Alan Tormey's second-half goal proved decisive as Donaghmore/Ashbourne got the better of Trim in this Commons Hardware SFC Group C fixture at Walterstown on Friday night. Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-8 Trim 0-9 The young forward pounced on a Trim defensive error to fire the ball past county netminder Brendan Murphy to leave it 1-5 to 0-6 after 48 minutes. Despite conceding that major score, Trim showed a considerable degree of character to bounce back and level matters, with points from Michael Lowther (two frees) and substitute Mark Gilsenan, heading into the final five minutes of the hour. In those crucial moments Donaghmore/Ashbourne displayed that extra bit of composure posting points through Eoin Carroll and substitute John Broderick to earn their second win from three starts in the competition and put themselves within touching distance of a place in the preliminary quarter-final at least. At the opposite end Trim spurned two late point-scoring opportunities with Ciaran Joyce hitting wide either side of those late scores for the east county side. The losing side were understandably annoyed when referee Cormac Reilly only allowed about 30 seconds of stoppage time at the end of the game. The opening half was less than memorable and produced nearly twice as many wides as scores. Within a minute of the off Niall Farrell fisted last year's IFC champions in front, but his marker Shane Ashe pulled up with an apparent knee injury and had to be withdrawn. County senior panelist Eoin Reilly fisted a second Donaghmore/Ashbourne point and nearly 11 minutes elapsed before Maurice Power got Trim off the mark. A pointed free from Tormey left it 0-3 to 0-1 after 14 minutes. There were no further scores and a lot of mediocre football until two pointed frees from the industrious Lowther in stoppage time at the end of the half left it 0-3 each at the break. There was a distinct improvement in standards on the resumption and during a brief appearance as a temporary replacement for Rory O'Connor, John Broderick made a point for Eoin Carroll and fisted over one himself. Paddy Clarke's charges responded positively with a great effort from Alan Douglas before a brace of pointed frees from Lowther saw them hit the front for the only time in the 39th minute. Moments later Murphy saved well from Tormey but when a David Morgan mishit free wasn't cleared there were little the county 'keeper could do to prevent Donaghmore/Ashbourne's leading scorer on the night from netting the crucial score. Donaghmore/Ashbourne - P. Durkan; J. Long, C. McGill, S. Curran; C. Ellis, C. O Mealoid, M. Lynch; R. O'Connor, K. Lanigan; A. Tormey (1-2, 0-2 frees), I. Dowd, E. Reilly (0-1); D. Morgan, E. Carroll (0-2), N. Farrell (0-1). Subs - J. Broderick (0-2) for Reilly (45 mins), P. Finn for Long (51 mins). Trim - B. Murphy; S. Ashe, D. Hegarty, A. Fay; S. Farrell, D. Fay, R. Brennan; R. Fitzsimons, S. Kennedy; M. Power (0-1), C. Joyce, M. Lowther (0-6, frees); A. Douglas (0-1), C. O'Keeffe, E. McGrath. Subs - C. Delargy for Ashe (2 mins), M. Gilsenan (0-1) for Farrell (51 mins), F. Murphy for O'Keeffe (58 mins). Referee - C. Reilly (St Mary's). Tweet

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