Minor League Division 1

Date: 3rd May 2010

Venue: Ashbourne

Full Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 4-14 Dunshaughlin 1-06
Half Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-04 Dunshaughlin 0-04

Donaghmore Ashbourne minor football team had to work hard to see off an under strength but determined Dunshaughlin side in the Division 1 League semi final in Ashbourne yesterday to book a place in the final this coming weekend.

Although the final score line shows a huge margin between the sides it was not that easy for the home side for much of the game. In fact, the first half was, as the score line suggests a very even affair as both sides played good open football. The visitors were first out of the blocks and looked to have learned more from the previous week’s group game encounter as they raced into a 2 point lead in the opening couple of minutes. Although Cormac Fagan reduced the deficit on 3 minutes a further two unanswered points from the visitors gave them a three point lead after 10 minutes. Points from David Carey and Mattie Devine at the end of the first quarter kept the home side in the game and it was not until 5 minutes to go that the home side took the lead when Daragh Curran collected a kick out and found Devine in space where he kept his cool to find the net. A late point from Hayden Devoy gave the home side a three point lead at the interval.

The third quarter of the game was another even affair with both sides trading scores after the interval with Gareth Deery pointing for the home side and Dunshaughlin replying a minute later. Further points from David Murtagh (33 minutes) and Devine on 36 minutes where soon cancelled out by Dunshaughlin when they found the back of the net on 38 minutes to leave only two points between the teams heading for the final quarter
However with the visitor’s chasing the game they left space at the back and the home side took advantage and finished strong. When Devine found the net for a second time the Dunshaughlin heads dropped and the home side pulled away. During the final period Donaghmore Ashbourne managed to outscore the visitor’s by 3-07 to 0-01 to end up with a flattering score line that did not reflect the opening three quarters of the game.
However it was mission accomplished as Donaghmore Ashbourne booked a place in the final against the competition favourites and neighbours Ratoath.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: S. Kent; C. Walsh, K. Callaghan, M. Mc Cabe; O. O’Donnell, S. Melia, G. Deery(0-2); D. Curran (0-1), D. Carey(0-2); E. Rogers (1-1), M. Devine (3-3) (3f), C. Fagan (0-2); C. Buckley, H.Devoy (0-1), D. Murtagh (0-2)

Subs: M. Nugent (0-1) for Devoy, T. O’Connor for Buckley, N. Brady for Mc Cabe, A. Brady for Murtagh,
D. Maloney for Rogers.