If I was a member or supporter of Donaghmore/Asbourne I’d be doing the Lotto immediately. Having lost their opening two games in the Meath SFC, there seemed to be more chance of a statue of Enoch Burke being erected outside the High Court than that of the green and white making the knockout stages.
Though a late point against Na Fianna, a wide ball by Curraha and a bit of shadow boxing in board rooms saw them squeeze through to tonight’s quarter final in Skryne against St Colmcille’s.
Now, if underage successes are the metrics by which a club side’s prospects at the highest level are judged, there was never likely to be too much between these two. As they have undoubtedly been among the most efficient in the county in that sphere for quite some time.
The Bryan Menton-captained outfit made the running from the off here as wing back Thomas McGovern burst forward and netted early on while the aforementioned skipper, as well as Darragh O’Sullivan, Leo Reilly and Andy Tormey all pointed.
In fairness, Jody Devine’s side eventually settled and James ‘Banty’ Conlon, the gifted David Bell, corner back Adam Lynch and custodian Andrew Beakey ended up kicking the blue and navy into a somewhat unlikely 0-07 to 1-03 interval advantage.
To their credit, even after Tormey kicked a mighty equaliser immediately on the restart, the seasiders hit back and two scores in rapid succession from Conlon swung the pendulum their way once more.
Reilly was quickly becoming the most influential player on the field and when he, Darragh O’Sullivan and Menton pointed it left the underdogs ahead by 1-07 to 0-09 with 16 minutes remaining.
Two minutes later Bell slotted a free to restore parity before Reilly and his namesake, the introduced Graham, traded scores before Donaghmore substitute James Crumlish sent Padraig Durkan and Shane Treanor’s team into the lead, 1-09 to 0-11, before, to paraphrase the BeeGees, the lights all went down in Fr McManus Park!
Momentum is quite often the biggest game changer in sport and there’s no doubt Donaghmore/Ashbourne have had it with them in recent weeks. So it was probably fate that it was one of their own – electrician Brian Thomas – who rectified whatever glitch it was left them dancing in the dark at the Tara venue.
The definition of good leadership is perhaps best manifested in deed rather than word and there are few better fitting in that mould than Bryan Menton and, when the now seemingly sadly former county man extended his side’s advantage the moment the match restarted, it was the sort of score which suggested the die was cast.
Not to suggest for a moment that their valiant opponents capitulated or anything of the sort, ‘Banty’ and Beakey posting points which left the issue in the balance as the clock ticked towards 10p.m. But it was probably fitting that it was lightening Leo had the final say leaving two between them at the end.