McGovern goal fires Donaghmore Ashbourne into Meath SFC decider

Darragh McGovern celebrates after scoring Donaghmore Ashbourne's crucial goal in their SFC semi final win over Ratoath at Dunganny

Donaghmore Ashbourne sealed their place in the Meath senior football championship final with a 1-14 to 0-12 win over Ratoath in Dunganny.

Darragh McGovern’s goal in the 39th minute proved key for the victors as they reached their first Keegan Cup decider in a decade.

McGovern saw a first-half penalty saved by Devon Burns, after which a two-point free from Daithí McGowan and a Bryan McMahon point brought Ratoath level on 0-5 apiece.

Sean Tyrell’s score would be the difference between the sides come the break, with Donaghmore Ashbourne pushing clear again via the scores of McGovern and Bryan Menton and the former would burst through the middle for the game’s only goal to make it 1-10 to 0-7.

A brace of Adam Ducie points and a Burns free from beyond the arc was the Ratoath response as last year’s runners up trimmed their deficit down to two.

Evan Kelly and Ducie swapped points after that, but Timmy O’Regan’s men would see out the victory with late scores from Thomas McGovern and Andy Colgan (two-point free) to cement their final berth against either holders Summerhill or Wolfe Tones who clash tomorrow at 2pm.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne: Andy Colgan (0-2), Evan Quinn, Shane Melia (0-1), Sean Curran, Sean Tyrell (0-1), Conor Carton, Kevin Fenton, Bryan Menton (0-2), Jamie Browne, Thomas McGovern (0-1), Andy Tormey (0-1), Kevin Cully, Darragh McGovern (1-2), Stephen Carton, Zach Thornton (0-3). Subs: Evan Kelly (0-1), Michael O’Sullivan, Cillian Hegarty

Ratoath: Devon Burns (0-2), Liam Kelly, Conor McGill, Ben Wyer; Rob Hayes, Gavin McGowan, Eamon Wallace, Cian O’Brien, Jack Flynn (0-1), Glen O’Reilly, Daithi McGowan (0-3), Paddy White, Bryan McMahon (0-1), Cian Rogers (0-1), Adam Ducie (0-4). Subs: Callum Brady, Bobby O’Brien, Brian Daly, Joey Wallace, Darragh Kelly

Referee: Cormac Reilly