Donaghmore/Ashbourne in good shape after big win

The alarm bells could be heard reverberating around Summerhill, Kilberry and Dunshaughlin as Donaghmore/Ashbourne issued a major statement of intent with this devastating SFC quarter-final victory over shell-shocked Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday evening. Many predicted a Donaghmore/Ashbourne victory, but very few lumped their precious euros on at 4/5 that Andy McEntee's men would prevail against a Dunboyne side that had proved difficult to beat in the group stages without ever setting the championship alight. That notion that Dunboyne would be hard to put away was dispelled within the first-quarter on Sunday as John Broderick and Ciaran Ellis nipped in for exquisite goals to effectively end the game as a contest shortly after it had started. The level of Donaghmore/Ashbourne's performance will have worried many of the Dunshaughlin players who were in attendance at HQ to witness the lesson that was handed to Dunboyne. They will provide the next test for McEntee's men and he is already looking forward to the challenge. "It was a great performance from our lads especially in the first-half. We dropped our momentum a bit in the second-half maybe because our legs tired or maybe because the way the scoreboard was, or maybe a little bit of both," McEntee (pictured) told the Meath Chronicle. "We have to have a good attitude and like any other team if the attitude isn't good then you will struggle. We put ourselves in a difficult position early in the campaign when we didn't finish the game off against Rathkenny and we have been playing knock-out since, but our attitude has been good. "I don't think there will be any fear of the players getting carried away with that performance. I would be surprised and disappointed if they did get carried away, but it's my job I suppose to keep their feet on the ground. We are just looking forward to the semi-final now," concluded McEntee, a former Nobber and Dunboyne player. While the players are unlikely to get carried away with the performance it was difficult not to to be impressed with a side that have hit peak form at just the right time and played with a structure and commitment that Dunboyne simply couldn't match. Try as they might, Dunboyne were way off the pace. They struggled in every department and despite the best efforts of David Gallagher, Gerry Gallagher, Ger Robinson and Ger Barry they were never seriously at the races as Donaghmore/Ashbourne dominated every sector. Cormac McGill and Sean Curran were majestic in a tight full-back line that conceded just a goal from play. Dunboyne's only other scores from play came from full-back David Gallagher and midfielders Gerry Gallagher and Craig Berrigan. Contrast that to Donaghmore/Ashbourne's tally of 3-13 from play and 10 different scorers including the unstoppable John Broderick who finished with 2-2 to his name. It wasn't just the spread of scoring that impressed about Donghmore/Ashbourne. Their hunger and commitment was wholehearted, they battled for every ball as if their lives depended on it and they moved at pace and with percision that left Dunboyne chasing the long shadows that fell over the superb Pairc Tailteann pitch. Ciaran Ellis was a menace throughout while Bryan Menton was sublime at midfield. Broderick, Eoin Reilly, David Morgan and Ciaran Beirne also impressed, but it was an outstanding team effort from Donaghmore/Ashbourne and one that will take a lot of stopping. Even in the early stages it was clear that Donaghmore/Ashbourne had the measure of their opponents. Before a score was put on the board they hit three wides and it took Dunboyne four minutes to muster an attack which ended with Sean McGarrell hitting the upright. Donaghmore/Ashbourne even had a Tony Morgan 'goal' disallowed for a square ball infringement before they eventually opened their account with a superb Ellis point. Four minutes later Broderick grabbed the first of his brace of goals when he finished a brilliant move that started with Kevin Lanigan's outstanding pass and when Curran galloped forward to add a point the evening looked bleak for Dunboyne as they trailed 0-0 to 1-2. Robinson got Dunboyne off the mark with a pointed free, but Ellis capped a superb opening quarter with a great finish to give Donaghmore/Ashbourne their 2-2 to 0-1 cushion. Points from Reilly, Ciaran Beirne and Broderick stretched the lead to 10 points before Berrigan responded for Dunboyne, but Donaghmore/Ashbourne were relentless and ensured a 2-8 to 0-2 interval lead with further points from Broderick, Lanigan and Menton. It was no surprise that the tempo eased up after the break. Donaghmore/Ashbourne were already in a strong position and they never looked like losing out. David Morgan and Eoin Riordan pointed either side of another Robinson free before Dunboyne added some respectability to the scoreboard when David Clarke netted after his initial effort had been well stopped by impressive young goalkeeper Andrew Colgan. Stung by the concession of that goal Broderick nipped in for his second and Curran and Reilly added points to make it 3-12 to 1-3. Gerry Gallagher was rewarded for his diligence with a point, but the closing quarter was a mere formality as Iarlaith O'Donnell and Reilly (free) scores were followed by a penalty goal for Robinson after he had been fouled by Colm O Mealoid. Dunboyne did finish with the last two points of the game from David Gallagher and Robinson, but they were academic as Donaghmore/Ashbourne laid down a marker to those that remain in contention for Keegan Cup honours. Donaghmore/Ashbourne - A Colgan; J Finnegan, C McGill, S Curran (0-2); C Ellis (1-1), C O Mealoid, E Riordan (0-1); K Lannigan (0-1), B Menton (0-1); E Reilly (0-3 one free), C Beirne (0-1), J Broderick (2-2); T Morgan, I O'Donnell (0-1), D Morgan (0-1). Sub - I Dowd for O Mealoid 55 mins. Dunboyne - J O'Connor; S McKenna, David Gallagher (0-1), S Hogan; C Brennan, G Barry, G Watters; G Gallagher (0-1), C Berrigan (0-1); G Robinson (1-3 1-0 penalty, three frees), N Crawford, C Finn; S McGarrell, D Clarke (1-0), S Moran. Subs - G Timoney for Hogan 25 mins, D Lenihan for Moran half-time, C Clarke for Finn half-time, D Sweeney for Watters 36m, Denis Gallagher for McGarrell 37m. Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's).