Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Dunshaughlin  8pm   Venue:- Skryne

H/T Score:- Don/Ash 1-10 Dunshaughlin 0-3

F/T Score:-  Don/Ash 2-16 Dunshaughlin 1-8

Donaghmore/Ashbourne had to win tonight to have any chance of going any further in the championship but they also needed Ratoath to beat Navan O'Mahoney's.  Well when they went out on the pitch in Skryne tonight there was only one thing on their minds and that was a win against Dunshaughlin.  From the throw in Bryan Menton won the ball, passed it to Shane Melia who ran right through the middle which opened up for him and gave the ball to Michael Deegan who put it in the net within 1 minute of play.  Dylan Brady added 2 points before Andy Colgan converted from a 45.  Dunshaughlin threatened but for the block from Evan Quinn to clear his lines which resulted in a 45 but Luke Mitchell failed to convert. It was more of the same and Donaghmore were playing with such determination that they were unstoppable. Menton, Deegan and Shaun Byrne put another 3 points on the board before the first water break which left the score 1-7 to 0-0.  

Niall Murphy was first to put Dunshaughlin on the board with a point from play after 19 minutes.  There was a bit of misunderstanding in the backs which saw a ball being passed back to the goalkeeper from the player who had taken it from the kickout which resulted in a free on the edge of the box which Luke Mitchell converted. Jamie Browne who had been out injured for a lot of the year and missed out on being part of the Meath U20 squad having broken a bone in his foot got his first start of the year and showed why he is a vital cog on this team, he got off the mark on 27 minutes. Michael Deegan and Shaun Byrne added to the tally before half time to leave the score Don/Ash 1-10 to 3pts. 

As you would expect from Dunshaughlin they fought to get back into the match and scored a goal 10 minutes into the 2nd half but Don/Ash didn't let up and went straight back down the field with superb passing which ended with Jamie Browne putting the ball in the back of David Jenning's net.  In fairness to Jennings he had to perform heroics on several occasions from the boot of Andrew Tormey.  Tormey, Brady, McGovern, Menton and Colgan (45) finished off a good night after a superb performance from all over the pitch.  Shane Melia was instrumental in the winning along side so many other players who all did their part to get us into the quarter finals and another crack of the whip.  Conor Carton, Jason Boland and Iarlaith O'Donnell all did enough to keep any pressure from Dunshaughlin to a minimum.  Sean Curran performed a captain's role at wing back with help from James Redmond (in from start instead of injured Thomas McGovern) and Evan Quinn.   Dylan Brady was probably the most impressive on the night but each and every player who wore the Donaghmore/Ashbourne Jersey tonight did so with great grit and determination. It was a huge relief when the announcement came over the tannoy to tell us our near neighbours had done us the big favour of beating Navan O'Mahoney's which meant we had lived to fight another day.  Final score was Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-16  Dunshaughlin 1-8. The Moors march on.

Don/Ash:-  Andy Colgan (0-2 1 45 1f); Jason Boland, Iarlaith O'Donnell, Conor Carton; Evan Quinn, James Redmond, Sean Curran (C), Shane Melia, Bryan Menton (0-2); Daragh McGovern (0-1), Dylan Brady (0-3), Jamie Browne (1-1); Shaun Byrne (0-2), Andrew Tormey (0-1), Michael Deegan (1-4 1f) Subs:- Leo Reilly for Evan Quinn (46), Stephen Carton for Jamie Browne, James Crumlish for Dylan Brady and Kevin Fenton for Michael Deegan. 

A big thank you to our sponsor Ashbourne Automotive Services, Rath Cross. 

Eithne Tormey PRO Senior Team