In arrears by five points with as many minutes left, Wolfe Tones managed to force a draw with Donaghmore-Ashbourne in this SFC encounter at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.

D-Asbourne ......... 1-15
Wolfe Tones ........ 2-12

Last year's runners-up looked set for their second win of the campaign - following on from their opening round success over Rathkenny.

Entering the 60th minute, four points separated the teams. The experienced Stephen Corrigan capitalised on some defensive hesitancy to force a goal.

Then in the third minute of stoppage time, Niall McLoughlin placed top scorer Thomas O'Reilly for the leveling score. It was the only time the sides were tied after the break.

Sean Barry's charges might see it as a point lost while Tony Kearney can laud his team's persistance in the face of the prospect of a second defeat of the campaign.

A scoring charge that bridged the interval seems set to earn Donaghmore-Ashbourne their second win of the campaign.

It turned Donaghmore-Ashbourne's 0-4 to 0-6 deficit to a 0-13 to 0-7 lead by the 42nd minute. They outscored Wolfe Tones by 0-9 to 0-1 in 14 minutes.

Sub Fiachra Ward's 43rd minute goal halved the deficit. Donaghmore-Ashbourne responded instantly with Daragh McGovern finishing to the net at the end of a passing move to the town goal.

Donaghmore-Ashbourne moved six points clear on two further occasions subsequently.

McLoughlin also provided the assist for O''Reilly's penultimate score that trimmed the gap to four points by the 58th minute.

Wolfe Tones outscored Donaghmore-Ashbourne by 1-3 to 0-0 from the 55th minute and deserve credit for the manner in which they extracted something from this fixture.

Cian Ward (honeymoon) was absent for the 'Tones while injury restricted his brother Fiachra to an influential cameo role.

The scores were level three times in the opening third, during which time the 'Tones led on three occasions.  Sean Barry's charges hit the front for the first time, 0-4 to 0-3, through Thomas McGovern in the 19th minute.

Wolfe Tones responded well with the next three scores to lead 0-6 to 0-4 after 28 minutes. Donaghmore-Ashbourne closed the half with three scores on the spin with David Carey, Darragh McGovern and Paul Gilligan contributing.

From the restart, Donaghmore-Ashbourne maintained that momentum before Wolfe Tones' resilience force them to settle for a draw.

Donaghmore-Ashbourne - Jack Hannigan; JP Casserly, Cormac McGill, Conor Carton (0-1); David Carey (0-1), Shane Melia, Paul Gilligan (0-3, 2fs); Brendan Martin (0-2), Conor Carey (0-1); Ciaran Ellis (0-3), Dylan Brady, Colm O Mealoid; Thomas McGovern (0-2), John Broderick (0-1), Daragh McGovern (1-1). Subs - Leo Reilly for Carey (49), Sean Byrne for Brady (54), Jack Giles for Casserly (60).

Wolfe Tones - David Nolan; Niall O'Reilly, Dan O'Neill, Stephen Sheppard; Niall McLoughlin, Eoghan Harrington, Eanna Harrington; Stephen Corrigan (1-0), Paddy Diamond; Conor Sheppard, Mark Coleman, Alan Callaghan (0-3); Caolan Ward, Thomas O'Reilly (0-9, 6fs), Saran O Fionnagain. Subs - Fiachra Ward for C Ward (38), Shane Glynn for Diamond (38), Diamond for O Fionnagain (54)

Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's)

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