Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-11 St. Colmcilles 0-13

With questions been asked all week will the game go ahead or will it not, it was a difficult time for the players of Donaghmore/Ashbourne but they surely stood up to be counted tonight in Skyrne. This was a thrilling game to watch and was end to end stuff.  Donaghmore/Ashbourne got off to the perfect start with Leo Reilly taking a mark from a long ball in from winning the throw in.  Leo obliged by putting it over the bar.  Don/Ash were in control and playing with intent and were awarded with a goal after Bryan Menton sent the perfect pass to the on running Thomas McGovern who made no mistake when he buried the ball in the back of the net with 5 minutes on the clock.  David Bell got the Cilles on the board with a point from play after 6 minutes. Dylan Brady was next up with good play out the field where Michael Deegan was instrumental in getting the ball to Brady who made it 1-2 to 0-1 after 7 minutes of play. 

Deegan was involved again in kicking a long ball to Darragh O’Sullivan to take the mark but unfortunately he just put it wide from his left foot.  Cristian Finlay was next up for the Cilles with a fine point from play.  Donaghmore/Ashbourne were guilty of a few wides while they allowed Cilles back into the match with points from Matthew Breen and Adam Lynch.  Thomas McGovern was fouled on a run towards goal and Andrew Tormey put over the resulting free to leave it 1-3 to 4pts.  We had several more chances to go ahead but couldn’t seem to get them over the bar and finished the half with 7 wides.  Meanwhile Cilles finished the half strongly with points from James Conlon 2 1f and Andrew Beakey from a placed ball. The work rate from both sides was phenomenal and no doubt but for the good work of our defence it could have been a different story at half time.  From Shane Melia at full back to James Redmond and Evan Quinn they were superb. Our half backs worked tirelessly  lead by Sean Curran at centre back flanked by Thomas McGovern and Conor Carton. It was all to play for and both sides must have been relieved to hear the whistle at half time as it was a very warm night in Skyrne.  It finished Cilles 0-7 to Don/Ash 1-3 at the interval.

The second started with anticipation that we would hopefully convert more than we put wide as happened in the first half.  With the lads looking very determined the 2nd half started well with patient build up, the ball was sent out to Tormey about 35 yards out and he aimed for the posts and the white flag was raised. It was all level.  Leo Reilly put us 1 up with 35 minutes gone.  Kevin Cully and Bryan Menton in the middle of the park were winning a lot of ball from Andy Colgan kickouts and using it well.  James Conlon who was a thorn in the side all night got the next 2 points from play and it was Cilles back in front by 1 point.  It was time to put our heads on the line and Shane Melia certainly did that, aided by James Redmond and Evan Quinn to try contain Conlon and Bell.  A good ball in from Tormey to Darragh O’Sullivan got us back on level terms once more.  James Crumlish was on for Jamie Browne, Kevin Fenton for Dylan Brady and as is always said it is a squad that wins the game not just the 15 that start.  Byran Menton scored a great point to go 1 up but David Bell replied with a point from a free with 47 minutes gone. 

The next few minutes saw us put 2 chances wide but up pops Leo Reilly on 51 minutes to put us 1 up again. Zach Thornton was on for Deegan.  Graham Reilly (Biggy) was on for Cristian Finlay who had replaced Cathal Hillard when he pulled up in the warm up.  In Biggy style he launched over a point from about 40 meters out and it was all level again. James Crumlish was next up to put over a fine point from play showing how important our bench is. 

Leo Reilly was in attack with about 6 minutes left in normal time when suddenly the place went into darkness as the flood lights went out in Skyrne. Both teams were taken off the pitch and retreated to the dressing rooms.  All you could hear around the grounds from the large attendance were kids calling for their parents but everyone was very calm and hoped that the lights would come back on. The announcement said they were working to get the flood lights back on again and asked everyone to be patient. 

Brian Thomas from Donaghmore/Ashbourne Club came to the rescue with his expertise as an electrician and after 25 minutes the lights came on again. The game resumed after a short warm up by both teams.  Andrew Tormey restarted the match as Don/Ash had possession when the lights went out.  The ball was sent into Menton who after showing his class fisted over the bar to go 2 points up. Cilles had their chances but put one wide from play before a player was fouled and a free awarded.  Andrew Beakey didn’t make a mistake and put it over to leave the minimum between the teams once more.  With time almost up Leo Reilly scored his 4th point of the night and Don/Ash looked as if they had done enough to get the win, but James Conlon had other ideas and closed the gap to 1 point before the final whistle went for a deserved win for Donaghmore/Ashbourne. 

This was probably the best performance in the championship so far for Don/Ash and will be delighted tonight to have reached the Semi-final of the Keegan Cup.  With all the adversities this week the lads will be glad to have come out the right side of this quarter final and well done to management for keeping them focused.

Donaghmore Ashbourne:  Andy Colgan, James Redmond, Shane Melia, Evan Quinn, Thomas McGovern (1-0), Sean Curran, Conor Carton, Kevin Cully, Bryan Menton (0-2), Leo Reilly (0-4 1m), Michael Deegan, Jamie Browne, Darragh O’Sullivan (0-1), Andrew Tormey (0-2 1f), Dylan Brady (0-1).

Subs:- James Crumlish (40) for Browne, Kevin Fenton (43) for Brady, Zach Thornton (51) for Deegan, Michael O’Sullivan (59) for Darragh O’Sullivan. 

Referee David Coldrick.

 

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