Junior 2 Hurling Match Report

Date: Sunday 19th July 2009

Venue: Dunsany

Full time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 2-14 Na Fianna 2-02
Half time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-09 Na Fianna 1-02

Donaghmore Ashbourne’s second hurling team continued their good run of form in the Junior 2 Hurling Championship with a well deserved victory over Na Fianna in Dunsany on Sunday.
Donaghmore Ashbourne had a lot of possession early on and managed to hit 4 consecutive wides in the opening minutes before Padraig Durkan opened the scoring on 6 minutes with a point from a sideline cut from an acute angle. Donaghmore Ashbourne did have a goal chance a minute later but a Ronan Garry’s flick went narrowly wide while at the other end Na Fianna equalised from the resulting puck out. Points form Sean Benville and Paul Rainsford restored Donaghmore Ashbourne’s lead and they also had another couple of chances go wide.
Na Fianna took advantage of the wayward shooting when they found the back of the net on 11 minutes to take the lead for the first time in the game.
This score seemed to kick Donaghmore Ashbourne into gear and they dominated the remainder of the half. Paul Rainsford drew the sides level on 12 minutes with a well taken point form 30 meters. John Broderick found the net a minute later when he was first to react to a save from the Na Fianna keep after a Durkan shot from the corner of the field. Broderick flicked the ball to the net.
Although Na Fianna did reply with a point on 14 minutes Donaghmore Ashbourne finished out the first half strong with 5 unanswered points. Rainsford scored from 30 meters out and Brendan Murphy raised the flag twice from a free and a 65.  Sean Benville and Stephen Meagher also pointed from long range to give Donaghmore Ashbourne a 1-09 to 1-2 lead at the break.
As expected with any Na Fianna team, they were not going to go down without a battle and they started well by finding the back of the net within a minute of the restart. Both sides did have plenty of chances during the second period by this was Na Fianna’s only score as they registered a further six wides although enjoying a lot of possession. Their failure to convert their chances was mainly down to very good defensive play by the Donaghmore Ashbourne back line as they did not allow the opposition time to get a good strike at the ball.
Sean Benville did extend the Donaghmore Ashbourne lead on 33 minutes with 20 meter point. Rainsford added a further brace of points on 38 and 48 minutes before Padraig Durkan scored his second of the afternoon with a point from 30 meters out. Rainsford capped off a fine performance with another point late on.
A Conor Carey goal on 59 minutes put a gloss on the score line but at times it was not that comfortable for Donaghmore Ashbourne. This victory ensures that with one game to go the lads are qualifies for the playoffs.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: R. Mc Manus; D. Green, P. Finglas, P. Giblin; S. Markham, B. Murphy(0-2) (1f), P. Durkan(0-2); C. Carey (1-0), Ian Dowd; S. Benville(0-3), S. Meagher(0-1), D. Cullen; J. Broderick (1-0), P. Rainsford(0-6), R. Garry

Subs: E. Mc Cabe for Garry