Ashbourne Community School retained their Leinster Vocational Schools' SFC title in 2009, but there was more disappointment in their quest to add the All-Ireland crown when they were
decisively beaten by a highly talented St Malachy's, Castlewellan, team in the final.

Castlewellan were claiming All-Ireland glory for the second successive year at this level and they are certainly proving a real pain for the Ashbourne lads after also eliminating them at the semi-final stage last year.
Ashbourne retained their provincial title when they defeated Bridgetown VC from Wexford after extra-time in a thrilling final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, where their fitness levels and a powerful will to succeed were vital ingredients in the success which was achieved in the absence of the injured Andrew Tormey who has been so vitally important to their cause.
The exchanges were even from an early stage of a contest that provided outstanding entertainment, but poor Ashbourne defending enabled David Murphy to goal for Bridgetown and give them an edge. However, Ashbourne's response was quick and decisive as they put a tremendous move together involving Shane Rock and Cian Maguire which ended with Peter Carr netting.
Ashbourne edged into a 1-3 to 1-2 advantage, but they didn't maintain that form and Bridgetown scored the last three points of the opening period to lead by 1-5 to 1-3 at the interval. When they reeled off three quick points early in the second period to extend that lead to 1-8 to 1-3 the Meath lads looked to be in real trouble, particularly as the Goff twins were dominating at midfield for the Wexford school.
Things could have got a great deal worse, but Curraha goalkeeper Liam Hogan produced a great block to deny Shay Delaney and save his team from potential irreparable damage. That piece of inspirational play seemed to inspire Ashbourne to greater efforts. They upped the tempo to the desired level and with Dermot Brennan scoring a mighty point and Tolan adding a goal they had reduced the deficit to the minimum.
Points from Stephen Kavanagh and Tolan edged them ahead, but Shane Goff levelled things up from a free and then missed a chance to win it for Bridgetown. The sides were locked together at 2-6 to 1-9 at the end of normal time and the game headed into extra-time.
The accurate Tolan scored three points in the first period, but Robert Dempsey cancelled them out with a Bridgetown goal and the sides were still level (2-9 each) midway through extra-time. Ashbourne were on top during the second period, but struggled to turn their possession into scores, before the brilliant David Coyle and Rock pointed to earn a thrilling 2-11 to 2-9 win for Joe Gibney's team.
The Meath team had come out on top on the scoreboard, but the real winner here was the game of football itself after such an engrossing encounter that extended beyond 80 minutes. It was certainly worth every cent of the admission fee for those who were lucky enough to be in attendance.
After losing to St Malachy's at the penultimate hurdle a year earlier, Ashbourne successfully negotiated the All-Ireland semi-final obstacle in 2009 when they defeated Athenry Vocational School by five points, 4-9 to 2-10. Things were looking good when they led by 2-4 to 1-5 at the break after playing against the wind, with the goals coming from Coyle and Tolan in the space of a minute after the Galway lads had earlier opened up a 1-2 to 0-2 advantage.
The highly impressive Andrew Tormey goaled in great style three minutes into the second half to push Ashbourne further ahead. Athenry's response was very positive when Galway minor player Kevin Hussey found the net soon after, but Tormey doubled his goal tally at the start of the last quarter to secure his team's place in the decider.
After losing to St Malachy's in that semi-final in 2008, Ashbourne had the chance to gain sweet revenge in this year's final at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, but it wasn't to be and they were well beaten by a fitter and stronger team on a 0-7 to 0-15 score line.
Tormey and Tolan shared the Ashbourne points equally in the first half, but they trailed by 0-4 to 0-9 at the break and were clearly in some trouble. Matters got considerably worse when Castlewellan pushed eight points clear at 0-12 to 0-4 after the change of ends, but they then had Ollie McClean sent off. The Meath side cut the gap to six points at 0-7 to 0-13, before they had Gavin Kennedy sent off, and there was no way back after that. They really needed a second half goal to seriously ignite their challenge, but it never came and without it they were never likely to eat into the deficit.
Tormey topped the scoring for Ashbourne with four points, but the only other players to register for them were Tolan with two and Stephen Kavanagh with one. By comparison, six different St Malachy's players contributed to the scoring, including Jarlath Branagan with five points and Paul Devlin and Danny Savage with three each. That just about summed up the difference between the teams on the day.
Nevertheless, it had been a memorable campaign which brought another Leinster title to the school, but which just fell short of the ultimate prize. All involved with the team, players and management alike, deserve great credit for their efforts throughout the year. The big hope has to be that the tremendous work which is going into the promotion of the game in the Ashbourne school will reap the biggest reward of all in the shape of All-Ireland honours.

Ashbourne CS - L Hogan (Curraha); D Lawlor (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), J Fahy (Fingal Ravens), R O'Connor (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); C Maguire (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), P Dowling (Curraha), D Brennan (Skryne); B Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), S Kavanagh (Donaghmore/Ashbourne, 0-1); L Tolan (Skryne, 0-2), D Coyle (Curraha), A Tormey (Donaghmore/Ashbourne, 0-4); M Devine (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), G Kennedy (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), A O'Brien (Ballymun). Subs - C O'Sullivan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Devine, I Kavanagh (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for O'Connor, O'Connor for Maguire. Tweet

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