Donal’s dozen takes Dunboyne to a 10th Final

St Peter’s, Dunboyne… 1-18

Donaghmore/Ashbourne… 3-10

Donal Lenihan scored 12 points – including five two-pointers – as Dunboyne qualified for the Div. 1 FL Final for a tenth time. Though therein they will be attempting to claim the Mooney Cup for only a second time. 

When the home side’s Evan Kelly and former Waterford forward Jason Gleeson traded goals, it meant that the sides went into the break deadlocked at 1-04 apiece. 

The locals took a stranglehold on matters in the early stages of the second half as goals from Darragh McGovern and substitute Michael O’Sullivan put Timmy O’Regan’s charges into a 3-08 to 1-06 lead. 

However, whether down to the new rules or something else is neither here nor there, but, Ger Robinson’s side then staged a remarkable turnaround, which included the evergreen Lenihan hitting four two-pointers before a monstrous effort from John Harkin nabbed the score which restored parity before Lenihan slotted over his fifth double which grabbed the winner for the black and ambers which looked unlikely to say the least. 

Scorers – D. Lenihan (0-12, 5x2PT), J. Gleeson (1-0), C. Duggan, J. Harkin and D. McEntee (0-2 each) 

Dunboyne – J. Dillon; M. Furlong, J. Scannell, C. Smith; C. Duggan, S. Ryan, C. Doran; F. Waters, J. Harkin; E. McCrudden, J. Gleeson, D. McEntee; D. Nolan, C. Melia, D. Lenihan. 

Subs – D. Delaney for Nolan, C. McCormack for McCrudden.