Jun B HC final: Delight for Donaghmore Ashbourne

Donaghmore Ashbourne's Colm O Méalóid with Mikey Dowdall Dunderry during the Junior B HC final at Kiltale

Donaghmore Ashbourne 2-12 Dunderry 1-12

The club's junior hurlers rose to Championship glory on Saturday after a hard-fought victory over Dunderry in Kiltale.

In just their third season in existence, the Moors came out on top by three points with a gutsy performance in perfect conditions.

Playing in to a very strong wind in the first half, Don/Ash fell behind early on as Mikey Dowdall punished indicispline with two frees. Jack Butler got the scoring off and running on 12 minutes before Colm Ó Méalóid added another. 

Dunderry kept their noses in front despite frees from Jack Ryan, but the Moors levelled the game on 28 minutes as an effort from Butler was caught up in the breeze but fell perfectly for Ó Méalóid, who plucked the sliotair and fired to the net.

Good work from Colm Randle allowed Cian Dowling to to give Don/Ash the lead for the first time, but a good Dunderry score from play brought things level again.

But they were rocked by the concession of a second goal, as Luke Herron broke free from midfield and delivered to Ó Méalóid on the edge of the square. He timed a handpass perfectly to Randle coming off the shoulder, who drove it by Killian Heffernan in the Dunderry nets to move the Moors three clear at half time.

Early scores from Herron and Randle in the second half gave even more of a cushion for Don/Ash with the wind at their back, but to their credit, Dunderry kept in the game, hitting five of the next seven scores - including a goal - to level the game once more.

With five minutes left on the clock, it was still level but the combination of youth and experience secured victory for the Moors, with Ryan's frees backed up by another Randle effort and a brilliant point from sub Joe Concannon, striking off his weaker side having won the ball from a ruck.

Dunderry had two more chances for goal, only for the Don/Ash rearguard to stand firm and secure a first Championship at adult level for the hurling side of the club since 2009.

Donaghmore Ashbourne: John Broderick, Stephen Leahy (C), Colin Garry, Faolán Smyth; Dylan Morrissey, Eoin Byrne, Dannan Donnelly; Jack Ryan, Cian Dowling; Luke Herron, Shaun Byrne, Jack Butler; Colm Randle, Colm Ó Méalóid, Killian Hogan. 

Subs: Fiach Ó Loinsigh, David Kent, Callum Thomas, Joe Concannon, Kaelam Ryan, Conor Jones, Conor Lawless, Oisin Mulhall, Padraig Gaughan, Anthony Ryan, Shane Rae, Cael Sullivan