Donaghmore/Ashbourne v. Dunderry ,

Meath Intermediate Club Hurling League Cup

Our Intermediate Hurlers were in competitive action for the first time in 2021, kicking off the season with a Friday evening game against opponents Dunderry on Pitch 1. A slow start by the team saw Donaghmore down by 3 after 5 minutes, before Martin Quinn opened the Mores’ account from a 21 meter free. An extremely physical contest from the outset meant play was very congested all over the pitch, with play breaking down at either end for both sides. A nice passage of play between Conor Carey, Dylan Morrissey and Cian Field gave the boys in green their first clear cut goal chance of the game, their effort foiled by Dunderry’s back line. Down by 7 at the first water break, the boys needed to regroup and reassess the game plan, and so they did, scoring the first 2 scores after the restart, another nice passage of link up play between Shaun Byrne and Conor Carey resulting in the first score and an excellent solo effort by Aidan O’Connor resulting in the second. O’Connor had found his way into the game by this stage, winning an excellent free from a good ball in and helping to tack one more on for the Moores’. Our defense was also starting to find their footing, with Sam Murray and Aonghus Mulvihill making crucial blocks and Martin Quinn controlling play from Centre Half Back. Down 6 at half time, the boys really needed to turn on the afterburners and get something going to keep the game from spiraling out of control, and so they did with Dylan Morrissey winning a quick free from the restart to reduce the deficit and Danny Deery creating an excellent goal scoring opportunity, once again foiled by Dunderrys defense. Aidan O’Connor once again raised his hand with an excellent display of fielding, catching a ball in from a Shaun Byrne free and winning another just inside the Dunderry D. Byrne was crucial in the Mores’ first score of the second half, linking up with Cian Field who turned and burned his man before striking it over the bar. Still down but not out, the Moores’ went into the 2nd water break needing a goal to help lift the heads again. However, it was Dunderry who went for the jugular after the break, an excellent defensive effort by the Mores’ defense preventing a goal chance from the Dunderry attack. With the game, slowly slipping away from our boys, a moment of magic from Danny Deery gave us our only goal of the game, Deery’s deft touch giving him just enough room to strike home an excellent solo goal. All in all, a good first performance from the team, with the second half showing a marked improvement. A special mention must be given to our two debutants, Shane Duke and Cianan Finn, two exciting young players who are definitely ones to watch.

Thomas Terry Aonghus Darragh M Sam Martin Dylan Conor Shaun Shane Cian Luke Danny Stephen Aidan. Subs Oisin for Conor, Shane Duke for Terry Colm for Luke David Kent for Aidan.

Final score Dunderry 1-21 , Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-09

Report by Jack Butler