Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-11 Simonstown 0-08 After losing the first three games of the championship and rooted at the bottom of the table a hard earned win over seasoned campaigners Sensechalstown last weekend gave Donaghmore Ashbourne a much need confidence boost going into the final ground game against Simonstown on Saturday evening. Donaghmore Ashbourne got the perfect start in Skryne when Ciaran Ellis broke upfield from the throw in and his shot from long range looped over the Simonstown keeper, hit the post and ended in the back of the net after 18 seconds. Playing at a high tempo Donaghmore Ashbourne extended the lead on 3 minutes with an Eoin Riordan point from 20 meters. Ellis was also involved in the third score on 8 minutes when he had another penetrating solo run through the Simonstown defence and his cross field ball found Andrew Tormey. Tormey laid off the ball to Rory Maguire who pointed from 20 metres. Simonstown did reply with a long range point on 9 minutes. Donaghmore Ashbourne finished the quarter with intense pressure by their forwards which resulted in turning over possession and with the ball coming to Niall Farrell he pointed from 20 meters on 15 minutes. The second quarter continued at a hectic pace with Donaghmore Ashbourne working very hard throughout the field. The sides traded points early in the quarter with Simonstown scoring from a 50 metre free on 17 minutes and Andrew Tormey replying with a 20 meter free on 21 minutes. Both sides had a number of chances later in the half with Simonstown having two goal chances in quick succession. Their first attempt on 23 minutes went across the goals and wide and a second attempt on 25 minutes saw Danny Mc Shane pull off a good save. Eoin Reilly got the final score of the half with a 45 meter point from the ground on 28 minutes to see Donaghmore Ashbourne lead at the break by 1-05 to 0-02. The second half was similar to the first period with Donaghmore Ashbourne working very hard to stop Colm O'Rourke's men getting control of the game. Eoin Riordan extended Donaghmore Ashbourne's lead on 37 minutes with a free from the sideline. Although Simonstown did manage two points on 38 and 39 minutes Andrew Tormey replied with a point from 40 meters following a good pass from Eoin Reilly on 40 minutes. Simonstown again managed to eat slightly into the Donaghmore Ashbourne lead with two unanswered points from frees on 42 and 43 minutes to leave 4 points between the teams going into the final quarter. Bryan Menton opened his account on 46 minutes with a good team score which saw Tadg Kelly and Ciaran Ellis involved in the move before Menton pointed from 25 metres. Donaghmore Ashbourne finished with confidence and had the better of the final stages and although they outscored Simonstown by 3 points to 2 in this period they did have a further 4 wides. The Donaghmore Ashbourne scores came from Menton on 49 minutes when he pointed from 20 meter following a good pass from Rory O'Connor and Riordan pointed from 30 meter on 60 minutes. The final point of the night went to Niall Farrell who collected a Rory O'Connor ball fisted forward from the kickout and he pointed from 30 meters in injury time. Overall this was one of Donaghmore Ashbourne's best performances of the season, with all the players playing their part in the success. Credit goes to the management and team who, despite the poor results earlier in the competition managed to turn in two great performances in successive weeks to avoid the relegation dog fight. With a full strength side throughout the year this team could still have been involved in the championship but hopefully the experience will help them next year. Donaghmore Ashbourne: Danny Mc Shane; Martin Lynch, Cormac Mc Gill,, Sean Curran; Ciaran Ellis (1-0), Tadg Kelly, Joe Finnegan; Rory O'Connor, Bryan Menton (0-2); Eoin Riordan (0-3) (2f), Niall Farrell(0-2), Sean Harmon, Eoin Reilly(0-1)(1f), Andrew Tormey (0-2), Rory Maguire(0-1). Subs: John Broderick for Sean Harmon, Colm O'Mealoid for Kelly. Tweet

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