Donaghmore/Ashbourne look good for final place

If Dunshaughlin are to listen to the so-called experts then they needn't bother turning up at Pairc Tailteann for next Sunday's SFC semi-final against a Donaghmore/Ashbourne side that are raging hot favourites to claim a first final spot. However, that might be just the tag that the former three-in-a-row champions will relish. They have been in this position before, written off before the ball has been thrown-in, yet somehow they have found a knack of defying the odds. If they were to repeat the dose of some of their match-winning performances both this year and over a decade ago then they are more than capable of causing a shock, but such was the level of Donaghmore/Ashbourne's performance in their quarter-final win over Dunboyne that it is hard to bet against Andy McEntee's side. When Dunshaughlin burst onto the scene to win the Meath SFC title in 2000 it began a journey that will not be emulated in the Royal County for a long time. A hat-trick of Keegan Cups and a Leinster Club SFC crown under Eamonn Barry elevated the club to legendary status, but in recent years that glory has started to fade. There was a feeling that many of the the players who provided the inspiration of that journey were past their prime and that Dunshaughlin were suffering for not cutting them loose. What has transpired this year under Gary Farrelly has been remarkable. The aim back in April must have been to secure wins over Rathkenny and Nobber and guarentee senior status, but a remarkable victory over Seneschalstown was followed by the expected win over Nobber and suddenly Dunshaughlin had to re-evaluate. One more win over Rathkenny proved good enough to book a place in the last eight and despite losses to Navan O'Mahonys and next Sunday's opponents Donaghmore/Ashbourne the rising tide was lifting all ships in Dunshaughlin. The feel-good factor was back. The old character, mixed with no small measure of skill and commitment, resurfaced to inspire an extra-time quarter-final win over Simonstown and suddenly Dunshaughlin found themselves just one place away from a seat at the top table once more. However, that leap from the semi-final to the final appears to be a massive undertaking. Much will be read into Donaghmore/Ashbourne's 0-14 to 0-8 win over Dunshaughlin in the third round of the SFC and some punters will argue that Donaghmore/Ashbourne have the greater firepower. Dunshaughlin will bring character, resilience, pace and more importanly experience to the table next Sunday. Ronan Gogan, Kenny McTigue, Denis Kealy, Caoimhin King, Trevor Dowd and Ray Maloney know what it takes to wins semi-finals, those men know how to get a job done. Add in the emerging talent of several exciting minor teams over the last five years and it is clear why Dunshaughlin are still in the mix. The pace offered by Conor Devereux and Cathal O'Dwyer will cause Donaghmore/Ashbourne problems and any indiscipline will be punished by the accurate Dowd. Alert to the threat that Dunshaughlin will bring, Donaghmore/Ashbourne should have the ammunition to deal with them. Their first-half display when demolishing Dunboyne in the quarter-final was as good any any performance in this year's championship. However, there are signs of weakness that will sharpen the Donaghmore/Ashbourne minds and ensure they won't get carried away with that result. If Donaghmore/Ashbourne need to be brought back down to earth then they just have to be reminded of their opening round loss to Rathkenny and sunsequent defeat by Navan O'Mahonys. Those two defeats have left Donaghmore/Ashbourne playing knock-out football since May and that can have a draining effect. Donaghmore/Ashbourne have had to be at their peak to ensure survival. That do-or-die attitude seems to have inspired them as the wins over Dunshaughlin, Nobber, Seneschalstown and Dunboyne have suggested. They too have quality all over the field, but it is the accumulation of a couple of disappointing years that will have boosted their experience and those two attributes combined should see them through. Players like Cormac McGill, Sean Curran, Colm O Mealoid, Ciaran Ellis and Eoin Riordan have ensured a tight defence for Donaghmore/Ashbourne and with the hard working and ever-improving Eoin Reilly providing a vital link between defence and attack it is easy to see why McEntee's men have been so impressive. Bryan Menton is a fulcrum for success and with dangerous attackers like John Broderick, Tony Morgan and David Morgan Donaghmore/Ashbourne are still a formidable force even without the injured Andrew Tormay and Niall Farrell. Dunshaughlin have exceeded all expectations and will come to Navan with nothing to lose. The weight of expectation is on Donaghmore/Ashbourne, but with so much talent on hand and the memory of bitter defeats fresh in their minds McEntee's men should justify their favourites tag.