Watch and read: Wolfe Tones comfortably defeat Donaghmore/Ashbourne to land Meath SFC title

With redevelopment work continuing at Páirc Tailteann, the Meath senior football final was staged outside the county grounds for the first time since 1987 but the change of venue did little to unsettle Shane McCoy’s side

Wolfe Tones 1-19 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-12

Wolfe Tones headed back up the N2 with the Keegan Cup on Sunday evening after a commanding victory over Donaghmore/Ashbourne on their opponents’ home ground.

With redevelopment work continuing at Páirc Tailteann, the Meath senior football final was staged outside the county grounds for the first time since 1987. The change of venue did little to unsettle Shane McCoy’s side, who handled the occasion far better than their hosts and claimed the club’s third title.

For Donaghmore/Ashbourne, the wait for a first senior crown since 1942 goes on.

A cagey, error-strewn opening produced missed opportunities at both ends. After Oisín Martin and Kevin Fenton exchanged points, Wolfe Tones found their rhythm, with Thomas O’Reilly, Sarán Ó Fionnagáin, Martin and Caolan Ward scoring in succession to establish a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter.

Andrew Tormey converted a free and Stephen Carton added a point to lift Donaghmore/Ashbourne, but Wolfe Tones responded with an unanswered 1-3 to take control.

Kyle Moran pointed before Ward landed a two-point free in the 25th minute. Almost immediately, Tom Gavigan struck for the opening half’s decisive score.

Conor Sheppard’s turnover launched the move; Martin supplied the driving run and Ó Fionnagáin unselfishly laid the ball off for Gavigan to bundle home from close range.

Eight points adrift as half-time approached, Timmy O’Regan’s side rallied impressively. Scores from Zach Thornton, Darragh McGovern and Bryan Menton, followed by a two-point free from Andrew Colgan, cut the deficit to three at the break, 1-8 to 0-8.

The interval gave Wolfe Tones a timely opportunity to regroup, and they returned with renewed purpose, claiming four of the first five points of the second half.

A fan joins the celebrations. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.

Sean Penny and O’Reilly were on target, while the excellent Ó Fionnagáin added a brace. McGovern supplied Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s only reply during that spell.

Pointed frees from Tormey and Thornton offered the hosts encouragement, but Ward and Ó Fionnagáin responded to keep Wolfe Tones six points clear as the third quarter drew to a close.

Colgan converted a ’45 in the 49th minute to reduce the margin to five. It was as close as Donaghmore/Ashbourne would get.

Wolfe Tones drew on their experience to control the closing stages, reeling off the final five points without reply. Ward converted two placed balls, while O’Reilly, Moran and Martin also raised white flags to seal an emphatic victory.

Scorers for Wolfe Tones: C Ward (0-6, 1tpf, 2fs, 1 ’45), S O Fionnagain (0-4), T Gavigan (1-0), T O’Reilly and O Martin (0-3 each), K Moran (0-2), S Penny (0-1).

Scorers for Donaghmore/Ashbourne: A Colgan (0-3, 1tpf, 1 ’45), A Tormey (2f), D McGovern (2f), Z Thornton (0-2 each), B Menton, K Fenton and S Carton (0-1 each).

Wolfe Tones: C O Gallachoir; C Sheppard, S Glynn, A Crawford; O Martin, R Gallagher, S Penny; A O'Neill, E Donegan; C Ward, T O'Reilly, S O Fionnagain; T Gavigan, F Ward, K Moran.

Subs: C O'Neill for F Ward (14), A Crawford for Penny (51), P Diamond for A Crawford (59), S Sheppard for Moran (60).

Donaghmore/Ashbourne: A Colgan; S Curran, S Melia, E Quinn; S Tyrell, C Carton, K Cully; B Menton, J Browne; T McGovern, A Tormey, K Fenton; D McGovern, S Carton, Z Thornton.

Subs: C Hegarty for Cully, E Kelly for Thornton (41), M Deegan for Fenton (45), M O'Sullivan for S Carton (49).

Referee: David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).