H/T Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-10  Skryne 2-0

F/T  Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-15 Skryne 3-5

They say goals wins games and on this occasion Skryne were certainly intent on scoring goals as that was what they got in the first half of this entertaining game played in Ashbourne tonight.  It only took less than a minute for Skryne to get their first goal which was a bullet into the corner of the net which young Alex Ward in fairness did not have any chance of saving.  It was Don/Ash that dominated for the next 20 minutes with some really nice passing and plenty of good points all coming from play.  Our backs worked hard not to allow Skryne too much possession with Sean Curran once again coming to the fore with help from Thomas McGovern to his left and Evan Quinn on his right. Kevin Fenton was first on the board for the Moors on 2 minutes followed by Dylan Brady in the 3rd minute.  Kevin popped up again to put over his 2nd point from play with great work from Leo Reilly who passed good ball to the runner.  Dylan Brady was on target again on 7 minutes with Don/Ash having lots of possession which was won well in centre field by Alan Murtagh.  Kevin Cully had his hands full trying to keep Harry Rooney quiet in the middle.  Shaun Byrne never stopped for the whole game and his hard work paid off with 2 lovely scores in the 14th and  26th minute which was caught by Alan Murtagh in midfield who passed to Leo Reilly and on to Stephen Carton who unselfishly passed to the in running Byrne.  Sean Curran took a ball off the line when it looked like Skryne were in for another goal and passed to Luke Barrett who cleared down the field with a pin point pass to McGovern.  Don/Ash looked to be getting a handle on the game when they were 7pts to 1 goal up but Skryne had other ideas and when they looked to be in for goal again they put it straight across the goals and wide on 18 minutes before they attacked again having won the kickout and were not going to make the same mistake again and hit the back of the net with a very well taken goal with 8 minutes remaining in the first half.  Dylan Brady won possession and passed to Kevin Cully who let the ball in to Curran and on to Carton who finished a fine passage of play to the net to leave it 1-8 to 2-0 which was the only response to the threat of Skryne who seemed to want to go for goals rather than taking their points.  Kevin Fenton and Leo Reilly finished the half with 2 points before the half time whistle sounded leaving the score Don/Ash 1-10  Skryne 2-0. 

Ethan Tormey came on for Thomas McGovern at half time. Evan Quinn who worked really hard all through the game was rewarded with a point a couple of minutes into the 2nd half.  Kevin Cully got on the board a minute later with a nice point from 30 meters out.  With a scoreline of 1-12 to 2-0 it looked like the homeside were in control but once again Skryne hit back with another goal with 5 minutes gone in the 2nd half. No keeper would have saved this goal from Conor O'Brien and the debut to the senior team of last year's minor keeper Alex Ward should not be measured by the scoreline tonight.  He did pull off some really good saves and his kickouts were almost perfect. Skryne converted 2 frees in quick succession. Iarlaith O'Donnell and Aaron McLoughlin worked hard to stop Skryne from having a goal fest.  Matt Crumlish came on for Alan Murtagh with 15 minutes left.  Kevin Fenton kept the scoreboard ticking over for Don/Ash scoring his 4th for the night on 45 minutes before being replaced by Sean Tyrell, another minor from last year. Thomas Cooney on for Luke Barrett.  Skryne did get back to within 3 points with 2 from points from play. Matt Crumlish was taken down on route to goal and Stephen Carton put over the resulting free. Don/Ash put on the pressure to finish strongly and were awarded 2 45's in the last few minutes but went narrowly wide.  Carton put over the final score from a free when Evan Quinn looked to threaten with a great run through the middle. It was well needed points for Don/Ash.  

Don/Ash:-  Alex Ward, Luke Barrett, Iarlaith O'Donnell, Aaron McLoughlin, Evan Quinn (0-1), Sean Curran, Thomas McGovern, Alan Murtagh, Kevin Cully (0-1), Leo Reilly (0-2), Dylan Brady (0-2), Shaun Byrne (0-2), Kevin Fenton (0-4), Daragh McGovern (0-1), Stephen Carton (1-2 2f).  Subs:- Ethan Tormey for T. McGovern (h/t), Matt Crumlish for Alan Murtagh (42), Sean Tyrell for Kevin Fenton (45) Thomas Cooney for Luke Barrett (45) 

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