Donaghmore/ Ashbourne claim Feis Cup decider
IN YEARS gone by, the Feis Cup was a prestigious competition but it looked every bit the part of a pre-season tournament as a lacklustre decider was played before a small attendance at Simonstown last Wednesday night.
And rather than any stroke of genius on the part of either team or an individual, it was a mistake that effectively decided the issue.
Seán Tyrell’s point attempt fell short but was spilled by Simonstown ’keeper Robbie Burlingham and substitute Andy Tormey pounced to finish to the net in the closing stages.
Both teams adopted defensive strategies and that made it difficult for the respective set of forwards throughout.
The only two scores in the opening quarter went to the hosts with Seán Tobin converting a 45 and then Aaron Farrelly doubling the north-Navan’s side’s advantage.
A full 16 minutes had passed before Darragh O’Sullivan opened Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s account and Kevin Fenton then shot the equaliser. Conor Carton had the Ashbourne men in front on 28 minutes but the sides were level at 0-3 each at half-time after Farrelly struck his second point.
The scoring rate improved after the break with Tobin and Zach Thornton trading frees before Shane McEnery converted another free to restore Simonstown’s lead.
Simonstown eventually went two clear, 0-7 to 0-5, at the three-quarter way stage but Ashbourne were back level again following scores by James Redmond and Andy Colgan (free).
Tormey’s goal left it 1-7 to 0-8 and while Pádraig McKeever reduced the deficit to the minimum, Ashbourne picked off the last three scores from Bryan Menton, Colgan (free) and Tyrell. DONAGHMORE/ASHBOURNE: Andy Colgan 0-2 (2f); Aaron McLoughlin, Evan Quinn, Luke Barrett; James Redmond 0-1, Conor Carton 0-1, Darragh McGovern; Seán Curran 0-1, Bryan Menton 0-1; Darragh O’Sullivan 0-1, Zach Thornton 0-1 (1f), James Crumlish; Josh Lancaster, Kevin Fenton 0-1, Michael O’Sullivan. Subs: Shane Melia for Lancaster (HT), Seán Tyrell 0-1 for D McGovern (44), Andy Tormey 1-0 for D O’Sullivan (54), Thomas McGovern for Crumlish (59), Shaun Byrne for Fenton (60).
SIMONSTOWN GAELS: Robbie Burlingham; Mark Devlin 0-1, Stephen Moran, Aaron Chinchilla; Brian McGrath, Josh Carolan, David McKeever; Brian Conlon, Tadhg Hanrahan; Jimmy Heaney, Seán Tobin 0-2 (1f, 1 45), Shane McEnery 0-1 (1f); Luke Caffrey, Pádraig McKeever 0-2 (1f), Aaron Farrelly 0-3. Subs: Shane Barry for Hanrahan (38), Eoghan Gough for McKeever (42), Michael Gavigan for Caffrey (42), Ben Hoey for McEnery (54), David Kavanagh for Heaney (62).
REFEREE: Robbie Purfield (St Patrick’s).