Punched goals in each half proved decisive as Donaghmore/Ashbourne claimed the Drumloe Holdings Division 2 FL title with three points to spare over Navan O'Mahonys at Donore on Sunday afternoon Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-7 Navan O'Mahonys 0-10 David Morgan's 46th minute effort from an Eoin Reilly delivery made it 2-4 to 0-7 and Donaghmore/Ashbourne remained in front to the end to claim the Gaughan Cup. Last year's Division 3 FL winners hit 1-3 in five second-half minutes to lead by 2-6 to 0-7 with 50 minutes gone but were hanging on at the finish against a largely second string O'Mahonys side. Sean Kelly and Sean Barry started just two (Mark Ward and Stephen O'Toole) of the side that claimed SFC honours last month. However, O'Mahonys bossed the possession stakes on a sticky pitch but recorded 14 wides (eight after the break) to the winners' six. Near the end Donaghmore/Ashbourne 'keeper Padraig Durkan did well to smother a goal attempt by impressive wing-back Gerard Brennan just before Thomas Loughran closed the scoring with his fourth point of the hour. O'Mahonys introduced Kevin Reilly (at midfield), Sean Keating and David Bray in the latter stages, but to no avail. The first-half was largely forgettable with Bryan Menton's sixth minute goal from a Brian Farrell cross giving last year's IFC winners an early advantage. Despite having the edge in terms of territory it took O'Mahonys 23 minutes to restore parity with Shane McKeigue and Loughran (two) pointing. A Morgan free put Andy McEntee's side back in front but two points in quick succession - from Gary O'Brien and McKeigue - in the final minute of the opening half left it 0-5 to 1-1 to the Navan outfit at the break. O'Mahonys struck five wides in the opening nine minutes of the second period during which time Donaghmore/Ashbourne registered twice through midfielder Rory O'Connor and substitute Eoin Carroll. A fine move out of defence kick-started by O'Toole ended with David Hosie (a member of the 1997 SFC winning side) placing McKeigue for his third score from open play. Seconds later O'Mahonys hit the front for the final time when McKeigue placed Loughran and it was 0-7 to 1-3. Then came Donaghmore/Ashbourne's (whose only loss was of the campaign was at Brews Hill in the opening round) decisive scoring burst with Menton levelling before Morgan goaled while Andrew Tormey (free) and Brian Farrell also pointed. The second-half was an improvement on the first 30 minutes with greater composure in front of the posts earning Donaghmore/Ashbourne a merited success. Donaghmore/Ashbourne - P. Durkan; S. Curran, C. McGill, M. Roche; C. Ellis, J. Finnegan, E. Riordan; R. O'Connor, E. Reilly (0-1); A. Tormey (0-2, 1 free), I. Dowd, J. Broderick; B. Menton (1-1), D. Morgan (1-1, 0-1 free), N. Farrell (0-1). Sub - E. Carroll (0-1) for McGill (half-time). Navan O'Mahonys - K. Lane; I. Matthews, R. Hogan, S. O'Toole; C. Reilly, S. Crosby, G. Brennan; M. Ward, N. Dunne; R. Geraghty (0-1), D. Murtagh, G. O'Brien (0-1); D. Hosie, S. McKeigue (0-3), T. Loughran (0-4). Subs - K. Reilly for Ward (45 mins), S. Keating (0-1, free) for O'Toole (50 mins), D. Bray for Murtagh (57 mins). Referee - Liam O'Brien (Duleek/Bellewstown). Tweet

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