Donaghmore/Ashbourne win thriller

It wasn't the main course on an appetising menu at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, but both sides served up a treat as Donaghmore/Ashbourne lifted the u-21 C FC crown with an impressive win over Meath Hill. What marks Donaghmore/Ashbourne's even more remarkable is that this win was achieved with the club's second them at this age group and they also played the final 11 minutes with 12 players following the sending off of Conor Carey. The nine point margin of defeat is cruel on the brave effort of Meath Hill, but Donaghmore/Ashbourne could have won by more if they had not had what looked like a perfectly good goal from Colin O'Sullivan ruled out for a square ball. The winners could also have had a first-half penalty when Evan Rogers had a shot illegally blocked by Chris Yorke's foot. Meath Hill contributed to an excellent game. The first-half in particular was one of the finest 30 minutes of football of the year as the play ebbed and flowed with both sides notching spectacular goals. Mark Tully was exceptional for the north Meath side, while Pierce McGrath boosted his growing reputation as one of the county's brightest young players with a fine display. Jack Corscadden took his goals expertly, but ultimately Donaghmore/Ashbourne were too strong with O'Sullivan excelling. They were solid throughout the field and their superior fitness kept them going as Meath Hill faded in the final quarter. The winners never trailed from as early as 30 seconds into the game when Rogers converted a free after he had been fouled by Simon Martin. Two minutes later Cian O'Byrne gathered O'Sullivan's quick free and blasted a superb goal. Meath Hill's response was swift and emphatic as Corscadden took advantage of McGrath's brilliant pass to bury the ball beyond Eoin Caffrey, but again Donaghmore/Ashbourne pulled clear with O'Sullivan posting three points to make it 1-4 to 1-0 after 10 minutes. Mark Tully and McGrath closed the gap to two points before Rogers settled Donaghmore/Ashbourne again. Corscadden was unlucky to have an effort cleared off the line by Odhran O'Donnell and three minutes later Conor Casey dived to fist the ball to the net to make it 2-5 to 1-2. Donaghmore/Ashbourne were threatening to run away with the game, but after Tommy Smith was fouled Mark Tully brilliantly converted the penalty to reduce the deficit to three points. Then came the two refereeing decisions that denied Donaghmore/Ashbourne further goals when . McGrath and Smith pointed either side of a Shane Melia score before an O'Sullivan free gave Donaghmore/Ashbourne their 2-7 to 2-4 interval lead. The pace of the game dipped after the resumption. McGrath closed the gap inside a minute, but the issue was effectively sealed when O'Sullivan rounded off a brilliant move to make it 3-7 to 2-5. Meath Hill responded with a second goal from Corscadden with 11 minutes remaining, but despite having Carey sent off Donaghmore/Ashbourne didn't concede a again and wrapped up the win when Fionan Mulvihill netted with the last kick of the game. Donaghmore/Ashbourne – E Caffrey; I Kavanagh, S Robinson; O O'Donnell, G Deery, R O'Connor; C Carey (1-0), F Mulvihill (1-2, one free); C O'Byrne (1-0), S Melia (0-1), D Murtagh; C O'Sullivan (1-5, three frees), E Rogers (0-3, one free). Subs – C Fagan for O'Connor 45 mins, T O'Connor for Rogers 60m, M McCabe for O'Byrne 60m. Meath Hill – C Yorke; N Tully, S Martin; R Tully, Martin Tully, M Byrne; A Matthews, P McGrath (0-3); R McGrath, Mark Tully (1-1, 1-0 penalty, one free), T Rooney; J Coscadden (2-0), T Smith (0-1). Subs – C Matthews for Byrne 25 mins, D McGrath for R McGrath half-time, E Matthews for D McGrath 49m, D Farrelly for Martin 57m. Referee – Colm McManus (Gaeil Colmcille).