MFC final: Early goals set Don-Ash en route to title
October 14, 2018
Donaghmore Ashbourne's James Brady with Aaron Lynch St. Colmcilles during the Meath MFC final at Pairc Tailteann
Two opening quarter goals set Donaghmore-Ashbourne on their way to the MFC title in the Pairc Tailteann curtain-raiser.
Don-Ashbourne ...... 4-11
St Colmcille's ..... 0-12
Those scores ensured Donaghmore-Ashbourne regained the Delaney Cup for the first time since 2013.
Donaghmore-Ashbourne built on Simon Wilson and Kevin Cully's opening quarter goals with Darragh O'Sullivan's sole three-pointer that left it 3-1 to 0-3 afer 19 minutes.
The second quarter was more competitive with St Colmcille's posting four points, one less than Donaghmore-Ashbourne.
By the 27th minute Donaghmore-Ashbourne were 10 points ahead, 3-5 to 0-4. St Colmcille's improved slightly in the run-in to the interval.
Cathal Butler's point left St Colmcille's - who won the opening round meeting between the sides - eight points off the lead, 0-7 to 3-6, at the break.
Even though they chalked up seven second-half wides (to St Colmcille's three) Donaghmore-Ashbourne never looked like surrendering their lead.
In the 42nd minute, Donaghmore-Ashbourne completed their goal tally with Evan Quinn twice involved in the build-up with Dawson Devoy also assisting.
Matthew Crumlish netted at the two end to leave 11 points between the sides with the board reading, 4-8 to 0-9.
Matters drew to a conclusion in the final quarter in which Donaghmore-Ashbourne outscored St Colmcille's by 0-3 to 0-1.
A highlight of the final quarter came in the 52nd minute when Donaghmore-Ashbourne 'keeper Ethan Tormey got on the scoresheet with a 40-metre free into the town goal.
Backed by the sun when playing towards the town goal, David Bell pointed St Colmcille's ahead inside 35 seconds.
Seconds later Donaghmore-Ashbourne made their mark Killian Hogan and Dawson Devoy with Simon Wilson netting.
Donaghmore-Ashbourne - Ethan Tormey (0-1 f); Andrew O'Dwyer (0-1), Karl Cassidy, Kevin Cully (1-0); Luke Barrett, David Carr (C), Matthew Crumlish (1-0); Cillian Hegarty (0-1), Killian Hogan; Evan Quinn, Darragh O'Sullivan (1-2, 0-1 f), James Brady; Colm Cox, Simon Wilson (1-3), Dawson Devoy (0-3, 1f). Subs - David Keenan for Brady (44), Jamie Brown for Quinn (54), Dylan Rooney for Cully (57), Simon Purcell for Barrett (60 + 1), David Donnelly for Devoy (60 + 2).
St Colmcilles - Cian Flynn; Gary Burke, Hugo Collins, Jamie Duffy; Oran Kinch, Aaron Lynch (C), Stephen Breen; Luke Brady (0-2), Daniel Doyle; Ruairi Hanlon (0-1 f), Endy Ehichoya, Cathal Butler (0-1); David Bell (0-4, 2fs), Ross Molloy (0-2), Ben Wilde (0-1). Subs - Sean O'Donoghue (0-1) for Duffy (25), Adam McCabe for Doyle (34), Ewan Coughlan for Wilde (38), Ferdia Quigley for Hanlon (54), Sean Collier for Ehichoya (60).
Referee - Liam O'Brien (Duleek-Bellewstown).
