Minor SFC Preview: Donaghmore/Ashbourne tipped for minor honours
MFC FINAL PREVIEW
The Delany Cup is the prize on offer next Sunday when the minor footballers from Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Seneschalstown meet in the LMFM MFC final in Páirc Tailteann.
Will the trophy reside in Ashbourne for a ninth time, their last success coming in 2018, or can Seneschalstown bring it back to the banks of the Boyne for the first time?
Indeed, it is the clubs first time competing in the final in its own right, having previously played in it as Boyne Emmets when they joined forces with Walterstown and Duleek/Bellewstown.
Having fallen at the final hurdle in 2021, Donaghmore/Ashbourne have been determined this year to go one better and they have blazed a trail through the season with a record of 19 victories and one defeat from their 20 games played to date.
Group B of the season opening tournament was secured on the May Bank Holiday Monday before the Division 1 League title was secured on 8th August and now the treble dream is only an hour away from becoming a reality.
Defensively the ‘Moors are excellently organised with their ability to get bodies back in numbers meaning they are exceedingly difficult to break down.
In their semi-final victory over St Colmcille’s, they continually forced the seasiders attackers down blind alleyways before pouncing in numbers to force a turnover and counter attacked at pace. To this effect, Oisín Daly and Aidan Mackey anchor the defence superbly, while Michael O’Sullivan who operated inside as the fulcrum of the attack is the spearhead of the forward line, possessing a low centre of gravity and pace to burn as well as being a major scoring threat.
Seneschalstown have had a patchier season, winning Group A of the Tournament before losing to Donaghmore/Ashbourne in a low-scoring League semi-final.
Their record to date reads at 13 wins and five defeats with one game not having been played.
Their goalkeeper Luke Healy is as good as there is at the Minor grade in the county while Danny Waters and Liam Dillon have impressed in their half back line.
Up front Joe Norris operates as an effective targetman, and he landed a brace of goals in their semi-final win over Oldcastle while Robbie Finnegan and Sam Kirwan ably assist him.
It is sure to be a tight encounter and extra-time is a possibility but having defeated Seneschalstown twice in the League this season, Donaghmore/Ashbourne could well bring up the hat-trick on Sunday and atone for last year's defeat in the final.
Verdict – Donaghmore/Ashbourne.