Ashbourne cup success is a measure of revenge
DONAGHMORE/ASHBOURNE put back-to-back Feis Cup titles together after overcoming championship semi-finalists Gaeil Colmcille at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.
When the sides met in the championship earlier in the year it was the Kells men who came out on top and that result proved a hammer blow for the Ashbourne men who ultimately failed to reach the knockout stages.
Gaeil Colmcille were minus three of their first choice forwards - Fionn and Oisin Reilly and Martin Barrett - and they never looked capable of repeating that championship success.
They had the advantage of the breeze throughout the opening half, but at the break their hopes of repeating their 2015 Feis Cup Final win had diminished greatly, with Donaghmore/Ashbourne ahead 1-6 to 0-6.
Points from James Reilly, Brian Hanlon (two) and Liam Ferguson boosted Gaeil Colmcille to a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the end of the opening quarter. However, scores from
DONAGHMORE/ASH GAEIL COLMCILLE 1-15 0-9
Kevin Lanigan, Dylan Brady and sub Sam Benville had the sides level at 0-5 apiece.
Then on 27 minutes Lanigan had the relatively easy task of slapping the ball to the net after Bryan Menton created the opening.
Menton increased the Ashbourne lead on the restart before Lar Wall’s team responded with scores from Seamus Mattimoe (free) and Brian Hanlon.
There was only a goal between the sides when Jack Hannigan made a crucial block from Mattimoe on 41 minutes and the Kells challenge faded after that.
A point from full back Barry Smith was their only other contribution to the scoring as Sean Barry’s side tagged on six further points. The losers had Barry Tormay sent off on receipt of a second yellow card offence near the finish.
After the match county chairman and Donaghmore/Ashbourne clubman Conor Tormey had the pleasant task of presenting the cup to winning captain Shane Melia. DONAGHMORE/ASHBOURNE: GAEIL COLMCILLE: REF:
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