Dee Rangers 1-12 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-03

The 2024 intermediate champions Dee Rangers hosted Donaghmore/Ashbourne in Syddan for the first round of the Kepak sponsored Meath LGFA Senior championship on Thursday evening. 

Dee Rangers were determined to make their mark on the senior championship and were first to record a score, a pointed free from sharp shooter Ava Curran. 

Lara O’Neill was next to get on the score sheet with a fine long range point from play, leaving the score 0-02 to 0-00 in favour of the home side at the water break. 

Dee Rangers continued to dominate possession with their defence proving very difficult for Donaghmore/Asbourne to break down. 

Corner back Ellen Cassidy found herself on the attack after the restart, Cassidy slipped a sleek pass off to Grace Durnin who popped the ball over the bar to record her first point of the day. 

Defender Niamh Byrne worked hard to overturn the Donaghmore/Ashbourne attack and delivered a great ball into corner forward Ava Curran, Curran was fouled and Grace Durnin converted the free to leave four between the sides with twenty minutes gone on the clock. 

Inter-county midfielder Orlaith Sheehy showed her talent under the high ball, winning the Donaghmore/Ashbourne kick out cleanly in the air. 

Sheehy launched the ball forward and Grace Durnin gathered it, Durnin turned and sailed the ball over the bar from the 45. 

Full back Orlaith Duff orchestrated things in defence for Dee Rangers, making a number of impressive blocks to keep her side ahead in the closing stages of the first half. 

Curran chipped in with the final score of the half for her side, a pointed free. 

Donaghmore Ashbourne finally recorded their first score of the day on the stroke of half time a pointed free from Ciara Doherty. 

Half time score: Dee Rangers 0-06 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-01

Dee Rangers started the second half at the same blistering pace. Wingback Ellen Carolan with a lovely ball inside to Meena McConnell. McConnell charged at the Donaghmore/Ashbourne defence and left them no option but to foul her. Ava Curran tapping the free kick over the bar to record Dee Rangers first score of the second half after only one minute. 

Midfielder Lisa Young dispossessed her marker and fed the ball into the path of Lara O’Neill, O’Neill was fouled and Ava Curran stepped up, she tapped a quick ball to Lara who popped the ball over the bar to push the home side 0-08 to 0-01 ahead. 

Grace Durnin and Ava Curran recorded a point apiece before the water break which left the score Dee Rangers 0-10 Donaghmore/Ashbounre 0-01. 

Another fantastic turnover by Lisa Young left the Donaghmore/Ashbourne defence scrambling to get back, Lisa found Ava Curran with a precision pass and Curran slotted the ball to the back of the net, dashing any hopes of a Donaghmore/Ashbourne revival. 

Donaghmore/Ashbourne free taker Ciara Doherty scored her sides first point of the second half just before the water break. The scoreboard now reading Dee Rangers 1-10 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-02. 

After the restart Ciara Doherty got on the end of a dangerous ball inside from midfielder Orla Shortt but referee Joseph Curran deemed Doherty to be inside the square before the ball and awarded a free to Dee Rangers before Doherty could make contact with the ball. 

Doherty scored her sides final point of the evening a well taken free from the right wing. Leaving her teams tally for the evening at three points. Dee Rangers weren’t finished just yet with Ava Curran recording a further two points before the final whistle, one from play and one from a free. 

The game ended on a score line of Dee Rangers 1-12 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-03. 

Dee Rangers will be pleased with this performance after returning to the senior ranks for the first time since 2016. 

Their next game is an away fixture vs Dunboyne. 

Fixture details will be shared on the Dee Ranger social media pages when finalised. 

Dee Ranger team: Sinead Carolan, Anna Myles, Orlaith Duff, Ellen Cassidy, Ellen Carolan, Alanna Reilly, Niamh Byrne, Orlaith Sheehy, Lisa Young, Alanna McNulty, Meena McConnell, Emma Halpenny, Ava Curran (1-06), Lara O’Neill (0-02), Grace Durnin (0-04). 

 

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