Walterstown Vs Donaghmore Ashbourne –u21 First Rd Sun Oct 15 -2017
Walterstown played Don Ashbourne in the first round of the U-21 B Championship in Ratoath on Sunday. This was a very entertaining match which went down to almost the last kick of the match at the end of extra time.
Walterstown may have scored first, thanks to a spectacular Andrew Moran point, from near the corner flag, but for the next 20 minutes it was all Ashbourne as they went into a 1-7 to 0-4 point lead. However in defence, Walterstown backs Conor Cullen, Dan Halligan Paddy Donnelan, Aaron Dunphy, and Jonathan Murchan worked hard to close down the Ashbourne attack. In midfield Alan Wall and Andrew Moran worked tirelessly. A well executed penalty from Stephen Davis, followed by a point from Darren McMahon and another Davis point, however, put Walterstown only a point behind Ashbourne at half time, with the score at 1-7 to 1-6. In the second half Walterstown scored the first 4 points, thanks to 2 Brian O Connell frees and points from Paddy Donnellan and Conor Cullen. This put the Blacks 3 points ahead. However Ashbourne now dug deep and fought back. Even after 2 further points from Brian O Connell and Stephen Davis for Walterstown the teams were level at 1-12 apiece, when Referee Patrick McNelis blew for full time.
Now both teams had the onerous task of facing into extra time. Don/ Ashbourne played excellenetly in the first period of extra time when they scored an unanswered 1-2. Walterstown also lost their keeper Darragh Keegan, who had an excellent game, thanks to a second yellow card in this period and were now looking decidedly shell shocked. However in the second half they seemed to find new reserves and after goals from Stephen Davis and Brian O Connell, they found themselves only a point behind with seconds remaining. In a frantic final few minutes, they continued to attack and when Sean Irwins drive at goal was palmed away by the Ashbourne keeper, Michael Donnellan was on hand to slot the ball into the net. Though they had to hang on for a final tense few minutes, had Walterstown pulled off a remarkable comeback to win the game by 2 points, on a scoreline of 4-13 to 2-17
