Although our early season targets had to be raised higher mid way through the season our adult football season ended in a disappointing manner over two consecutive weekends at Seneschalstown. While we were still hurting from our exit from the Feis Cup and Intermediate Championship our minor team managed ease to the pain and rekindle the fire as they captured the Championship title for the first time since 1979. Their dramatic win over favourites Summerhill in the 2006 minor championship final in Pairc Tailteann showed that the future is bright for Donaghmore Ashbourne. Other wins in hurling, juvenile football and minor ladies football together with a number of semi final and final appearances indicate that our club is going in the right direction. Our season went as follows: Juvenile Football The juvenile section of the club caters for all ages from 4 years right up to minor level. Like all the other sections in the club the juvenile section continues to work hard and improve on our structures and this year has indicated that our labour is beginning to bear fruit. The 2006 season is one of the most successful seasons we've have in a long time with the highlight of the year our minor team capturing the championship title. We've had other successes as well including the Under 17 Division 1 league title, the Under 16 Championship title and the Under 14 Summer shield. In addition to titles won we also competed in the Under 12 Division 1 final and the Under 14 reserve final. Starting with our younger members our Acorns group meet on Saturday mornings and caters for children aged 4 to 7. The children are divided into three groups based on year of birth. Currently there are almost 60 children registered. Each session lasts an hour and includes warm-up activities, skills development and a match with no more than 5-a-side for the youngest group to ensure maximum participation. The older group use the Go-games structure for their games and occasional play non competitive matches with other clubs. The emphasis of the Acorns group is to encourage participation and enjoyment of Gaelic games particularly as this is where many of our players are first introduced into the club. As the children get older they became members of dedicated teams as they prepare for their long career with Donaghmore Ashbourne. Parents are requested to stay in attendance for the session and priority is given to encouraging them to become involved as mentors or in whatever capacity they feel comfortable. In addition to the Acorns the juvenile section of the club hold an Annual Summer League where all our children Under 10 play in a mini summer camp over a couple of weeks. The highlight of the Street Leagues is the final day where all the players receive their medals. It is also a chance to meet a Meath County star up close and this year's special guest was Trevor Giles who was a huge hit with the all the children. Following on from the Acorns our Under 8, 9 and 10 players were all involved with their perspective teams as they took part in a number of Go Game matches throughout the summer. It is fair to say that the players, managers and parents all enjoyed their first taste of Meath football. At Under 12 age group the club entered two teams in the competition. Our first team under the guidance of Vinny Carton and Ciaran Benville had a great season where we competed with the best teams in Meath in the Division 1 League competition this year. We managed to qualify for the final of the competition where we lost out to St. Peter and Paul's in Ratoath. It was a great game but unfortunately our boys and girls could not get the upper hand of the opposition. Despite losing the final Ray Murphy the Juvenile PRO praised Rachel Fenton for her performance as "player of the match". Our second team under the guidance of Mark Moynihan competed in the reserve league. Although made up mainly from the Under 11 age group this team managed to qualify for the semi-final where we lost out to Simonstown Gaels. Well done to Conor Carton, Sam Benville, Jamie Dwyer, Ryan Thorp and Harry English who represented the club on the Under 12 development squad in Dungany over the summer period. At Under 14 age group the club also entered two teams this year. The first team under the guidance of Brendan O'Connor, Michael Doherty and Ken Brady competed in the Division 2 league. Although training since January our form in the league was mixed with some good results but we also suffered a couple of defeats by narrow margins. In the Championship we produced one of our best performances of the year when we beat St Colmcille's away from home. At the quarter final stage we lost out to Round Towers away from home. Our second team under the guidance of Jimmy Walsh and Gerry Giblin competed in the reserve league and managed to hold our own. In the championship we qualified for the final but unfortunately we lost out to a very good Simonstown Gaels team in Walterstown. Although training went well all year we were disappointed not to be in the winner's enclosure but with the introduction of the Summer Shield we had one last chance. We competed in Group C along with Summerhill, Dunderry, St. Patrick's, Seneschalstown and St. Vincent's. Having the benefit of a large squad we managed to qualify for the final and a home match against Summerhill. Although Summerhill had already beaten us by 20 points in this competition and we beat them in the league game the final was not going to be easy for either side. In front of a very large crowd our lads produced their performance of the year. It appeared that all the work from early January had finally fallen into place. Although we only led at half time by 1-06 to 1-03 our second half performance was excellent. All of the players including the substitutes introduced played their part. When the final whistle was blown there was delight and joy as our lads had a 2-14 to 1-07 winning margin. Captain Odhran O'Donnell accepted the trophy on behalf of the team from County Juvenile PRO Ray Murphy. Minor, U17 and U16 football It was a great year for our Under 16 team who managed to capture the championship title for the first time in the club's history beating a fancied St. Cianan's team in a dramatic final at Páirc Tailteann. St. Cianan's (Duleek) were seven points ahead as the game entered the final quarter. Darren Marcello and Sean Curran defended gallantly while Andrew Tormey and Gavin Kennedy worked very hard at midfield. Ross Hanway was making a big impact in attack until he had to retire with a serious shoulder injury. A goal each from Stephen Kavanagh (his second) and Cathal Field late in the second half changed the direction of the game and set the scene for Gavin Kennedy's winning goal. Steven Kavanagh's two superb second half goals were crucial but overall it was the character and self belief of the whole team which brought the Benny Caffrey Cup to Donaghmore-Ashbourne. Well done to mentors, Ethna Tormey, Colm Menton and George Kavanagh and all the players for their great success. Donaghmore Ashbourne: D.Marcello, D.McShane, S.Curran, D.O'Sullivan, J.P.Casserly, B.Menton, I. Kavanagh, A.Tormey (0-1), G.Kennedy (1-1), G.Naughton, C.Maguire, R.Hanway, C.Field (1-1), S.Kavanagh (2-0), A.Beggy (0-1), Subs: P.Gilligan, D.McNevin, R.O'Connor, C.O'Sullivan, J.Heffernan, J.Noctor, S.Murphy. Although running into December last year the Under 17 team managed to capture the Division 1 football league title after defeating Blackhall Gaels in the final in Dunsany. In a close affair our lads produced a solid second half performance to edge out winners in the end. This result finished off an unbeaten run in the competition and credit goes to Aidan Mc Carthy, Cathal Cullen and all the team for their a great run. Captain Ciaran Finn accepted the cup on behalf of the team. Having won the Under 17 Division 1 title in December there was a lot of expectation on the shoulders of our minor team to return to Donaghmore Ashbourne with a county title under the arm. Tasting success in the winter months the players themselves wanted a little more as well so they worked hard at training. On the minor league front our lads qualified for the quarter final following victories over Ratoath and St Colmcille's. Having seen off St. Cuthbert's at quarter final stage we also beat Simonstown Gaels in the semi final to book a place in the final against St Cianan's of Duleek. And what a final this proved to be. Trailing by seven points at half time many teams would have thrown in the towel but the spirit and determination shown by our lads was the talking point of the game. We managed to draw level to force extra time but unfortunately lost out by a single point on a score line of 3-09 to 3-08. And so to the Minor Championship. Having lost the league final by such a narrow margin the lads knew that they were as good as anyone in the County but needed to go that extra step. Intensity at training was increased and over the early part of the summer the work was put in. With the competition being delayed due to the fixtures involving the county minor team Aidan, Cathal and the lads used the time well to improve on fitness, skills and team work. During the group stages we recorded victories over Ratoath, St. Martin's and Walterstown and this left us with a quarter final spot against St. Peter and Paul's. Having recorded a win over the Dunboyne side our semi-final opposition was Simonstown Gaels. This game, played under the lights in Skryne was one of the best games of football this year. Credit must go to both sides who served up a very exciting game of football with some excellent scores being taken by both sides. It was an end to end game played in a very sporting manner. There was very little between the sides in the first half and it looked as if the Navan side were going to go into the break with a single point lead but we were awarded a penalty in injury time. Brian Snow stood up a crashed the penalty to the roof of the net to give Donaghmore Ashbourne a 1-05 to 1-03 lead. The second half was another open affair with our lads defending well and moving the ball quickly up front. The turning point of the match came when Donaghmore Ashbourne scored two quick goals at the start of the final quarter. The first came from Iarlaith O'Donnell on 46 minutes with Brian Snow getting his second two minutes later after Andrew Tormey's attempt hit the post and went across the line and Snow crashed the ball home from close range. This put nine points between the teams. As expected Simonstown threw everything at our lads and did manage to reduce the deficit to three points but with some great defending by all the lads we managed to hold out for a place in the final. Playing against Summerhill, who were going for their third successive minor championship title, we entered the game with the underdog's tag. Compared with the semi-final performance in Skryne on the previous Tuesday night the performance in the final did not match up in terms of quality, scoring or entertainment but in terms of a dramatic finish this was miles ahead. What our lads showed in abundance on the day was guts and hard work and at the end it did pay off and what a way to finish a final. After a great start we were 1-05 to 0-02 ahead after 25 minutes but a purple patch by Summerhill in the last five minutes of the half gave them a one point lead at the break. In the second half our lads practically owned the ball but found it difficult to convert possession into scores. But with this never say die attitude our lads kept working and even though we entered injury time three points being the belief in the team let them think that there was still time - and there was. With three minutes into injury time David Morgan pointed to reduce the deficit to two points. From the kick out we gained possession and county minor Eoin Reilly launched one last ball towards the goal. Unlike the previous Tuesday night where a defender (Eoin Reilly in our case) caught the ball Daniel Cullen rose highest to fetch the ball among a sea of blue and gold. When he hit the ground he was surrounded by defenders and the ref awarded a penalty kick. Despite a long delay due to an injury to a Summerhill player the hopes of the team, the management and the entire club lay on the shoulders of Stephen Dervan. Although he had to wait a few minutes before taking the spot kick he showed nerves of steel to rattle the back of the net. It was the last kick of the game. When the referee blew the whistle the large Donaghmore Ashbourne support flooded the pitch. Captain Ciaran Finn lifted his second trophy in eleven months but this was a much bigger prize. The team now go on to represent Meath in the Leinster Minor Club Championship. On a final note it was great to see they joy in Ashbourne as the Garda escort and a proud Noel Finn in the Roadstone Lorry led the cavalcade down through the village. Donaghmore Ashbourne: Colin Garry; Padraig Mc Cabe, Fionan O'Moaolmhichil, Fiach O'Loingsigh, Ciaran Finn, Stephen Dervan (1-0), Ciaran Ellis, Eoin Reilly, David Morgan (1-1), Andrew Tormey (0-3), Eric Callaghan (0-2), Iarlaith O'Donnell, Brian Snow (0-1), Daniel Cullen (0-1), Donal Mc Carthy. Subs: Faolán Smyth for B. Snow and Stephen Kavanagh for F. O'Moaolmhichil Tweet

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