St. Colmcilles v Donaghmore/Ashbourne at 8pm Pilltown 4th March 2022

H/T  St Colmcilles 2-5  Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-6

F/T  St Colmcilles 2-7  Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-7

When Cilles visited Ashbourne a few weeks ago for Feis Cup the home side came out on top by a margin of 5 points but when you go to Pilltown it is always a different story and to come away with a victory is difficult.  Last night was no different and we were glad to get out with a point on the table to share the spoils. 

It was all go from the throw in with Cilles advancing with lightning speed but was intercepted by James Redmond who passed to David Carr playing at full back and got the ball up field to the ever present Dylan Brady who put over the first point of the game after 2 minutes of play.  Cilles replied with a pointed free and went ahead on 7 minutes with a point from play.  Shaun Byrne and Leo Reilly put the visitors ahead on 7 minutes with 2 well taken points from play.  Breakdown of scoring opportunities was evident on both sides and backs working extremely hard to contain fast running forwards.  It was from an interception while Donaghmore/Ashbourne were going forward that a quick break from the Cilles saw them go down the pitch and score an unstoppable goal from Echicoya (12) to put them ahead by 2 points on 12 minutes.  Luke Barrett won a ball and passed out to Killian Hogan who it put out wide to the unmarked  Ethan Tormey over the other side of the pitch and took a great point off his left foot to bring it back to the minimum. St. Colmcilles got the next 3 points, 2 from play and 1 from a free.  A super turnover from Matt Crumlish who passed to Dylan Brady who quickly passed to the in running Darragh McGovern  put the ball in the back of the net with 20 minutes gone in this highly entertaining match.  Leo Reilly went off injured and was replaced by James Crumlish who got into the action straight away when Tomas McGovern won a ball from a great catch in mid field and passed to Crumlish who put over a great point from play making it all level with 7 minutes to go in the first half.  Jack Reynolds was always a huge threat playing at No 14 for the home side and got his reward by scoring a goal on 25 minutes to put 3 points between the teams.  James Crumlish was taken down and Michael Deegan put over the point from resulting free kick.  At half time with 2 points between the teams it was anybody's game.  

St Colmcilles's started the brightest with Jack Reynolds and Graham Reilly both putting over the bar from play 5 minutes into the 2nd half. It was all Cilles in the first 10 minutes and only for the good work of our backs led by Sean Curran in the centre it could have been a different story. Luke Barrett was on hand to clear a goal danger which might have made for a different outcome. Matt Crumlish had a chance to score a goal on 11 minutes but was saved by Andrew Beakey. 

The game was played end to end and never a dull moment and excitement was raised when Andrew Tormey was taken down in the box which resulted in a penalty been awarded on 14minutes.  Michael Deegan stood with confidence and put it past the keeper in style.  GAME ON........  Dylan Brady took a mark out on the left and duly converted it off his trusty left boot. It was all level. Subs were introduced with Stephen Carton coming in for Brady and Kevin Fenton on for Byrne. With 10 minutes left and the teams level both sides attempted shots but were guilty of wides with time running out. Donaghmore/Ashbourne got a 45 in the dying minutes which they took short and Tormey put the ball in high but somehow went out of play after a skirmish in the square. The resulting kickout heard the final whistle blown. On the night it probably would have been harsh on either team to have lost this game.  

Don/Ash:-  Jack Hannigan; Luke Barrett, David Carr, James Redmond, Matt Crumlish, Sean Curran, Ethan Tormey; Killian Hogan, Tomas McGovern, Leo Reilly (0-1), Darragh McGovern (1-0), Shaun Byrne (0-1), Michael Deegan (1-1 1p 1f), Andrew Tormey, Dylan Brady (0-2).

Subs:- James Crumlish (0-1) for Reilly (21), Stephen Carton for Brady (54), Kevin Fenton for Byrne (54).

All credit must go to the Management on fielding a very strong young team tonight in Pilltown, just looking at the lineout certainly the backs have to be the youngest to play together on a Senior Donaghmore/Ashbourne team. With Kevin Cully called into the Meath U20 team along side Evan Quinn and Jamie Browne we also had young Killian Hogan at midfield. Congratulations to Andy Colgan (and Aoife) who became a Dad during the week with the birth of his baby daughter Daisy.