Donaghmore / Ashbourne win thriller in u-15 HC final

Donaghmore / Ashbourne recorded a hard-earned 0-16 to 1-10 victory over Gaeil Colmcille / Loughcrew Gaels in the u-15 HC Div 2 final this evening at Pairc Tailteann.

For the purpose of this report the teams will be referred to as Ashbourne and Kells (for Gaeil Colmcille / Loughcrew Gaels).

A slow burner would be a good way to describe the game as it developed into a thriller with Kells staging a late rally to push Ashbourne all the way.

Ashbourne were ahead by 0-5 to 0-3 at the first water break following a fiercely contested opening quarter during which Kells created more chances, but didn't make the count.

It turned into a shoot-out on the scoreboard with Ashbourne tallying five points from Michael O'Sullivan (three frees) and Tiernan Anderson replying for Kells from a brace of frees and one from play as Ashbourne edged into a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage.

The Ashbourne side created more chances after play resumed and were ahead by 0-9 to 0-4 at the interval as O'Sullivan sent over three points and Evan O'Kane kicked over the bar when a goal chance was on.

However, there was some solid defending by Kells with Oisin Walsh preventing a certain Ashbourne goal and then Darren Higgins made a good save while at the other end Anderson pointed a free.

The pattern remained after the resumption and O'Sullivan added five more points before the second water break with O'Kane also sending over to extend the Ashbourne lead to nine points (0-15 to 0-6) with a brace of pointed Anderson frees sustaining Kells.

The final quarter saw Ashbourne denied goal chances as Kells defended with admirable determination and they were boosted with a Oisin O'Reilly goal in the 18th minute.

John Gormley added a point from play soon after as they gained some momentum and when Anderson converted another free the deficit was down to four (1-8 to 0-15) with 10 minutes remaining.

Kells kept pressing, but missed a couple of chances despite the efforts of Tadgh Dardis and Conal McGovern.

Ashbourne lost Aidan Mackey to a second yellow card and Anderson converted the resultant free for the infringement, but then Kells were reduced to 14 when Oisin Walsh was sent-off.

Ashbourne steadied the ship with a pointed Michael McIvor free to go four clear again in the 58th minute and they survived intense Kells pressure for the remainder.

Ashbourne's Evan O'Kane made a number of crucial clearances while the Kells players are worthy of enormous credit for the way they got back into contention.

Donaghmore / Ashbourne – Conor Lawless;l Joedev Puchon, Fionnan Hogan, Matthew Tuite, Dannan Donnelly, Michael O'Sullivan, Tom Ryan; Oisin Daly, Michael McIvor; Eoin Byrne, Patrick Moran, Aidan Mackey; Jack Doran, Cian Dowling, Evan O'Kane. Subs – Aidan Keogh, Niall O'Sullivcan, Callum Thomas, Darragh McCabe, Sean McKenna, Davin Jones, Sean Ward, Scott Thomas, Daniel Doherty, Darragh Meagher, JJ McManus, Darragh Nulty.

Gaeil Colmcille / Loughcrew Gaels – Darren Higgins; Rian Early, Paul Hennessy, Oisin Walsh; Shea McManus, Oisin O'Reilly, Michael Dunne-Thornton; John Gormley, Fergal Flynn; Conal McGovern, Tadgh Dardis, Tiernan Anderson; Andrew Gormley, Jack Gilligan, Eoghan Flynn. Subs – Noah Boshell, Killian Murray, Leo Fitzgerald, Oisin Sheridan, Cillian Fanning, Shane Callaghan, Cormac Guirke, Liam Devine, Conor Og Ferguson, Eoin Fitzgerald, Zac Boshell, Rory Smith.

Referee – Owen Ganly