Under 15 Division 1 Championship

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - 1-4                                 
Ratoath 6-10

The main pitch at Ashbourne served up an entertaining game between neighbours Donaghmore/Asbourne and Ratoath. The score line suggests that this was a one sided affair but it is flattering to Ratoath and certainly doesn't tell the full story.

Ratoath started the game with a strong breeze at their back but had to endure a couple of Ashbourne attacks early on before getting on the scoreboard. The first score came in the 4th minute and was the result of a long pass from Connell Ahearne that found Tom Fadden who netted to get Ratoath off the mark. Ashbourne pointed in the 7th minute for the next score of the game and it looked like this was going to be a low scoring game.

Both sides were struggling to win their own kick outs and it was from an Ashbourne kick out that Ratoath scored again, with a sharp passing move that saw Cullen bag a second goal. Directly from the resulting kick out Ratoath worked the ball to Jack O'Brien who popped over for Ratoaths first point of the game.

Leigh Sullivan pointed Ratoath's second point as Ratoath started to get on top in the middle part of the pitch. Alex Neville added his second goal in the 15th minute of the game to put daylight between the two teams and from the resulting kick out Ratoath again managed to move the ball to Jack O'Brien who netted!

Ashbourne had 5 wides in the middle of the half while only adding one more point - a combination of strong defending by Ratoath's backs and poor finishing being the reason!

Ratoath however were more efficient and managed to notch up another 1-4 with Neville helping himself to another 1-2.

Half time Donaghmore Ashbourne - 0-2              Ratoath 5-6       

The standard of football dropped in the second half and the match had some niggly moments - Ashbourne lost a man early in the second half to a red card and even though they had the breeze they were left with a mountain to climb. Ratoath had the better of the game but their finishing was poor and a dozen wides in the second half were a result of some tenacious defending and slack shooting.

Ashbourne competed manfully despite being a man down and but for some fine keeping from stand in keeper Cormac Butler they could have had a couple more goals. The second half was a low scoring affair, with a goal from Fadden who also added a point and 2 points  from Ahearne and one from Kyle Clinton being all Ratoath could muster against the 14 men! Ashbourne added 1-2 to their tally and to leave us with the final score.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - 1-4                                  Ratoath 6-10
Best for Ratoath was Alex Neville (2-2), Peter Barry, Andrew Gerrard, Jack O'Brien and Cormac Butler, while Ashbourne had good performers in Dylan Cassidy, Colm O'Toole and Conor Cooley (until his Black card)

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