Title for Donaghmore / Ashbourne

Donaghmore/Ashbourne brought the Royal Meath Association Cup for the Junior C FC home from Navan on Sunday following a merited victory over Nobber. Donaghmore/Ashbourne always looked the more likely winners and, apart from a brief period shortly after the start, they were always in the lead. "This was a very sporting game, we hit a bit of good form at the right time and we wanted to win this final," remarked Donaghmore/Ashbourne joint-captain Gareth Deery. Meath Co Committee official Francis Flynn, who presented the cup, congratulated both teams on producing a good game. "Donaghmore/Ashbourne were worthy winners on the day," he commented. Donaghmore/Ashbourne dictated the opening half with most of the momentum coming from the midfield pairing of Ciaran Byrne and Sean Smith. Fionan Mulvihill was lively in the half-forward line and helped himself to two points, but it was a brace of goals from Evan Rogers that made the real difference and helped his side into a 2-5 to 0-5 interval lead. The opening goal arrived in the sixth minute when Rogers got on the end of a Byrne pass and fisted to the net. The second goal was similar in its execution, but on this occasion Fionan Mulvihill provided the final pass and Rogers exploited some slack marking as he ghosted into the square to finish. Aonghus Mulvihill, John Lynch and Rogers completed the first-half points for Donaghmore/Ashbourne, but Nobber kept in touch against the substantial breeze with four Brian Kelly (three frees) points and one from Thomas McCormack who opened their account from play in the third minute. Nobber were much more determined after the resumption and enjoyed their best period during the opening 10 minutes of the half when Kelly sent over two massive frees from about 45 metres. That gave them a new impetus and they were unlucky not to find the net on at least one occasion as the Donaghmore / Ashbourne rearguard survived a few nervy moments. Donaghmore/Ashbourne also lost influential midfielder Smith due to injury after only six minutes of the second half. He was replaced by Colin O'Sullivan who moved to wing-forward with Fionan Mulvihill moving to midfield. The introduction of Brian Fitzgerald in the 41st minute proved a masterstroke for Donaghmore/Ashbourne as he found the net with his first touch for a 3-6 to 0-7 lead and soon after he was denied another goal by the thickness of the crossbar. The Donaghmore/Ashbourne substitutions were influential on the outcome as the next new face, Michael Gleeson, who replaced Rogers (injured) with 10 minutes remaining, claimed a brace of points before Fionan Mulvihill and Rossa O'Donnell completed the tally. Credit must go to Nobber for a positive attitude and they finished with a flourish of well-taken points from Kelly (two), McCormack, Sean Carolan and Christopher Kellett. McCormack was also denied a goal when Sean Kent saved from point blank range. Donaghmore/Ashbourne - S Kent; N Moran, B Murphy, P Finglas; R O'Connor, P Warren, A Mulvihill; S Smith, C Byrne; R O'Donnell (0-1), D Carey, F Mulvihill (0-3 one free); E Rogers (2-2), B Conaty, J Lynch (0-1). Subs - C O'Sullivan for Smith 36 mins; B Fitzgerald (1-0) for Conaty 41m; M Gleeson (0-2) for Rogers 50m, G Deery for Finglas 55m. Nobber - T Tierney; J McCormack, M Owens, K Kierans; P Meade, P Olwill, D Hutchinson; A Owens, B Meade; B McEntee, S Carolan (0-1), B Kelly (0-8 seven frees); F McEntee, T McCormack (0-2), R Lambe. Subs - M O'Halloran for Kearns half-time; M Davis for B McEntee 37 mins; N Carty for P Meade 55m; P O'Reilly for Owens 55m; C Kellett (0-1) for F McEntee 56m. Referee - Pat Clarke (Seneschalstown).