MFC final: Early goals set Don-Ash en route to title

Donaghmore Ashbourne's James Brady with Aaron Lynch St. Colmcilles during the Meath MFC final at Pairc Tailteann

Two opening quarter goals set Donaghmore-Ashbourne on their way to the MFC title in the Pairc Tailteann curtain-raiser.

Don-Ashbourne ...... 4-11

St Colmcille's ..... 0-12

Those scores ensured Donaghmore-Ashbourne regained the Delaney Cup for the first time since 2013.

Donaghmore-Ashbourne built on Simon Wilson and Kevin Cully's opening quarter goals with Darragh O'Sullivan's sole three-pointer that left it 3-1 to 0-3 afer 19 minutes. 

The second quarter was more competitive with St Colmcille's posting four points, one less than Donaghmore-Ashbourne. 

By the 27th minute Donaghmore-Ashbourne were 10 points ahead, 3-5 to 0-4. St Colmcille's improved slightly in the run-in to the interval. 

Cathal Butler's point left St Colmcille's - who won the opening round meeting between the sides - eight points off the lead, 0-7 to 3-6, at the break. 

Even though they chalked up seven second-half wides (to St Colmcille's three) Donaghmore-Ashbourne never looked like surrendering their lead. 

In the 42nd minute, Donaghmore-Ashbourne completed their goal tally with Evan Quinn twice involved in the build-up with Dawson Devoy also assisting. 

Matthew Crumlish netted at the two end to leave 11 points between the sides with the board reading, 4-8 to 0-9.

Matters drew to a conclusion in the final quarter in which Donaghmore-Ashbourne outscored St Colmcille's by 0-3 to 0-1. 

A highlight of the final quarter came in the 52nd minute when Donaghmore-Ashbourne 'keeper Ethan Tormey got on the scoresheet with a 40-metre free into the town goal.

Backed by the sun when playing towards the town goal, David Bell pointed St Colmcille's ahead inside 35 seconds. 

Seconds later Donaghmore-Ashbourne made their mark Killian Hogan and Dawson Devoy with Simon Wilson netting. 

Donaghmore-Ashbourne - Ethan Tormey (0-1 f); Andrew O'Dwyer (0-1), Karl Cassidy, Kevin Cully (1-0); Luke Barrett, David Carr (C), Matthew Crumlish (1-0); Cillian Hegarty (0-1), Killian Hogan; Evan Quinn, Darragh O'Sullivan (1-2, 0-1 f), James Brady; Colm Cox, Simon Wilson (1-3), Dawson Devoy (0-3, 1f). Subs - David Keenan for Brady (44), Jamie Brown for Quinn (54), Dylan Rooney for Cully (57), Simon Purcell for Barrett (60 + 1), David Donnelly for Devoy (60 + 2).

St Colmcilles - Cian Flynn; Gary Burke, Hugo Collins, Jamie Duffy; Oran Kinch, Aaron Lynch (C), Stephen Breen; Luke Brady (0-2), Daniel Doyle; Ruairi Hanlon (0-1 f), Endy Ehichoya, Cathal Butler (0-1); David Bell (0-4, 2fs), Ross Molloy (0-2), Ben Wilde (0-1). Subs - Sean O'Donoghue (0-1) for Duffy (25), Adam McCabe for Doyle (34), Ewan Coughlan for Wilde (38), Ferdia Quigley for Hanlon (54), Sean Collier for Ehichoya (60). 

Referee - Liam O'Brien (Duleek-Bellewstown).