Wolfe Tones 0-10
Donaghmore Ashbourne 2-09

Donaghmore Ashbourne's senior team recorded a hard earned opening round league win over Wolfe Tones in Kilberry on Sunday. A new look Donaghmore Ashbourne side led from the first minute but the result could have been different if the home side had taken their two goal chances early in the second half.

Eoin Reilly opened the scoring in the first minute with a point from 30 metres after the home side were turned over in defence. Andrew Tormey extended the lead with a 14 metre free a minute later when Cormac Mc Gill was fouled after delivering a long ball forward. Reilly extended the lead to 3 points with a good score from play from 30 metres out on 11 minutes. Eoin Riordan finished off a good solo run with a point from 30 metres on 12 minutes. Eoin Reilly finished off the first quarter with another point after a quick free by Cathal Field as Donaghmore Ashbourne went 5 points ahead.

The second quarter saw the home side get back into the game and Cian Ward opened their scoring on 19 minutes with a free. This was followed by another point from the Tones midfielder a minute later.

The sides traded scores mid way through the second quarter with Reilly pointing from another quick free for Donaghmore Ashbourne on 22 minutes with Wolfe Tones replying from play a minute later.

Within a minute of the second half Andrew Tormey won a high ball and although he lost his balance, fed the oncoming Reilly who found the back of the net to give Donaghmore Ashbourne a 6 point lead. Ward did reply for the home side a minute later with a free. The turning point in the game came in the following minutes when the Tones had two goal chances in consecutive minutes both of which went narrowly wide. A free from Ciaran Berine on 37 minutes restored the Donaghmore Ashbourne lead to 6 points.

Wolfe Tones hit a purple patch late in the 3rd quarter and registered 4 unanswered points to reduce the deficit to 2 points. The final quarter saw the sides trade scores with Andrew Tormey and Cian Ward converting frees at either end.

Cathal Field gave Donaghmore Ashbourne a bit of breathing space when he converted a goal on 49 minutes following hard work from Eoin Reilly. Although the home side worked hard to close the margin the Donaghmore Ashbourne defence worked hard and held out. Eoin Riordan registered the final score of the game with a point on 59 minutes to leave a final score line of Donaghmore Ashbourne 2-09 Wolfe Tones 0-10.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: A. Colgan; C. Mc Gill, B. Menton, S. Curran; E. Riordan (0-2), D. Morgan, C. Ellis; R. O'Connor, K. Lanigan; C. Field (1-0), S. Melia, J. Broderick; C. Berine (0-1), A. Tormey (0-2), E. Reilly (1-4). Subs: I. Dowd for Melia, T. Morgan for Berine, I. O'Donnell for Field. Tweet

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