In registering 1-9 Neil Hackett outscored Rathmolyon on his own as Dunboyne proved too good for the 2006 champions in this M Donnelly SHC quarter-final clash at Ashbourne on Sunday evening. Dunboyne 2-14 Rathmolyon 1-5 All the goals came in the opening half which ended with Dunboyne leading by 2-5 to 1-4 but Enda McManus' men kicked on from the restart and outscored Rathmolyon by 0-9 to 0-1 thereafter. A total of 15 wides will be of some concern to Dunboyne who now face Kilmessan in a 'semi' clash that evokes memories of two final losses to the kingpins of Meath hurling earlier in the decade. Hackett's opening goal was a speculative effort that left it 1-2 to 0-2 after eight minutes. Rathmolyon 'keeper Stephen Ennis saved well from Barry Watters shortly after at the expense of a '65' which Hackett pointed. Rathmolyon were back in the race on a perfect pitch for hurling when Kevin Fagan netted and the same player forced a fine save from Dunboyne's Stephen Reilly shortly after. However, Johnny Gorry's men conceded a second goal when Barry Watters' low drive skidded past Ennis to the net and it was 2-5 to 1-3 22 minutes in. Dunboyne's lead might have been greater as they struck nine first-half wides while Rathmolyon were left to rue passing up a trio of scoring opportunies coming up to the break. The team in yellow and black lost full-back Michael Dunne with a hamstring injury but with Paul Gannon and Sean Moran shining at the rear, had matters in hand. Rathmolyon struck six wides in the third quarter and there were under five minutes remaining when Mike Cole struck their only second-half score from a long range free. Dunboyne added nine second period points with replacements David Moran and Gary Watters getting among the scorers. By the end seven of winning side had got off the mark but only Hackett managed more than a single score while just two Rathmolyon players registered. Dunboyne - S. Reilly; D. Buggle, M. Dunne, Sean Moran; C. O'Shea, P. Fagan, P. Coone; G. Murphy, P. Gannon; J. Watters (0-1), Stephen Moran (0-1), N. Hackett (1-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65); N. Reilly (0-1), B. Watters (1-0), M. O'Grady. Subs - N. Watters for Dunne (half-time), G. Watters (0-1) for B. Watters (37 mins), D. Moran (0-1) for J. Watters (46 mins), Shane Moran for O'Shea (51 mins), N. Smyth for O'Grady (52 mins). Rathmolyon - S. Ennis; M. Lynch, T. Walsh, P. O'Brien; A. Fagan, E. Regan, N. Cole; T. Cosgrave, J. Farrell; G. Cole, T. Henderson, T. Lynch; N. Fagan, K. Fagan (1-1), M. Cole (0-4, 3 frees, 1 sideline). Sub - D. Whelan for Farrell (48 mins). Referee - M. Bartley (Trim). Tweet

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