Div3 league 2010

Our second team were out against Navan O Mahonys last Saturday, the 13^th, in the Division 3 League. This was their first day out since they won the Junior B Championship Final last year.

Inevitably,with it being their first day out, they started the first half somewhat slowly but got into the game gradually and began to push on against the 2009 Junior A semi-finalists. They were in touch with the opposition throughout the first half until Navan got through and scored an extremely fortunate goal just minutes before the half time whistle. And with that, the Navan men went into the break ahead by 4 points.

Both teams started the second half well and put on a good display of hurling. But Navan had the wind on their backs in the second half and they made effective use of that advantage. And as the second half progressed that advantage began to take effect. They piled the pressure onto the Ashbourne defence, who held strong to begin with, but unfortunately a few goals were leaked and Navan finished out eventual and comfortable winners in the end.

Full time score Ash Navan

Team list: Ronan McManus, Paddy Daly, Seán Robinson, Paul Giblin, Fiach Ó Loingsigh, Padraic Durcan, Seán Markham, Conor Carey, Leon Tormey, Conor Walsh, Seán Benville, Colm Randle, Fionán Mulvihill, Colm Doherty.

Div2 League 2010

Our first team were also out last weekend, in their first game of the Division 2 league against St. Peters of Dunboyne. The game’s action began excruciatingly slow, with neither team taking any initiative whatsoever. But even so, our lads were playing the stronger, albeit with the wind at their backs, and did manage to make progress through the oppositions defence. Unfortunately, they were unable to take full advantage of their progress, Dunboyne defence was holding strong and Ashbourne also put up an alarming wides tally. Even though they were infrequent, there were some nice scores taken. Points from Andy Byrne, Seán Fox and a free from Davy Carey put them ahead after 20 minutes. Up to this point, the Ashbourne defence had managed to keep the Dunboyne attack scoreless. But just then, on 23 minutes, the opposition got a lucky goal which cancelled out Ashbourne’s three scores. This gave Dunboyne a kick start and they pushed on to score another two unanswered points from play. It seemed that our lads would go into the break two points down after having the advantage of the wind, but a free from Seán Fox and a point from Paul Finglas put them level. Half time scoreline --- Ash 0-5  Dun 1-2.

The lads knew at half time that they hadn’t played at all well and were mad to improve in the second half.  Unfortunately, Dunboyne had the wind this half which meant that it was going to be easier for them to pick up their game and take hold of the games momentum. As expected Dunboyne pushed hard to try and take the game but Ashbourne put Trojan work in to keep them at bay and Dunboyne only managed one score in their 15 minute purple patch. With that Ashbourne began their own dominant period  from that point, and three pointed frees from Davy Carey put them on their way. Andy Byrne pointed from play on 54 minutes and his brother Graham followed with a goal a minute later. Another point from Graham Byrne put the game to rest and Ashbourne won in the end with a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-4.

Team List: Morgan Garry, Paul Finglas, John O Riordan, Éanna Butler, Enda O Callaghan, Colm Ó Méalóid, Adrian McManus, Colin Garry, Steven Meagher, Davy Carey, Aonghus Ó Maolmhichil, Andrew Byrne, Graham  Byrne, Paul Rainsford, Seán Fox. Subs: Paddy Finn for S. Meagher, Colm Doherty for M. Garry, Eamonn Hogan for P. Rainsford.