More under-age glory for Donaghmore/Ashbourne

Saving their best football until the second-half Donaghmore/Ashbourne powered their way to a deserved victory over Dunboyne in this u-16 FC final at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening. There was a minute's silence before the game in memory of Liam Tolan who attended school in Ashbourne. And afterwards Donaghmore/Ashbourne dedicated this victory in memory of the talented youngster who tragically passed away last week. "The lads really wanted to win this game as they showed in the second-half and played some great football, they wanted to win it for Liam and we would like to dedicate it to his memory," said Mark Moynihan who made up the Donaghmore/Ashbourne management team along with Vincent Carton, Ciaran Benville, Maurice Murtagh and Con Quinn. Whatever was said to the Donaghmore/Ashbourne players at the interval they were certainly transformed in the second-half when they produced some scintillating football to take the trophy. Unfortunately those in the good-sized attendance were left to identify the players themselves as no programme was produced. It was Dunboyne who produced most of the best football in the opening half with the ever dangerous Niall Carolan showing the way with four points, three frees. Dara Lenihan and Keith Doyle also split the posts to give them a deserved 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead. Then, like a flick of a switch, Donaghmore/Ashbourne took control with Harry English slotting over a point in the opening minute of the second-half before the game took a decisive swing. There was 39 minutes on the clock when Ryan Thorpe and Scott Hanway combined to create an opening for Michael Deegan. When Deegan first won possession he was about 20 metres out and with a lot of work to do if he was to get a score. He showed real pace to cut in from the left before skilfully dinking the ball over the head of Dunboyne netminder Andrew Markey and into the net from a difficult angle. It was a cleverly taken goal and edged Donaghmore/Ashbourne into the lead for the first time in the game - where they stayed. Deegan went on to tag on two more points with English also capping a fine display with a brace. Thorpe, Jack Tuohy, Sam Benville and Aidan Hughes were others to contribute scores to Donaghmore/Ashbourne's second-half transformation. Among those who were in the forefront for Donaghmore/Ashbourne included Thorpe who wore number 15 yet roamed free picking up a lot of possession while English and Deegan caused consternation in the Dunboyne defence just about everytime they got their hands on the ball. And Donaghmore/Ashbourne went very close to getting a second goal late in the second-half when a Deegan effort rebounded off the upright, the ball fell to Tuohy who just couldn't apply the finishing touch to the net. One of the few highlights of Dunboyne's second-half display was their goal which came on 53 minutes. Jason Daly and Lenihan worked well to create an opening for the impressive Carolan who made the net dance with a powerful shot. It wasn't enough to rescue Dunboyne as their opponents marched on to victory. Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Jack Hannigan; Tomas McGovern, Martin Quinn, Dara McGovern; Liam Finn, Conor Carton, Sean Byrne; Aidan Hughes (0-1), Chris Brady; Harry English (0-3), Sam Benville (0-1), Scott Hanway; Michael Deegan (1-2), Jack Tuohy (0-3, two frees), Ryan Thorpe (0-2, frees). Subs - Jack McCearney for Brady 40mins, Luke Adams for Benville 52m, Ciaran Brennan for Dara McGovern 56m, Kevin Fenton for Finn 59m, James Dwyer for Tuohy 60m. Dunboyne - Andrew Markey; Seamus Lavin, Padraig Gallagher, Gary Harper; Ben Carolan, Ciaran Boylan, Conor Doran; Shane McEntee (0-1), Josh Gough; Ronan Dunne, Niall Carolan (1-4, three frees), Dara Lenihan (0-1); Jason Daly, Keith Doyle (0-1), Andrew Creevey. Subs - Dylan Ryan for Dunne 50 mins, Simon Clarke for Doyle 61m. Referee - Colm McManus (Gaeil Cholmcille).