Donaghmore / Ashbourne survive stern examination

Donaghmore / Ashbourne captured the Junior B FC title at rainswept Pairc Tailteann on Saturday when they survived a stern fourth-quarter examination from local rivals St Vincent"s. All the excitement was crammed into that final 15 minutes as battling St Vincent"s dug deep and gave their large contingent of supporters plenty to cheer about as they whittled away at Donaghmore / Ashbourne"s lead. Four points in that period was St Vincent"s most profitable of the game because prior to that they wasted a number of good chances. Points from Darren Lane (two), Tommy Field and Maxie Connor kept the pressure on Donaghmore / Ashbourne, but St Vincent"s were unable to get through for a goal in four minutes of injury-time and their gallant bid ultimately fell short. However, Donaghmore / Ashbourne laid the foundations for success in the first-half and were thoroughly deserving winners. They opened brightly and had 1-2 on the scoreboard inside 10 minutes as St Vincent"s went to sleep in defence. Points from Cathal Regan and Eric Callaghan were augmented by a Faolan Smith goal during that opening blitz on the Ardcath rearguard For the goal, Smith took up a good position, unmarked, on the edge of the St Vincent"s square and JP Lynch found him with a pinpoint pass. The corner forward made no mistake and beat netminder Paul Caffrey comfortably. Less than 60 seconds later Lynch took a speculative shot from 25 metres which the "keeper fumbled, but his blushes were spared when the ball bounced out for '45" which was wasted. That was a trait which St Vincent"s displayed also. They squandered three '45s" in the opening quarter before Lane sent over from play, but their only other reward for a hard-working first-half was a pointed Field free six minutes from the interval. St Vincent"s were adrift by 0-2 to 1-5 at half-time despite enjoying as much possession as Donaghmore / Ashbourne who were more potent going forward and completed their first-half tally with points from Ciaran Byrne, Callaghan and Regan. Wind-assisted St Vincnet"s resumed smartly with a Sean McNally point from play inside 16 seconds, but they were fortunate to avoid the concession of another goal almost immediately when corner back Enda Murphy was alert enough to deflect Callaghan"s flick out for a '45." Hard as they tried during an uncompromising third-quarter, the Ardcath men were unable to make any significant inroads into the deficit as the teams traded a brace of points. Lane was denied a goal when Donaghmore / Ashbourne "keeper Daniel McShane finger-tipped a rasping shot over the bar, but the Ardcath side kept batling and were unlucky not to reap a richer harvest. SCORERS Donaghmore / Ashbourne - F Smith 1-2, frees; C Regan 0-2, frees; E Callaghan 0-2; C Byrne 0-1; A Mulvihill 0-1. St Vincent"s - D Lane 0-4; T Field 0-2, frees; S McNally 0-1; M Connor 0-1. THE TEAMS Donaghmore / Ashbourne - Daniel McShane; Fiach O Loinsigh, Brenan Murphy, Matt Finn; Ciaran Finn, Iarlaith O"Donnell, Michael Gleeson; Ciaran Byrne, Stephen Kavanagh; Declan Mulvey, Eric Callaghan, Stephen Dervan; Faolan Smith, Cathal Regan, JP Lynch. Subs - P Warren for Mulvey 26 mins; A Mulvihill for Dervan 28m; Daniel Cullen for Lynch 58m St Vincent"s - Paul Caffrey; Enda Murphy, Darren Hand, Barry Bowens; Shane Ennis, Niall Tallon, Eamonn Reilly; Sean McNally, Ronan Sheridan; Robert Tallon, Darren Lane, Sean Og Travers; Alan Kearns, Tommy Field, Martin Byrne. Subs - Maurice Carberry for Travers 37 mins; Stephen Creed for Bowens 43m; REFEREE Gerry McGivney (Simonstown Gaels).