Although we did not manage to bring home as much silverware as in previous years, 2006 saw our ladies football section continues to go from strength to strength. Almost all of our teams were still in action when it came to semi final and final stages and the season overview went as follows: With only our fourth year in existence Under 10 ladies football has been one of the great unsung success stories of GAA in Donaghmore Ashbourne. When it started back in 2003 only one of the three primary schools in the village was fielding a girls team, now all three do. Both the schools and the club have benefited hugely from this age division and it is amazing to watch year after year as new batches of footballing stars emerge onto the scene. Following a championship winning season in 2005, the process of building a new team started this year as far back as February. With a squad of 18 players only seven of whom had been involved the previous season, the team management had little idea of how the club might fare in this year's competition. They needn't have worried. While this competition is run on a "fair play" basis and winning is not the only objective, it was clear from the very start that the competitiveness and commitment of the last few seasons was there again. In a season that ended on the 16th of September, the team had played 14 matches, winning 12 and losing just two along the way. They also reached the clubs fourth consecutive county final at this age level. The "old" players, some in their third season, brought their experience to bear in shaping the team. Girls like Sarah O'Connor, Sarah Markham, Sarah "Molly" Browne, Orla Dixon, Sinead Power, Elaine Moran and the incredible Orla Cullen Geraghty gave everything to support the newcomers. As for the newcomers (Katie Carroll, Sarah and Orla Mc Weeney, Rebecca Elliot, Sarah O'Brien, Lauren Healey, Niamh Crowther Tara Bateson, Leanne Kearney, Deirdre McDonald, Anna Duff) they found their stride with little problem. The really special games were those on the home pitch in the Gael Scoil when huge crowds would turn out to support the girls - nights they and the supporting parents will remember fondly. The final on 16th September wasn't to be their day, going down to a strong Dunboyne team that had experience defeat to Donaghmore Ashbourne in the same fixture a year earlier. In front of a good crowd the girls gave it everything in what was a thoroughly enjoyable and sporting match. A goal and a point in the first half from captain Sarah "Molly" Browne and a goal from Elaine Moran in the second accounted for the team's scores. Chasing the game in the second half the girls missed a couple of scoring opportunities but to their credit they never gave up and played right to the final whistle. In keeping with the spirit of the competition all 18 players played in the final. They lined out as follows: Katie Carroll; Sarah O'Connor, Sarah McWeeney; Sarah Markam, Lauren Healy, Rebecca Elliott; Sarah O'Brien, Sarah Browne (Captain, 1-1); Niamh Crowther, Orla Dixon, Tara Bateson; Elaine Moran (1-0), Orla Cullen Geraghty. Subs: Orla McWeeney for L. Healy, Leanne Kearney for T. Bateson, Sinead Power for R. Elliott, Deirdre Mc Donald for N. Crowther, Anna Duff for O. Dixon. Many thanks go to the Gerry Browne Promotions for their team sponsorship for the final. Team manager Marc Power together with selectors Jenny Moran, Collette Browne, Noel Crowther and Derek Moran are to be congratulated for their achievement. If 2006 is anything to go by ladies juvenile football is safe and sound in Donaghmore Ashbourne. At Under 12 level our girls enjoy another successful season. We were very fortunate to have a big squad of 24 players to choose from this year. While it's better than not having enough players, inevitably this makes team selection difficult but we tried hard to play as many girls as possible in all games and are grateful to all the girls (and their parents!) for their understanding. Credit must go to all the girls for their hard work throughout the year. While we worked hard at training and matches, the emphasis was on improving skills, having fun, and making friends. And we won a few matches along the way! Attendance at training was excellent throughout the season, and this was reflected in the improvement in our performances as the summer progressed. It's worth noting that we had a very young team this year, most of whom were Under 10 last year. The experience gained this season will stand to them and leave them in good shape for another assault at the Under 12 title next year. We wish the best of luck to all those Under 12s moving up to 14s next year. We competed this year in the 12A championship in a group of 8 teams, winning five out of seven games, and only losing two, to the eventual finalists, Ratoath and Navan. Following our third place finish in the league phase, we came up again against our neighbours Ratoath in a thrilling semi-final in the Wotton. If ever a score board did not reflect to closeness between two teams then this was the game to do it. Our girls lost out to a score line of 2-10 to 1-06 of but had we taken even half of our chances in the first half it could have been a different story. Although we trailed at the break by 10 points we had two goal chances cleared off the line and hit 10 wides while the opposition score six out of their nine chances. In the second half our girls put up a great show and although they were unable to claw back the deficit they left the field with pride. Well done to Paul Walton, Mossy Fenton, Timmy O'Keefe, Annette Menton and all the girls for providing us with some great games throughout the year. Congratulations are due to our Meath Under 12 representatives, Kate Heffernan, Rachel Fenton, and Michelle Peel, who took home Leinster Championship winners medals. Finally, a big thank you to all the parents for their great support and encouragement throughout the season. Under 12 Squad: Aisling Finnegan, Caroline Brothwood, Cathy Giblin, Ciara Menton, Eimear Murray, Grace O'Sullivan, Helen Moran, Jennifer Walton, Kate Heffernan, Kelly Fitzsimons, Laura Andrews, Lauren Armstrong, Lean Kenny, Maggie Randle, Meaghan Power, Michelle Peel, Paula Sweeney, Rachel Fenton, Rachel Sinnott, Riain O'Keeffe, Roisin Doherty, Shelby Leahy, Siofra Cleary, Sophie Geoghegan This season our Under 14 team competed in Division 1 with seven other teams. Having lost in the first round of the Féile to Dunboyne last autumn we knew we faced a tough task to reach the knock-out stages in this year's competition. We began training in late January and only hung up our boots in September having had a very good season, due in no small way to the spirited display of effort and enthusiasm we received from the squad. There were 30 players on the panel and attendance at training was over 20 on many occasions. Despite some injuries there were two occasions when we had 25 turn up for matches and we almost needed extra jerseys. This posed healthy selection problems and we can only apologise for the times when we left players on the sideline. During the season we played five friendlies, winning three, drawing one and only losing one. Despite losing our opening game of the league proper to neighbours Ratoath we won four games beating Navan O'Mahonys, Walterstown, Dunboyne and the eventual league finalists Royal Gaels but also suffered defeats to Clann Na Gael and Oldcastle, (who went through the season unbeaten). This combination of results left us in a play-off with Clann Na Gael where we avenged our earlier defeat and advanced to a semi-final against Oldcastle. Although we fought valiantly we were beaten by a better and stronger team on the night. In the Under 13 Feile Competition we were beaten in our first round match by the competition favourites Royal Gaels. Although our preparation for the game was not as good as we would have wished due to other competitions and then poor weather conditions credit must go to the girls for putting up a good performance. Well done to all of our girls for a very for providing us with some great games throughout the season. The full squad included for 2006 included Laoise Moggan, Jeannie Donnelly, Jade Moore, Gráinne Field, Aideen Kenny, Katie McShane, Hayley Jenkinson, Hayley Kavanagh, Megan Carroll, Rachael Bruton, Jessica Finlay, Clare McGonigle, Alison Leahy, Ciara Dixon, Sarah McEvoy, Aisling McGuinness, Máire O'Shaughnessy, Niamh Hilton, Rebecca Walton, Emily Doyle, Helen Reidy, Lauren Lawton, Shauna Lawton, Jo Woods, Cristín Kelly, Jasmine Kerrigan, Kyna O'Connor, Rebecca Conroy, Shauna Hutton, Gráinne Bonnar. Many thanks to mentors Mary O'Shaughnessy, Margaret Farrell and John Kelly for their dedication and commitment throughout the year. Finally, a big thank you to all the parents for their great support and encouragement throughout the season. The championship of 2006 was a championship of "what if and maybe" for our Under 16 ladies team. With victories over Ratoath and Royal Gaels in the group stages our girls qualified for the semi final as group leaders. As leaders they awaited their opposition who could have come from the other section or indeed one of the teams from the qualifiers. As fate would have it we were drawn against Ratoath with our neighbours being given home advantage. At the end of a very close and entertaining game of football we were very unfortunate to lose out by two points. Although we had victories over both sides in the group stages Royal Gaels beat Ratoath in the final which further highlighted how close we came to achieving success. Well done to all the girls for their tremendous effort they all put in during the course of the year. Many thanks to manager Ray Lawton and his coaching staff of Derek Moran, Aidan Mc Carthy and Geraldine Moran for their dedication and work throughout the year. Congratulations also to Ashling Doherty, Aoife O'Rourke, Mary Kate Benville, Roisin Meehan and Hayley Lawton who represented the club on the Meath Under 16 team who lost out to Dublin, the eventual All Ireland Champions in the Leinster Final. They were also unfortunate to lose out to Monaghan in the qualifiers. A special mention also goes to Hayley Lawton who finished the year winning the award for being Meath's top scorer over the course of the Championship Our minor football team found themselves in an unusual situation of having to play out last years minor championship before this year's competition could commence. In early April we travelled to Moynalvey to play the host team and ran out comfortable winners. In the semi final we hosted Blackhall Gaels in the Wotton and after a close start to the game our girls eventually managed to take control of the game and again ran out comfortable winners. Our final was fixed against Dunboyne in Simonstown in early September. Our girls raced into an early three point lead but Dunboyne recovered and reduced the deficit to a single point. Towards the end of the half Lyndsay Conway and Hayley Lawton found the net to send our girls into the dressing room with a seven point lead. As expected Dunboyne came out in the second half with all guns blazing and with the aid of the breeze began to claw back to margin. The Donaghmore Ashbourne girls, as is their trademark dug deep and points by Caitríona O'Shaughnessy and Mary Rose McCann late on gave us a 2-11 to 2-10 victory when the final whistle blew. It was an epic finish to a great game. Well done to all the girls in the squad for their marvellous commitment throughout the year. A special word of thanks goes to Ray Lawton, Derek and Geraldine Moran and Aidan McCarthy for their work and dedication to the team over the past 10 months. As we compile this review of the year we have only played two games in the group stages in this year's Championship and have recorded two victories. With only five of the 2005 winning side over age for this year's campaign hopefully we can win two championship titles back to back in the same calendar year. Having won the Intermediate Championship title last year our adult ladies team looked forward with anticipation to their first season at Senior level. With a majority of the panel still very young there were no great expectations and we felt that survival in the top flight would be an acceptable goal for our first season. Our first game of the season paired us with Seneschalstown, the senior title holders for 2005 and this turned out to be a cracking game. Although it was a David and Goliath fixture our girls produced a great performance and matched them for most of the game. Unfortunately the more experience side managed to put away in the end to record a five point victory. Our second game against Summerhill gave our girls their first senior points of the year as we produced a great victory and this was followed with a draw against Simonstown Gaels. Having secured our status in the top flight and coming second in the group stages we qualified for the quarter final stages and a date with Blackhall Gaels. In this game our girls played with confidence and spirit throughout the entire match and emerged victorious with a place in the semi final as reward. Our semi final match took place in Duleek where the opposition was defending champions Seneschalstown. Having seen some of this panel already playing the previous week with the county team against Galway our girls suffered a little bit of stage fight and gave the Seneschalstown team too much space in the opening half. By half time our fate was sealed but there was still pride to play for in the second half. To their credit our girls had a great second half performance and although bitterly disappointed with the result they left the pitch with their heads held high. Well done to Tom O'Shaughnessy, Ray Lawton, Martin Mannering, Geraldine Moran and all their girls for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. Congratulations also go to Caitríona O'Shaughnessy who represented the club on the senior county team as well as being captain of the Meath minor team. Caitríona was joined on the senior team by Alison Kelly and on the minor team by Roisín Williams, Jennifer Moran and Rachel McCarthy. In addition Jennifer Moran and Roisín Williams were also part of the Junior County Team. Development Off the field our development committee under the guidance of Gerry Delaney has been working extremely hard for the future of the club over the last year. The development of our new facility in Killegland West which will see the club move to the heart of Ashbourne reached a number of critical milestones in 2006. This year we have seen the completion of the playing pitches at the new facility but due to access issues we are unable to use the facility yet. Following a lengthy planning process we also managed to obtain planning permission for a number of houses at our current site in the Wotton that will help fund the new facility. When the planning permission was obtained the club was contacted by a number of interested parties and after a diligent tender and review process John Paul Construction were awarded the project. In summary they will construct the new clubhouse facility and arena at Killegland West and upon completion they will take ownership of the Wotton. Currently at final design and Fire Cert application stage, construction is expected to commence in November 2006 with a completion date of September 2007 expected. Many thanks must go to the development committee of Gerry Delaney, Frank Reidy, Frank McLoughlin, Conor Tormey, James Dervan Greg Twomey, John Joe Williams, Myles Prior, Gerry Martin, Liz Durkan, Kay Mc Cab, Kevin Melia and the design teams for their work over the past year. Tweet

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