Venue Ratoath 6.30pm Saturday 22nd April, 2023.

Half Time Score Ratoath 2-4 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-6

Full Time Score  Ratoath 3-12 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 3-12

Donaghmore Ashbourne got off to a flying start with a point from Andrew Tormey followed by a great ball across the goal which probably should have been in the back of the net but the goalkeeper got his hand to it and put it out for a 45 which was duly put over the bar by Andy Colgan. James Redmond ran from the half back line right through the Ratoath defence and soccer style put the ball in the back of the net. Ratoath got their first score from a free kick taken by Bryan McMahon with 6 minutes gone on the clock. James Redmond replied with a pointed free to make it 1-3 to 1 point but Cian Rogers was quick to respond with a goal for Ratoath and it was game on. McMahon made it 1-2 to 1-3 with a point from play with 13 minutes gone. This was developing into a real battle and an exhilarating game to watch.  Andy Colgan put Don/Ash 2 up with another pointed free.  Our backline were playing a stormer with Aaron McLoughlin, Oisin Daly and Evan Quinn breaking up several dangerous runs at goal. Eamon Wallace brought it back to a 1 pt game firing over with 20 minutes on the clock. James Redmond was in with a goal chance again but put it over the bar to go 2 up. Jamie Browne got his first from play on 27 minutes. Bryan McMahon had pointed 2 minutes earlier from play.  Their wasn't a player on the field that wasn't working their socks off and when Darragh O'Sullivan jumped high to claim a Ratoath kickout, he quickly passed across the field to Bryan Menton who released the ball and ran on to collect again and made mad no mistake when blasting to the back of the net making it 2-6 to 1-4 to the visitors.  It looked like Don/Ash were going into the break with a 5 point lead but Ratoath had other ideas and when Bryan McMahon dropped a ball in from a free it ended up beyond the line when Andy Colgan who was unsighted caught it but unfortunately for the visitors it was deemed to be over the line and the green flag was raised. 

  The people behind the fence were really looking forward to an exciting 2nd half and they were not disappointed as this game was an exhibition of football.  Both sides were guilty of some wides but it didn't diminish the enjoyment of watch two teams really go at it. Dylan Brady fresh from his Thailand adventures was brought on for the hard working Michael O'Sullivan.  Ratoath were first up with a free converted by McMahon. James Crumlish brought it back to 2 up when he got a well deserved point from play.  A minute later it was disaster for the visitors when Eamon Wallace put his side up by the minimum when he put the ball past Andy Colagan from the penalty spot.  Ratoath were ahead and normally when they get their heads in front they continue and it was no different tonight when Cian Rogers and Bobby O'Brien scored the next 2 points from play.  Jamie Brown kept it ticking over for Don/Ash with a pointed free followed by Brady who had a goal chance but put it over the bar to bring it back to just 1 pt. James Crumlish who had worked extremely hard got his just desserts when he put the ball past the Ratoath keeper in style. This was an exhilarating game to watch and none of the supporters wanted it to end.  Bobby O'Brien who had played deep and was always a threat pointed from play with 14 minutes gone in the 2nd half.  It was anybody's game and Ratoath scored again from play. Andrew Tormey was brought down and Andy Colgan put over his 3rd point from a free on 18 minutes.  David Carr was on for James Redmond who was definitely a shoe in for Man of the Match.  Dylan Brady brought it back to a 2 point game when he put over his 2nd point on the night, but Ratoath responded with 2 points from play and we had a level game once again.  Jamie Browne pointed another free before Ratoath levelled again with a point from a free.  Donaghmore/Ashbourne went down the field and Leo Reilly who had worked extremely hard during the game was taken down and it looked like the visitors might have had a chance to point from the resulting free but Cormac Reilly blew the final whistle to leave it all square on the scoreboard. From a neutrals point of view it was probably the fair result but I'm sure both sides thought they had the upper hand on several occasions and might have gone on to win.  It's easy mentioning those who get on the scorboard but teams just don't exist without the hard work of our full panel of players and while Shaun Byrne, Sean Curran and Kevin Cully put in a savage shift on the night it was definitely a team performance that we can all be proud of.  Bring on the championship draw on Monday night when we will know our fate for the coming months ahead.  The draw will be live on Facebook for all to watch.  

Donaghmore/Ashbourne team:-  Andy Colgan (0-3 3f, Oisin Daly, Evan Quinn, Aaron McLoughlin, James Redmond (1-2), Shaun Byrne, Sean Curran, Kevin Cully, Bryan Menton (1-0), James Crumlish (1-1), Leo Reilly, Michael O'Sullivan, Jamie Browne (0-3 3f), Andrew Tormey (0-1), Darragh O'Sullivan.

Subs:- Dylan Brady (0-2) for Michael O'Sullivan, David Carr for James Redmond, Zach Thornton for Darragh O'Sullivan.   Alex Ward, Josh Lancaster and Kevin Fenton.

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