Moores maul Trim to seal semi spot

Don/Ash 2-5-10 (26)

Trim 1-2-5 (12)

The carrot and prospect of playing a SFC final in their own backyard is becoming an increasingly real possibility for Donaghmore/Ashbourne following Saturday's quarter-final win over disappointing Trim at Dunsany.

Timmy O’Regan’s side have come a considerable way in a relatively short space of time. Beaten by Gaeil Colmcille in round one, ‘The Moores’ have consistently improved as the rounds have progressed and are firmly in the discussion for Keegan Cup glory.

Their latest win over Trim was achieved in the most professional of manners, bossing proceedings effectively from start to finish. James Murray’s two-pointer in the third minute was the only time the eventual winners trailed despite playing against a stiff breeze in the opening half.

Darragh McGovern almost immediately cancelled out Murray’s orange flag with one of his own to level the sides up. From that moment on, it was all one-way traffic. Stephen Carton held his nerve to cooly slot home his second goal in this year’s championship to give his team the lead for the first time in the eighth minute.

There was no let-up with a further four points on the trot, three from Andy Tormey and a free from Andy Colgan, helping to establish a 1-6 to 0-2 lead at the beginning of the second quarter with things already looking bleak for Ken Robinson’s charges. They did however muster a two-pointer thanks to Daire Lynch in the 20th minute. Murray also stung the palms of Colgan minutes later.

It was but a brief reprieve for the men in red as Shane Melia ghosted in to point in the 27th minute before Colgan arrowed over a two-point free a minute later to open an eight-point advantage. Aaron Lynch and Tormey exchanged points in stoppage time at the end of the half as the dominant leaders took a 1-10 to 0-5 lead into the break.

Trim did make a more purposeful start to the second half with Alan Douglas pointing directly after the resumption. Ciaran Caulfield was then left frustrated after his low shot cannoned back off the base of the post. Lynch did make it consecutive scores, converting a free in the 34th minute, but Trim’s early second half inroads were quickly wiped away when Kevin Fenton curled over a two-pointer in the 37th minute.

Lynch gave his side a glimmer of hope by converting a penalty after an enterprising Conor Quigley run was halted abruptly. It only succeeded in spurring Donaghmore/Ashbourne back into life as they pressed the turbo button, rattling off four points from Jamie Browne and Tormey either side of a magnificent two-pointer from the excellent Conor Carton on the run.

Fenton’s third point of the half sandwiched in-between a brace of Lynch frees helped to keep Trim at arm’s length with time ebbing away.

There was simply no let up from the runaway winners as Bryan Menton capped off a fine display with a point before Tormey laid the ball on a plate for Sean Tyrell to palm into a net for their second goal two minutes into stoppage time.

Not content with not having the final say, the superb Tormey sailed over a two-pointer with the final act of the contest to his and Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s sheer delight.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne: Andy Colgan (0-3 one free, one two-point free); Sean Curran, Shane Melia (0-1), Conor Carton (0-2 two-pointer); Sean Tyrell (1-0), Evan Quinn, Kevin Cully; Bryan Menton (0-1), Jamie Browne (0-1); Thomas McGovern, Andy Tormey (0-7 three frees, one two-pointer), Kevin Fenton (0-3 one two-pointer); Darragh McGovern (0-2 two-pointer), Stephen Carton (1-0), Zach Thornton. Subs – Oísin Daly for Melia 44m, Evan Kelly for S Carton 48m, Michael O’Sullivan for Thornton 53m, Cillian Hegarty for Browne 60m.

Trim: Eoin O’Reilly; Conor McGinley, Brian Bolger, Padraig Walsh; Cathal O’Reilly, Jack McGowan, Conor Quigley; David Lernihan, Ciaran Caulfield; Eoin Sweeney, Daire Lynch (0-2 two-pointer), Tom Carmody; James Murray (0-2 two-pointer), Alan Douglas (0-1), Aaron Lynch (1-4 1-0 penalty, three frees). Subs – Eoin O’Connor for Carmody half time, Ciaran O’Rourke for Sweeney 38m, Sean Foley for Douglas 45m.

Referee: Kieran Olwell (Moynalty).