Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s adult hurlers moved to the top of the A League Division 3 table with a thrilling two-point win over Rathmolyon on Sunday evening.

A slow start from the Moors saw the away side race into an early lead, putting 2-1 on the board within the first five minutes, with Daragh O’Sullivan’s point the only response from Don/Ash.

However, the momentum flipped halfway through the half when Andy Tormey found the net from close range with 16 minutes played. Rathmolyon would go almost the rest of the half without scoring as O’Sullivan fired over four more scores sandwiched around another Don/Ash goal – with Evan O’Kane finding the net to send the sides in level at 2-5 apiece at the break.

The second half started with a carbon copy of the first, as Rathmolyon took full advantage of hesitation from Don/Ash, with Gary Doherty scoring 1-1 for the Village in the opening two minutes.

O’Sullivan kept the Moors in touch with a number of frees, with sub Seán Doyle also pointing as the sides traded scores, but some crucial wides from the Village would prove costly at the clock ticked into injury time.

Trailing by a point, keeper Ben Mather’s long free from distance caused miscommunication between the away keeper and full back, with the ball ricocheting off the latter’s hurley and into the net to give the Moors a two-point lead.

With seven minutes of injury time added on, Don/Ash defended to the last whistle, sealing the win that moved them to the top of the league.

Team: Ben Mather, Cian Field, Fionnán Hogan, Daragh Walsh (c); Terry Bruton, Rhys Thomas, David Carr; Colm Ó Méalóid, Dylan Morrissey; Oisín Daly, Luke Andrews. Shaun Byrne. Daragh O’Sullivan (0-10, 0-5f), Andy Tormey (1-0), Evan O’Kane (1-0)

Subs: Seán Doyle for Ó Méalóid, Conor Carey for Andrews, Seán O’Sullivan for Morrissey, Sam Ryan for Walsh, Jack Butler for Carr.

Unused: Sam Benville, Sean Hogan, Tomás Gaughan, Stephen Leahy, David Kent, Thomas Burnell, Faolin Smith