AFL1: Pat's lose in Ashbourne
March 30, 2015
St Pats facing Donaghmore Ashbourne
Donaghmore Ashbourne see off strong St. Patrick's challenge.
Date: 30th February 2015
Venue: Ashbourne
Full Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-10 St. Patrick's 1-04
Half Time: Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-03 St. Patrick's 0-02
Donaghmore Ashbourne and St .Patrick's, who meet later in the year in the group stages of the championship played a tentative game in the league on Sunday morning. As well as both sides not wanting to show their hand the wind conditions played a big part in the game and this resulted in a low scoring affair particularly in the opening half.
Playing against a strong wind in the opening half if it took Donaghmore Ashbourne 19 minutes to register their opening score. This came from Paul Gilligan from play. Aidan Hughes also raised the white flag on 22 minutes with Gillian converting another free late on in the half to give Donaghmore Ashbourne and 0-03 to 0-02 interval lead.
Although Donaghmore Ashbourne had the wind advantage in the second period the opposition made things tough for the home side as they employed two additional men in defence. However Donaghmore Ashbourne worked hard and extended their lead early in the half with a Shaun Byrne free and Sean Curran quickly followed up with a score from play. Byrne added his second of the day at the end of the third quarter while St. Patrick's did reply with a point. Donaghmore Ashbourne put a bit of light between the teams early in the final quarter when Ciaran Beirne collected a long ball over the defence and slotted to the net to put the home side 1-06 to 0-03 ahead.
To their credit the Stamullen men never gave up and worked to the final whistle they did reduce the deficit when they converted a penalty and followed up with a point from play. However at the other end Donaghmore Ashbourne did finish with a brace of points from Beirne, a converted 45 from Mattie Devine and a converted free from Gilligan.
The victory moves Donaghmore Ashbourne back to the upper half of the league table with four rounds completed however when these sides meet later again in the year there is no doubt that there will be more intensity in the game.
Donaghmore Ashbourne: A. Colgan; J.P. Casserly, C. McGill, D. McGovern; P. Gilligan (0-3 2f), C. Carton, C Ellis; C. Carey, S. Curran (0-1); S. Byrne (0-2 2f), A. Hughes (0-1), T. McGovern; C. Donnelly, E. Riordan, C. Beirne (1-2)
Subs: M. Devine (0-1 45) for T. McGovern, C. Field for Donnelly J. McCarney for D. McGovern, E. Callaghan for Riordan.
St. Patricks 1:04
Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1:10
St. Patricks paid a visit to Ashbourne on Sunday morning for the 4th round match of the ACFL on a wild wet and murky morning.
Both teams struggled with the wild winds and showers in the first half. St. Patricks playing with the wind opened the scoring on the day with a free taken by Neil O' Flaherty, Scores were very difficult to acquire in the first half for both sides, and everyone were glad when the half time whistle went. Half time : St. Patricks 0 .2 - Donaghmore / Ashbourne 0.3
Restart saw the home side dealing with the wind a lot better and they edged away from the visitors, to be 6 points to 3 up after 13 minutes when Ciaran Calvey was taken down in the box and Niall Mooney stepped up to place the ball in the back of the net from the penalty spot. However at this stage the teams were level again and the visitors failed to progress dispite many chances and attacks from Alan Vickers, Daithi Whyte and Niall Mooney. The defense had a very busy 2nd half and Adam Byrne, David Mc Quillan and Andrew Reilly worked very hard to keep the home team quiet. Shane Dowling and Finian Everard continued to drive forward but to no avail.
St Patrick's - Robert Cluskey, Adam Byrne, David Mc Quillan, Andrew Reilly, Shane Mc Ginty, Shane Dowling, Andrew Mooney, Niall Mooney, Finian Everard, Ciaran Calvey, Daithi Whyte, Barry Mooney, Neil O' Flaherty, Alan Vickers, Kieran Lynch. Subs : Brian Calvey for Shane Mc Ginty, Ronan Kearns for Finian Everard, Shane Landy for Barry Mooney
Scorers for St. Patricks Niall Mooney 1:01( penalty ) Alan Vickers 0. 2 Frees Neil O' Flaherty 0. 1 Free.
Referee: Gus Martyn (Dunderry)
