Nugent nets late goal to win it for Ashford
at Roundwood for Laragh and Aaron Nugent levelled matters in the third minute.
Colm Doyle had the first goal attempt for Ashford, but Peter Merrigan brilliantly saved it and pushed the ball over the bar. Keith Lawlor levelled matters for Laragh after six minutes.
Ross Quinn kicked a great point from 55 metres. John Nolan pointed for Laragh from a free as the tackles were flying in fast and hard.
Ashford dominated for the next ten minutes with scores from Aaron Nugent (two points), Colm Doyle and Brendan Manning.
Both teams turned over a lot off possession during the hour. Dan Power scored a point to reduce the deficit.
With 21 minutess on the clock the linesman brought to the attention of the referee an off the ball incident between two opponents. The referee after consultation with his linesman and umpires, issued Laragh’s Damien Hanlon a yellow card while Ashford’s Joseph Doyle received a straight red.
Moments later Laragh full-forward, Keith Lawlor and Ashford full-back, Conor Dowling both received black cards for verbally exchanging pleasantries with each other as things intensified and the referee was putting his mark of authority in place.
However Ashford, down a man finished the first half stronger. Brendan Manning who was instrumental, kicked a great point off his left boot.
John Nolan kicked a point for Laragh. Aaron Nugent kicked the closing point of the half for Ashford to leave the half-time score Ashford 0-9 to Laragh 0-5.
John Nolan pointed two frees to reduce the deficit on the restart. Thomas Kearns scored for Ashford.
Brendan Manning was gifted a point from the result of a poor kick-out from Merrigan.
It seemed as Ashford had the extra man as they were dominating all over the pitch as they finished out the third quarter stronger.
Corner-back Ross Doonan burst through the Ashford defence to score a sublime point for Laragh to leave four points in it with 50 minutess gone.
Laragh kicked three bad wides, two from 45s before Mark Miley burst through, one on one with Ashford goalie, WilliamHender-Philips but Miley dragged his effort well wide with the goal at his mercy.
Laragh suffered another setback as they lost Damien Hanlon on a black card for a silly late tackle on an opponent and picked up a red to go along with his first half yellow.
Aaron Nugent scored another point, however Laragh hit a purple patch in the next six minutes, adding three points from Nolan and Miley to leave a goal in it with 59 minutess played.
However man of the match Aaron Nugent danced through the Laragh defence and rifled the ball to the back of the net.
Laragh piled on the pressure and Steven Olohan goaled in the first min of injury time. Ashford held out in the last of three additional minutes of injury time played as Laragh could not find that equalising goal as the full time whistle sounded. ASHFORD: William Hender-Phillips, Ronan Sugrue, Conor Dowling, Iarla O’Donnell, Micheal Taylor, Wesley Manning, Robert Clarkson, Joseph Doyle, Daniel Kavanagh, Ross Quinn (0-1), Brendan Manning (0-3), Dean Mooney, Colm Doyle (0-3), Aaron Nugent (1-6), Thomas Kearns (0-1). Subs: Brian Shannon, David Dowling. LARAGH: Peter Merrigan, Ross Doonan (0-1), Alan Smyth, Stephen Curley, Jamie Cullen, Ciaran Byrne, Craig McCoy, Damien Hanlon, David McDonald, Dan Power (0-1), Mark Miley (0-2), Steve Olohan (1-0), John Nolan (0-5), Keith Lawlor (0-2), Jack Dunne. Subs: Gary Cullen, Evan Hawkins, Eamon Kennedy. REFEREE : Pat Dunne (Hollywood).