IFC: Don/Ash lose to Kilmainham
April 12, 2015
David Morgan made a return to action for Donaghmore Ashbourne
Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-05
Kilmainham 1-08
Despite putting up a great gusty performance for much of the match Donaghmore Ashbourne's Intermediate team came away from Walterstown with nothing other than a moral victory as they lost their opening round game to Kilmainham. Overall the Donaghmore Ashbourne second string never let the North Meath side pull away and it was only two late injury time points that ensured the victory for Kilmainham.
The first half was a low scoring but tight affair and in truth there was little between the teams for much of this period. Sam Benville opened the scoring for Donaghmore Ashbourne with a 20 meter free on 5 minutes with Kilmainham replying with a point a minute later. David Morgan, making his comeback following a serious injury last year restored the Donaghmore lead when he converted a 45 meter free straight off the ground on 8 minutes. Both sides contested every ball for the remainer of the half but scores were at a premium. It was not until the 23 minutes that Kilmainham brought the sides level again and they took the lead a minute later with their third of the evening. The final score of the half also went to the North Meath men in injury time as they headed to the dressing room with a 0-04 to 0-02 advantage.
Kilmainham extended their lead with a point within a minute of the restart and the crucial score of the game came on 37 minutes when they scored a great goal to go 1-05 to 0-02 ahead. Like the first half the teams contested every ball for the remainder of the game and Donaghmore Ashbourne never gave up. Tadg Kelly pointed on 49 minutes but this was cancelled out with a 52 minute Kilmainham reply. David Morgan raised the white flag for Donaghmore Ashbourne with a free on 51 minutes and Kelly got his second of the evening with a good score on 53 minutes to leave only 4 points between the teams. It was only in injury time when the North Meath men could breathe a sigh of relief as they managed two further insurance points within 60 seconds to run out 1-08 to 0-05 winners.
Next up for Donaghmore Ashbourne is Athboy's Clann na nGael at the same venue next weekend.
Donaghmore Ashbourne: P. Durkan; G. Deery, T. Kelly(0-2), D. Lawlor; J. Mc Carney, M. Lynch, D. Murtagh; R. O'Connor, C. Brady, K. Fenton, C. Field, D. Brady; S. Benville(0-1) (1f), D. Morgan(0-2), (2f), D. Dowd. Subs: I. O'Donnell for Fenton (16 mins), S. Kavanagh for Dowd (44 mins), I. Byrne for D. Brady (51 mins), T. Morgan for S. Benville (55 mins)
