Donaghmore/Ashbourne claim the Jack Devine Cup

Two goals in as many minutes early in the final quarter proved decisive as Donaghmore/Ashbourne claimed the Jack Devine Cup for the 2020 Premier FC Div 8 with 3-9 to 1-8 victory over Navan O'Mahonys at Pairc Tailteann today.

Despite this being the lowest grade adult competition in Meath football the entertainment was of the highest quality with both sides producing some excellent fare and scores of the highest quality.

It was thrill-a-minute stuff with outstanding commitment and effort resulting in several players succumbing to cramp and in the closing stages it was Donaghmore/Ashbourne who showed the greatest composure to claim the crown.

Both sides had heroic performances with goalkeepers, Aaron Byrne for O'Mahonys and Donaghmore/Ashbourne's Matt Davis, making several fine stops between them while the game also produced many outstanding scores.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne started well with James McKeown converting a first minute free before an outstanding run by Rodney Jones ended with the midfielder driving over the bar.

O'Mahonys response to that start was emphatic as Peter Butler played in Jack Flynn who sold several dummies before firing to the net.

Seconds later O'Mahonys went close to adding a second goal, but Gavin Fox saw his chance cleared off the line by Joe Long.

O'Mahonys did manage to stretch their lead to 1-1 to 0-2 when Sean Walsh pointed at the end of a mesmerising move, but Josh Corcoran settled Donaghmore/Ashbourne with a free before more clever play from Ciaran McGuinness and Butler set up Walsh to give O'Mahonys a 1-2 to 0-3 lead at the water break.

When play resumed Joe Magee blasted a goal chance over the bar, but it was O'Mahonys who continued to impress with Butler (free) and Walsh from a narrow angle making it 1-4 to 0-4.

As O'Mahonys threatened to pull away Donaghmore/Ashbourne received the perfect boost when substitute Oisin Gryson fetched a long ball from the air and fed McKeown who shot through Byrne's legs and into the net to restore parity.

Fox edged O'Mahonys ahead again with a sublime point and the tight nature of the contest continued with Donaghmore/Ashbourne's Corcoran and Danny Deery pointing either side of a Ben Forde score for the Navan men, while Kevin McInerney was denied by a brilliant save from Byrne as the teams were tied 1-6 at the break.

Within 90 seconds of the restart Corcoran edged Donaghmore/Ashbourne ahead again, but O'Mahonys levelled it up when Jamie Murray pointed.

There was a moment of controversy in the 37th minute when Walsh scored a fine point for O'Mahonys, but the Donaghmore/Ashbourne linesman had his flag up for the ball going out of play in the build up, so referee Seamus O'Connor disallowed the score.

Three minutes later Walsh flicked a long ball off the crossbar and in the ensuing scramble Forde was denied by a brilliant save by Davis.

McKeown (free) and Forde traded points as the teams remained tied, 1-8 each, at the second water break, but when play resumed O'Mahonys failed yto score again as Donaghmore/Ashbourne kicked on.

Magee blasted the winner's second goal in the 50th minute after a surging run and less than two minutes later a brilliant move involving Corcoran and Deery ended with Colm O'Toole netting - game, set and match.

Jones closed the scoring in injury-time as players clearly tired, but it was Donaghmore/Ashbourne who were celebrating at the end of a thrilling contest.

SCORERS

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - James McKeown 1-2 one frees; Joe Magee 1-1; Colm O'Toole 1-0; Josh Corcoran 0-3 one free; Rodney Jones 0-2; Danny Deery 0-1.

Navan O'Mahonys - Jack Flynn 1-0; Sean Walsh 0-3; Ben Forde 0-2; Peter Butler 0-1 free; Gavin Fox 0-1.

TEAMS

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Matt Davis; Niall Moran, Joe Long, Mark O'Brien; Anthony Lynn, James Flavin, Cormac mcGahan; Dan Clarke, Rodney Jones; Danny Deery, Joe Magee, James McKeown; Kevin McInerney, Sam Dobbins, Josh Corcoran. Subs - Oisin Gryson for Dobbins 19 mins, Colm O'Toole for McInerney half-time, Josh Watters for Deery 58m, Fergus Harmon for Corcoran, Jack Quinn for McKeown both 62m.

Navan O'Mahonys - Aaron Byrne; Darren Reilly, Andrew Rogers, Darragh McGuinness; Evan Bird, Craig Nolan, Jamie Murray; Ian Matthews, Paul Quinn; Jack Flynn, Ben Forde, Gavin Fox; Peter Butler, Ciarán McGuinness, Seán Walsh. Subs - John Gorman for D McGuinness, Conor Brennan for Butler both 33 mins, Rhys Callan for C McGuinness 43m, Michael Reavey for Bird 54m, Christopher Matthews for fox 60m.

Referee - Seamus O'Connor (Carnaross).