reply to lose by a single point. It wasn’t all one way traffic for the final quarter as we did have enough possession to keep the score board ticking over but we hit 5 wides.
The team started well and opened the scoring in the first minute when Mattie Devine converted a 20 meter free when Ross Hanway was fouled. Dunsany replied on 3 minutes with a fisted point. Tony Morgan regained the lead for Donaghmore Ashbourne on 10 minutes with a left footed point from 30 meters. Donaghmore Ashbourne had a chance to extend the lead on 11 minutes when a good move opened the Dunsany defence but Eric Callaghan’s diving fisted attempt went wide of the post. Keith Scally did extend the lead on 15 minutes with a point from an acute angle. We had another goal chance on 20 minutes but Ross Hanway’s low drive went across the goals and narrowly wide.
Dunsany’s second score of the game came from a free on 21 minutes however our lads finished the half with 5 unanswered points. Paul Gilligan pointed on 22 minutes, Eric Callaghan on 25 minutes, Devine on 28 minutes, Cathal Field on 29 minutes and finally Gilligan pointing from an acute angle in injury time.
Both sides traded scores early in the second quarter with Devine scoring within a minute of the restart and Dunsany replying on 33 minutes. Donaghmore Ashbourne had a third goal chance on the evening on 39 minutes when Stephen Kavanagh broke free and his drive came crashing off the bar. Scally was on hand to collect the rebound 20 meters out and pop it over the bar. Again Dunsany replied with a point within a minute of Scally’s score.
Tony Morgan looked to have sealed the result on 44 minutes when he eventually raised the green flag after a good team move that involved Ciaran Finn and Stephen Kavanagh who fed Morgan off his shoulder.Morgan broke through the defence and fired low into the corner of the net. This put Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-10 to 0-04 ahead as they entered the final quarter and no one could have predicted the outcome from here.
Dunsany pointed on 46 minutes and on 47 minutes hit a goal to leave 5 between the teams. Further points from frees on 48 and 51 minutes reduced the deficit to three .In the final 10 minutes our lads hit 5 wides (one of which was a goal chance) while at the other end of the field Dunsany pointed three further times to bring the sides level heading for the final whistle. Dunsany’s recovery was completed 3 minutes into injury time when they took the lead for the first time in the game. Donaghmore Ashbourne were awarded a free in a scoreable position but indiscipline off the ball left referee Liam O’Brien with no option but to change his decision and give a throw ball and we lost any opportunity for extra time.
This was definitely a game we had thrown away when we were in control.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: A.Colgan; J.P Casserly, J. Long, P. Finn; C. Finn, M. Lynch, I. O’Donnell; T. Morgan(1-1), L. Tormey; M. Devine(0-3) (2f), E. Callaghan (0-1), C. Field (0-1); R. Hanway, S. Kavanagh, K. Scally(0-2)

Subs: P. Gilligan(0-2) for Casserly (Inj)