Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-17 Simonstown 1-11 (after extra time)

Donaghmore Ashbourne's second team finished off their 2016 season with silverware as they captured the Division 1B league title with a hard earned victory against Simonstown Gaels in Duleek on Friday night.  In a very entertaining game it took extra time to separate the teams with the Moors fitness giving them the edge in the final period. In truth there was little between the teams throughout the game and a final minute goal from Dylan Brady in the second period of extra time probably skewed the score line a little as the game was in the melting pot up to that period.

On a great night for football David Dowd opened the scoring for Donaghmore Ashbourne with a free on 3 minutes with Dylan Brady getting the first score from play on 6 mines to double the lead. Iarlaith O Donnell finished off a fine Donaghmore Ashbourne team score with a point from the right hand side on 9 minutes as The Moors looked comfortable but Simonstown replied a minute later with their opening score of the game from play.

The sides traded scores early in the second quarter with Dowd converting a 14 meter free on 15 minutes and the Gaels replying with a point from play two minutes later just after they saw a goal chance go narrowly wide. Simonstown did reduce the deficit to a single point on 18 minutes when they converted a 45 from the left hand side while at the other end Shaun Byrne finished off a great solo run with a point on 19 and Dowd converted another 25 meter free on 22minutes after Eric Callaghan was fouled in front of the posts to push the lead back to 3 points. Donaghmore Ashbourne looked to have weathered the Simonstown storm and moved to a 4 point lead on 24 minutes with Dowd scoring from play after good work out the field from his support players but when Simonstown found the back of the net a minute later the game was back in the melting pot. Shane Melia registered the final score of the half in injury time to leave Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-08 to 1-03 ahead at the interval.

The Navan based side opened the second half scoring with a converted free on 33 minutes to bring the minimal between the teams again. Both sides missed wides at either ends before Tadg Kelly restored Donaghmore Ashbourne's two point cushion with a point from play on 42 minutes. Simonstown to their credit hit a purple patch in the midpoint of this half and brought the sides level with two consecutive points from a free on 43 minutes and one from play on 45mins. They took the lead for the first time in the game with two further points on 46 minutes and 48 minutes.   At this point Donaghmore Ashbourne needed leaders and there were no shortage of same within the squad and two of these, Byrne scored an inspirational point on 69 minutes with Dowd bringing the sides level again with another converted free on 52 minutes. Going into the final period of the game it always looked as extra time could be on the cards. Both sides had a number of chances and it was substitute C. Field who gave Donaghmore Ashbourne the edge with a point on 55 minutes. Simonstown did push hard for the equaliser but Donaghmore Ashbourne's full back line were solid and forced the blues to hit two wides under pressure. In the closing minutes both side again missed chances with Donaghmore Ashbourne missing a chance to go two ahead and Simonstown missing a chance to get the levelling score. Donaghmore Ashbourne were awarded a free in injury time inside the 45 at the side-line and instead of slowing things down and kicking the ball over the bar or even dead they took a quick free and were turned over. Simonstown went up the field and were then awarded a long range free which was duly converter to bring the sides level. Referee Jack Gordon blew the final whistle and we were treated to a further 20 minutes of quality exciting football.

Donaghmore Ashbourne - Division 1B league winners 2015.

David Dowd started the extra period as he did the first period of the game with a point from play within a minute of the restart. He added a second from play on 63 minutes and Donaghmore had a chance to go even further ahead but saw a goal chance go wide on 64 minutes.

Simonstown reduced the deficit with a point from a free on 67 minutes and they two had a great chance to regain the  lead on 68 minutes when Mickey Brennan turned in the big square and fired low but the ball went to the outside of the post taking paint on its way.

Simonstown opened the scoring in the second period of Extra time with a point from play within a minute of the restart. Unfortunately for the Gaels this was their final score of the night as the fitter Donaghmore Ashbourne began to look the fresher of the two teams. Although both sides had plenty of possession both defences worked hard to keep the scoring to a minimum. Byrne did manage to evade a few tackles and hit a lovey point on 74 minutes and Dowd pointed from an acute angle almost from the resulting kick out. At the other end Donaghmore Ashbourne defence pulled off some great interceptions and blocks with a Gareth Deery block at full stretch the pick of the night.

The final score of the night saw Cathal Field and Dylan Brady on a one on one situation with the Simonstown keeper Gary Lynch and Field fed Brady as Lynch advanced and he tapped into the empty net from close range. This score while welcomed by the Donaghmore Ashbourne really put an unfair gloss on the scoreboard as there was only a kick of the ball between the teams all night.  When Jack Gordon blew up from the resulting kick out Captain Martin Lynch accepted the cup from County Board Chairman Conor Tormey.

Credit must go to both sides for a thoroughly entertaining game played at championship pace and in a sporting manner. Credit to the host club for the facilities, pitch condition and stewarding on the night.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: P. Durkan; D. Lawlor, J. Mc Carney, J. Boland; I. O'Donnell (0-1),M. Lynch , S. Melia (0-1); R. O'Connor, J. Colgan ; E. Callaghan  , T. Kelly (0-1) , D. Murtagh; D. Brady (1-1), D. Dowd (0-8) (6f),  S. Byrne (0-3),
Subs:  C. Brady for Murtagh, G. Deery for Lawlor, C. Field (0-2), E. Callaghan, J. Giles for Kelly, M. Quinn for O'Donnell, C. Donnelly for O'Connor.

Simonstown Report

Simonstown lost their second B League final in a row after loosing out to Donaghmore/Ashbourne on Friday night last in Duleek.
The game went into extra-time thanks to Mickey Brennan who came to Simonstowns rescue with 1-1 from full forward to leave the sides level 1-9 v. 0-12 at the end of normal time.

However Simonstown could only manage 0-2 in extra time thanks to substitute Wayne McCarthy and Donaghmore/Ashbourne won out on a final score line of 1-17 v. 1-11.

Simonstown Team : G. Lynch, Shane Gallagher, I.O Rourke, M.Gardiner, N.Kane, S.O Reilly, Shane Gallagher, R.Burlingham, B.Conlon, J.Heaney 0-1, S.Barry, B.McGrath , B.Hoey 0-2, M.Brennan 1-4, S.Moran 0-2.
Subs: W.McCarthy 0-2 for Shane Gallagher, B.Quinn for I.O Rourke, G.McDonagh for J.Heaney, S.Kiernan for S.Barry, I.O Rourke for S.Moran.
Referee: Jack Gordon (Walterstown)

Tweet

Most Read Stories