Donaghmore/Ashbourne's second-half revival carries them to victory
At half-time in this u-20 Div 1 FC final at Dunganny this evening Trim's prospects looked as bright a newly lit up Christmas tree but in the end it was Donaghmore/Ashbourne who went home with the silverware after a 3-9 to 2-5 victory.
Trim led 2-4 to 1-3 at the change of ends after playing some fast-flowing, clever football in the opening stanza.
The level of their performance suggested their Friday night under the Dunganny lights might, just might, turn out to be a memorable night for them.
That idea was reinforced when Sean Foley fired over soon after the resumption to put his team further in front.
As the second-half unfolded, however, it became clear the Reds were facing a rejuvenated, re-energised and re-focused Donaghmore/Ashbourne side.
By the 45th minute Timmy O'Regan's team had drawn level, 2-5 each, and by the 51st minute they were in front 2-8 to 2-5 and firmly on the road to glory.
A few minutes later the Donaghmore/Ashbourne renaissance was completed when the Boys in Green put together a fast, paced, defence-shattering move that ended with Michael O'Sullivan slotting the ball to the net for his team's third goal.
Now trailing 2-5 to 3-8 you sensed after that there was no way back for Trim. They had become the victims of a Donaghmore/Ashbourne turbo-charged comeback.
Watched by a crowd of a couple of hundred people this showdown provided plenty of entertainment for the paying customers. When these two teams met earlier in the championship, Donaghmore/Ashbourne won by a landslide. There was never any prospect they were going to do that again yet they still put in a power-packed display especially in that second-half.
It did look in the opening mintues that Donaghmore/Ashbourne might chalk up another cricket score when Josh Lancaster had a an effort that rebounded off the upright and there waiting was Sean Tyrrell to fire to the net from close range.
The goal seemed to spark Trim into life. Perhaps mindful of that earlier trouncing the Trim players may have resolved that it wasn't going to happen again - so they got to work.
For much of the opening half they were the better side, executing turnovers, launching one surging, attacking move after another. They looked like champions elect.
Their cause was given a real boost on 11 minutes when Foley cleverly and quickly took a free. He lobbed the ball to Ian Byrne who netted from close range.
They grabbed their second goal in the lead up to half-time. Gary Fleming embarked on a surging run and he passed to Conor McKeown who knocked it to the net. This was followed by two points from Foley and one from Byrne giving the Reds their substantial interval advantage.
Then as the second-half unfolded Donaghmore/Ashbourne just got better and better. They were the team who benefited from turnovers. They were the team that surged forward with real attacking intent and menace.
Remarkably after Foley's early score Trim failed to add to their account. The Trim defence, particularly the full-back line of Conor McGinley, Danny Coleman and Eoghan Ryan defended heroically and Ciaran Caulfield continued to produce some classy touches but Donaghmore/Ashbourne grew more and more dominant.
A brilliant move finished to the net by Lancaster on 39 minutes really helped their cause with O'Sullivan's goal on 55 minutes effectively sealing a victory they deserved if only for their second-half display.
Jamie Browne made a huge contribution to Donaghmore/Ashbourne's second-half revival with four points (he got six in all) while Tyrrell and O'Sullivan also clipped over scores.
This was a sweet win for Donaghmore/Ashbourne, the victory due mainly to a team who went in at the break knowing they could play better - and they just did in the second stanza. Much better.
SCORERS
Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Jamie Browne 0-6 four frees; Sean Tyrrell 1-1; Michael O'Sullivan 1-1; Josh Lancaster 1-0; Darrag Gleeson 0-1.
Trim - Ian Byrne 1-1; Conor McKeown 1-0; Sean Foley 0-3 two frees; James Foley 0-1.
TEAMS
Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Eoin Ryan; Oisin Daly, Rodney Jones, Milo Connolly; Tomas Cooney, Cillian Hegarty, Scott Ward; Kevin Cully, Evan Quinn; Alex Purcell, Cael O'Sullivan, Sean Tyrrell; Josh Lancaster, Jamie Browne, Darragh Gleeson. Subs - Michael O'Sullivan for Purcell 34 mins, Zach Thornton for C O'Sullivan, Dominion Agbaba for Ward both 44m, Ethan Tormey for Connolly 51m, Evan O'Kane for Cooney 57m.
Trim - Peter Brennan; Conor McGinley, Danny Coleman, Mark Dempsey; Josh Harris, David Boyle, Eoghan Ryan; Caelum Cosserly, Tadhg Carty; Ciaran Caulfield, Gary Fleming, Conor McKeown; Sean Foley, Ian Byrne, James Foley. Subs - Darragh Heffernan for Dempsey 44 mins, Adam Wilson for Boyle 46m, George Douglas for McKeown 51m, Justin Barburu for Fleming 58m.
Referee - Padraig Coyle (Seneschalstown).