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Written by DonAsh PRO   
Junior 2 Hurling Semi Final
Saturday 22nd August 2009
Venue: Dunsany

Full Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 2-13 Trim 1-09
Half Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-08 Trim 0-02

Donaghmore Ashbourne’s second hurling team continued their good run in the championship to book a place in the 2009 final after a hard found semi final win over Trim in Dunsany. Both sides traded wides early on before Stephen Meagher opened the scoring for Donaghmore Ashbourne with a long range point on 5 minutes. Graham Byrne extended the lead with a point a minute later and by the end of the 10th minute Donaghmore Ashbourne had doubled the lead when Sean Benville and Padraig Durkan pointed from frees within a minute.

Graham Byrne made it 5 unanswered points on 12 minutes when he managed to strike a ball over the bar from 20 meters although under pressure from Trim defence. By the end of the first quarter Ian Dowd’s experience came to the fore as he kicked a ball into the path of Brian Fitzgerald, who collected, rounded the advancing keeper and fired to the empty net.

Although Trim did have a number of chances in the first quarter to open their account, Donaghmore Ashbourne’s defence who were not in a generous mood put the Trim lads under pressure and the attemts went wide. Trim did manage to open their account on 19 minutes but the Donaghmore Ashbourne response was instant as Byrne got his third of game on 20 minutes when he pointed after a great solo run and strike from 30 meters. Sean Benville doubled his tally with a 40 meter on 22 minutes.

Both sides traded points in the later end of the half with Ian Dowd pointing on 27minutes. The final score of the half came from full forward Paul Rainsford. He showed his experience and commitment as he collected a ball at the edge of the square and with the full back and keeper trying to close him down he rode the tackle and fired to the net to give Donaghmore Ashbourne a 2-08 to 0-02 lead at the break.

The half time whistle came as a welcome relief for the Trim side as they had an opportunity to reorganise their team. As expected a number of positional changes took place and the second half was not as open an affair as the first period. This period of game was a tough encounter with a lot of play in the congested middle third of the field. Both sides traded points early in the half with Trim scoring first from a free on 36 minutes with Byrne replying a minute later when he pointed from 20 meters after a good pass from Ian Dowd. Byrne was on the score sheet again on 40 minutes when he pointed from 20 meters despite being under pressure.

Trim to their credit never gave up and did manage to four unanswered points mid way through the second half with all four scores coming from frees. Donaghmore Ashbourne’s last score in normal time came on 52 minutes when Sean Benville pointed from a 20 meter free right on the side line.

With minutes remaining on the clock and a substantial injury time expected Trim managed to register an unanswered 1-02 from play to give the Donaghmore Ashbourne management and supporters a worrying time going into the closing stages.

However two late injury time scores from Conor Carey and Brian Fitzgerald was enough to see Donaghmore Ashbourne book a place in the final. It was a good overall team performance from Donaghmore Ashbourne and the blend of youth and experience can look forward to a well deserved place in the final.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: R. Mc Manus, D. Greene, P. Finglas, E. Mc Cabe; S. Markham, B. Murphy, P. Durkan(0-1) (1f); C. Carey(0-1), S. Meagher(0-1), D. Cullen, I. Dowd(0-1), S. Benville(0-3)(3f); B. Fitzgearald(1-1), P. Rainsford(1-0), G. Byrne(0-5)
Subs: A Tormey for Mc Cabe, L. Tormey for Cullen, C. Finn for Rainsford.
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