Senior Football Championship Semi-Final in Pairc Tailteann 5pm 23rd September, 2023.

Referee Padraic Coyle

H/T Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-6 Summerhill 0-4

F/T Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-8 Summerhill 0-10

Donaghmore/Ashbourne were going into this clash as huge underdogs and really not been given any chance of a result. The team showed great character and were ahead at half time in the match but just couldn’t seem to get any rub of the green in the 2nd half. Having won the throw in Don/Ash were first to attack and a long ball to Bryan Menton who started in at full forward due to having broken a toe in training in the intervening 2 weeks from quarter final. This just shows the passion these lads have for their team and club and the effort which is put in by each and everyone of them to reach the holy grail which is Keegan Cup. Andy Colgan was first on the score board with a point from a long range free after just 4 minutes. Summerhill replied with a pointed free from Eoghan Frayne and went ahead on 8 minutes with a point from play from Conor Frayne. Darragh McGovern was on route to goal when taken down which resulted in a free which was put over the bar by Andrew Tormey to make it level with just nine minutes on the clock. It probably wasn’t the most entertaining of games to watch but each team knew the significance of a win here today so it was a cagey affair. Don/Ash worked tirelessly to stop Summerhill getting the upper hand from their dangerous inside forwards who were well marshalled by James Redmond, Shane Melia and the young Evan Quinn who has proved his ability to mark some of the best in Meath. Kevin Cully was also back helping out and made a crucial block and cleared the lines on several occasions. Up front it was a slow build up but when Michael Deegan took a sublime shot from the stand side everyone was about to give the biggest cheer only to see it come back off the post and back into play which was cleared by Summerhill. Donaghmore/Ashbourne owned the ball in the next 15 minutes but could only convert 2 more points from frees from Andy Colgan and another from the boot of Andrew Tormey also a free such was the ferocious defensive game this was turning out to be. They went 5points to 2 points up and were playing very well with Sean Curran leading from the half back line with the aid of Conor Carton and Thomas McGovern who were ever present. This is the period where we probably should have pushed on but in a very tight game like this where defence was upper most in the minds of both sides it was never going to be easy the get anywhere near the scoring area where either side would get a goal chance. Don/Ash went close when Tormey was at the end of a long ball in and knocked down to Jamie Browne who was surrounded by Summerhill men and just couldn’t get the final touch to put the ball in the back of the net. Adam McDonnell and Kevin Ryan put over the next 2 scores from play for Summerhill to leave it just 1 between the sides with 26 minutes on the clock. Dylan Brady who was first to every ball finally got his just reward when he put over a great point from play to leave it 2 between the teams with half time looming. The work rate from our players was immense with Bryan Menton back out in midfield and seemed to be moving well despite his injury. The first half ended with a score line of Don/Ash 0-6 Summerhill 0-4.

Summerhill closed the gap early in the 2nd half with a point from Barry Dardis but it took 6 minutes to get that score. James Redmond was defending really well and came out of defence several times in that first few minutes and eventually gave a great pass over to Kevin Fenton who took the mark and duly converted Kevin Fenton had come on as a sub for Jamie Browne 3 minutes into the 2nd half. Unfortunately for Don/Ash we didn’t score again until 26 minutes gone. It was Summerhill’s purple patch and they went 8 points to 7 points up with 3 pointed frees all from the boot of Eoghan Frayne. James Crumlish was on for Michael Deegan who had been marshalled well by Summerhill. We lost our goal keeper Andy Colgan 20 minutes into the 2nd half when he collided with the post after taking a high ball into his safe hands from a kick from Summerhill which would have resulted in another score. Eoin Ryan replaced Andy. Conor Frayne put 2 between the teams with 4 minutes left in normal time. Our next score came from a long ball into Tormey who caught it but was surrounded by Summerhill men and gave the pass to an ever present Fenton who put it over the bar to leave it just the minimum once again. Michael O’Sullivan was on for Brady and Zach Thornton on for Darragh McGovern 28 minutes. It looked like Don/Ash were going to get a free out when Dardis who seemed to have charged into Leo Reilly but the referee saw it differently and gave a free in which was put over the bar from the resulting free from Eoghan Frayne once again. It was last chance saloon for Don/Ash in the dying minutes of this game and they pushed so hard to get the goal required to win this match. A good build up and fast ball into the Summerhill goal area resulted in a 45 been awarded to Don/Ash. A delay in the ball been retrieved from Summerhill goalkeeper to allow the 45 been taken wasting precious time resulted in Tormey getting a red card. The game ended after the ball was sent in but finished with a free out for Summerhill for square ball. It was the end of another year for Don/Ash and we can only wonder what could have been but this team have had to deal with lots of adversities along the way one of which was only sorted late on Friday night. We can be very proud of Management and players for their hard work and sacrifices made by each and every one of them during the year. Go raibh maith agat lenár bhfoireann agus lenár mbainistíocht.

Don/Ash:-  Andy Colgan (0-3), James Redmond, Shane Melia, Evan Quinn, Thomas McGovern, Sean Curran, Conor Carton, Kevin Cully, Bryan Menton, Leo Reilly, Michael Deegan, Darragh McGovern, Jamie Browne, Andrew Tormey (0-2 2f), Dylan Brady (0-1).  Subs:- Kevin Fenton (0-2) for Jamie Browne, James Crumlish for Michael Deegan, Eoin Ryan for Andy Colgan, Michael O'Sullivan for Dylan Brady and Zach Thornton for Darragh McGovern. 

Best of luck to our Intermediate Hurlers next week in their Semi-Final in Trim on Saturday 30th September at 4pm.

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