Reigning League champions Donaghmore/Ashbourne maintained their unbeaten start to the 2017 Div. 1 A League campaign when sweeping aside an under strength Moynalvey on a 1-18 t0 0-6 score line at Ashbourne on Saturday night March 25th.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-18 Moynalvey 0-6
Due to County Football & Hurling commitments along with a spate of injuries this game was always going to be difficult for Moynalvey. Things looked ominous for Moynalvey early on as the host side built up a seven point to no score lead, with a James O’Neill free in the 20th minute opening the visitor’s account. The game’s only goal came in the 23rd minute, when Donaghmore/Ashbourne wing back Paul Gilligan dispatched low and hard past Moynalvey net minder Ray Ryan. Moynalvey could only muster one more point before the half time whistle, which saw Donaghmore/Ashbourne holding a generous twelve point lead on a 1-11 to 0-2 score line.
A combination of an improved second half showing from Moynalvey and Donaghmore/Ashbourne taking the foot off the gas a little resulted in the second half being a more evenly contested affair, with the home side winning out seven points to four in the scoring stakes, leaving the end score lines reading 1-18 to 0-6 in favour of the Moores. Moynalvey’s four second half points came from James O’Neill (2f), David McLoughlin and James Weldon.
Moynalvey: R. Ryan, C. Harnan, R. Lawless, B. O’Reilly, D. Branigan, S. Donoghue, E. Walsh, J. Donoghue, J. Weldon (0-1), S. Tuite, S. Lenehan, D. McLoughlin (0-2), F. McCabe, J. O’Neill (0-3, 3f), S. Duggan.
Subs: P. Donoghue for Walsh, S. Deering for McCabe, R. Phelan for Duggan.
