Two in-a-row for Ashbourne
Ashbourne retained the All-Ireland Junior Cup today at Portlaoise with an 18-9 victory against Tipperary side Kilfeacle.
This is the second year Ashbourne reached the All-Ireland Junior Cup final.
Last year they defeated Enniscorthy 22-20 at Donnybrook in what was a major milestone for the club.
This season they have continued to show very encouraging form and currently lead the Leinster League Div 1A with a recent 42-13 victory over De La Salle Palmerston an indication they were hitting form before today's All-Ireland showdown.
The club have put a big emphasis on developing their under-age structures in recent years and that hard work is starting to pay dividends.
It can be most clearly seen in the progress shown by the first team under coach Peter O'Donnell.
Today at Portlaoise, it was Kilfeacle that took a 3-0 lead after 10 minutes from a penalty, but Ashbourne recovered in the difficult conditions and managed an unconverted try close to the interval for a 5-3 half-time lead. Stephen O'Neill went over for the try.
Donal Crotty added a penalty for Ashbourne in the second-half, but Kilfeacle replied with a three-pointer as the Meath side held on to a 8-6 advantage.
Midway through the second-half as the rain got heavier Crotty converted another penalty to leave Ashbourne with a five-point lead, 11-6.
Kilfeacle managed amother penalty, but it got better for Ashbourne soon after when Crotty went over for a try that was converted and that gave the Meath side a substantial and crucial 18-9 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Ashbourne - Alan Wall, James McCaghy, Frank Keegan, Sean Kent, Conor Hurley, Simon Deevy, Sean McKeon, Jake Wall, Gavin Kennedy, Donal Crotty, Colm Craigie, Adam Martin, Jack O'Brien, Casey Dunne, Stephen O'Neill.
Subs - Brendan Meehan, Jeff Mahon, Ciaran Roche, Joey Szpara, Mark Rooney, Shane Bass, Matt Connolly.
Kilfeacle - Simon Barry, Tom Doyle, Luke Ashmore, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Cormac Ryan, Cormac O'Donoghue, Oisin O'Meara, Kevin Kinane, Gavin Hueston, Jamie Heuston, Ciaran Lowry, Shane Luby, Darren Lowry, Keith Bourke, James Hogan.