Apologies for late report on match in Ballinabrackey, it was very late when we got home on Tuesday and took me until tonight to sit down and actually write it. Unfortunately this was a match we should have won but with injuries and things not going according to plan on the night, it was a disappointing showing after such a long drive for our players and management on the night.

H/T Ballinabrackey 0-8 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-8

F/T Ballinabrackey 0-14 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-9

It was a long drive back from Ballinabrackey on Tuesday night after making the round trip of 160 km, made even more difficult after a loss by 2 pts.  It looked all day like it was going to be a bad night weather wise but it actually cleared up before the match started at 7.45pm.  Ballinabrackey opened the scoring with a point from a free after 2 minutes.  There was nothing got easily in this game and some our of lads discovered the further you travel down through Meath the tougher the opposition physically. This match was played in a very sporting fashion and good football played by both sides in the first half.  Kevin Cully got the first point from play for Don/Ash. Ballinabrackey were kicking long ball into the ever present Damien Carroll who kicked over for the 2nd point for the home side. Ballinabrackey went 3pts to 1 pt up with 7 minutes gone.  Stephen Carton got on the end of a ball and passed to Leo Reilly who duly put it over the bar. Damien Carroll hit again with another point from play on 12 minutes. Dylan Brady was fouled in possession while heading for goal and Stephen Carton put over the free to make it 4pts to 3 with 14 minutes gone.  Kevin Cully caught a great ball in the middle of the field and passed quickly and accurately to Andrew Tormey who burst through and scored a bullet of a shot to the back of the net. Don/Ash were ahead in the match for the first time after 15 minutes of play. Ballinabrackey were not to be deterred and  responded with a point from play. Don/Ash had another goal chance on 19 minutes but after good work from Killian Hogan and Dylan Brady unfortunately the ball went astray at a vital time and our chance was gone.  Luke Barrett cleared the ball from the danger area and a kick pass to Tormey who passed to Dylan Brady but he was again fouled at a crucial time, Carton converted the free. Ballinabrackey threatened several times but the safe hands of our keeper who came to the rescue several times but unfortunately he couldn't do anything about the points they put over from play and 2 from frees.  Points from Leo Reilly, Stephen Carton (3 2f) kept us ahead to finish the half 3 points up. Sean Curran playing at centre back with the help of Ethan Tormey and Killian Hogan who did some good work to halt the attacking Ballinabrackey half forward line.  

Ballinabrackey started the 2nd half with intent and got 2 points from frees in the first 5 minutes.  Don/Ash lost Conor Carton with an injury and was replaced by Danny Deerey.  Both sides in the next 10 minutes were guilty of some very bad wides.  Don/Ash had a huge amount of possession which was won well out the field but broke down everytime in the full forward line, Ethan Tormey was unlucky not to get on the end of a ball which was passed across the goals from Dylan Brady.  It just seemed to be 1 of those nights that our luck evaded us.  Danny Deerey scored a point from play on 43 minutes. Thomas McGovern looked like he had scored a great point but it was deemed wide by the umpire. Meanwhile Ballinabrackey were putting over the points down the other end and drew level on 47 minutes. Don/Ash failed to score for the remainder of the match. Ballinabrackey put over another from a free and were then awarded a penalty 2 minutes into injury time after a lot of discussion between the referee and his umpires.  The resulting penalty was put over the bar.  With a very disappointing 2nd half of football from Don/Ash where the homeside outscored the visitors 6 points (4f) to 1 it was always going to be a win for Ballinabrackey.  Michael Deegan came on for Leo Reilly with 5 minutes left and Thomas McGovern who looked to be carrying an injury had to play on as Don/Ash were starved of subs on the bench. 

Don/Ash:- Andy Colgan, Luke Barrett, Iarlaith O'Donnell, Conor Carton, Killian Hogan, Sean Curran, Ethan Tormey, Thomas McGovern, Kevin Cully (0-1), Leo Reilly (0-2), Andrew Tormey (1-0), Darragh McGovern, Stephen Carton (0-5 4f), Dylan Brady, Shaun Byrne.  Subs: Danny Deerey (0-1) for Conor Carton (H/T), Michael Deegan for Leo Reilly (55).

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