Report by Jonathan Carr

Donaghmore/Ashbourne V Na Fianna

Pairc Tailteann

25th August 2023

Round 3 and final Championship group match

It was all to play for tonight for each of the four teams in the group. The mathematical permutations indicated that any team could go forward to the Keegan Cup competition and any of the four could be in the relegation scrap. It all depended on this evenings results. Donaghmore needed two results. A win in their match plus a win for Dunshaughlin v Curraha, anything less meant they were in the relegation battle.

All day the weather was good but two hours before the game the heavens opened, thunder and lighting. There was an eerie atmosphere in Meath.

There were a number of changes to the Donaghmore team. Some tactical and some due to injuries but the team looked solid, every player worked hard to earn their place.

Na Fianna won the ball from the throw in and went direct to the Donaghmore goal. Their first attempt went wide but after winning the resulting kickout Ethan Divine put the ball over the bar for the first point of the game. Na Fianna kept the pressure up with two successive kicks. Jamie Brown blocked one and their second went wide. The ball then travelled down the other end of the pitch but our attempt fell short and into the keepers hands. Jamie Brown was involved again in turning over the ball which fell into the hands of Thomas McGovern. A quick pass to Dylan Brady and he put the ball over the bar for Donaghmore’s first point of the match. Donaghmore went ahead with a free kick from Andrew Tormey to make it 0.2 to 0.1.

There were wides from both sides, possession lost by both side as well in the next five minutes, Vigorous man to man battles were taking place on the pitch. A brave Na Fianna player decided to go shoulder to shoulder with Andrew Tormey but there is usually only one winner in that contest. The game was stopped for a few minutes to allow the Na Fianna physio to come on.

On 14 minutes Darragh O’Sullivan added a point with a good kick from his left. This was followed up with a kick left short and a wide form Donaghmore. Michael Deegan was fouled outside of the Na Fianna 45 metre line. This was Andy Colgan territory and he duly put the ball over the bar. Darragh O’Sullivan had a shot waved wide by the umpire but the crowd were not happy with that decision.

At this point the score in the other match was Curraha 1.4, Dunshaughlin 0.5.

Na Fianna scored two points in the last 4 minutes to make it 0.4 a piece.

The second half started with good pressure from Na Fianna and Sean Martin scored the first point. There were lots of turn overs and a couple of wides from Donaghmore. A shot from James Redmond bet the keeper but was saved by the post.

On 38 minutes Michael O’Sullivan was introduced for Jamie Brown.

Conor Carton put in a good block and turned over the ball. Darragh O’Sullivan sent a long ball into the Na Fianna box where Andrew Tormey caught the ball cleanly. The box was quickly packed with Na Fianna players and there was no room for a shot on goal.

On 40 minutes Cillian Hegarty was introduced for James Redmond.

Wides from Bryan Menton and Michael Deegan were followed up with a well worked point put over the bar by Leo Reilly.

On 43 minutes James Crumlish was introduced for Michael Deegan.

Na Fianna increased the pressure on Donaghmore and were rewarded with two point from play. In the next 3 minutes Donaghmore brought the ball into the Na Fianna half on three separate occasions but couldn’t get a score. On 51 minutes with the score 0.7 to 0.5 the management made another change, bringing on Kevn Fenton for Thomas McGovern. Kevin Fenton immediately did what was asked of him and simply put the ball over the bar. Na Fianna had a good goal opportunity when they broke down the right hand wing. Moving along the end line they hand passed the ball across the face of the goal but it was palmed down and wide.

On 56 minutes Zach Thornton was introduced for Darragh O’Sullivan.

Donaghmore went down to 14 men in the last few minutes of the game when Kevin Cully got a black card. A free kick scored by Zach Thornton was matched with a free from Na Fianna to make the score 0.8 to 0.7 in favour of Na Fianna.

We were down to the last few minutes and behind by a point. The other match was level which was not good for us but we could only work on our own game. The substitutions made were vital in this match and they were to determine the outcome of the game. Donaghmore pressed forward, battling to the end. The ball went to Zach Thornton. A quick side step and he passed the ball to Michael O’Sullivan on the end line. Michael didn’t panic, instead he looked up and picked out his man – Kevin Fenton. Kevin Fenton caught the ball in front of goal and had three Na Fianna players closing in on him. Cool as a cucumber Kevin just picked his spot and put the ball under the goal keeper to give Donaghmore a goal. Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Scoring 1.1 from play in 10 minutes to win the game for Donaghmore. Well done Kevin.

Na Fianna scored another point to finished the game 1.7 to 0.9 giving Donaghmore the win they needed. At the same time the other match had finished with a Win for Dunshaughlin. Was that enough for Donaghmore to go into the Keegan Cup? There was lots of confusion after the game but after around 10 minutes it was confirmed that Donaghmore finished second in the group and into a quarter final of the Keegan Cup in two weeks time where we will face Ratoath, Simonstown or Summerhill.

Team:

Andy Colgan (0.1), James Redmond, Bryan Menton, Conor Carton, Thomas McGovern, Sean Curran, Darragh McGovern, Kevin Cully, Shane Melia, Michael Deegan, Dylan Brady (0.1), Leo Reilly (0.1), Darragh O’Sullivan (0.1), Andrew Tormey (0.1), Jamie Brown.

Subs: Micheal O’Sullivan, Cillian Hegarty, James Crumlish, Kevin Fenton (1.1), Zach Thornton (0.1)