Gallen CS claim hard earned victory over Ashbourne in windswept clash

Gallen CS dug deep to forge a great win in this first round encounter played in adverse weather conditions in the well appointed Ashbourne/Donaghmore club grounds last Thursday. Gallen built a 0-7 to 0-1 lead with the aid of a strong wind, but it didn't seem enough of a lead at that juncture but they dug deep, limited Ashbourne to five points in the second half and still managed to eke out two points of their own to craft a well earned victory. This was a solid, workmanlike performance by the Ferbane lads and indeed the old statement that the wind can be your friend as well as your enemy proved true on a day where both sides' ball-carrying game saw them play quite well against the wind. Gallen, helped by the dominance of Leon Fox and Ciaran Cahill at midfield and with Joe Maher on song at right half forward, took the lead with a Maher point on 5 minutes and this was added to by a fine Ciaran Cahill point after a run through the middle. That left Gallen two up after ten minutes. Aaron McDonagh's strong running was proving a thorn in Ashbourne's side and he added a fine point on 12 minutes. Brian Grehan, operating effectively at full-forward, scored a point on the turn to leave the score Gallen CS 0-4 Ashbourne 0-0 after 16 minutes. Ashbourne, led by Murtagh at midfield and inspired by the forward surges of wing-backs Weld and Deely, carried the ball well against the wind and were rewarded when Thorpe pointed a 14-yard free to get them off the mark, 0-4 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. Gallen CS were now getting to grips with the strong gales and added further points from Joe Maher (2) and Eoghan Lowry in the 21st, 23rd and 28th minutes of the half to lead 0-7 to 0-1 at the interval. When both teams emerged for the second half, it was imperative that they both got off to good starts; Gallen to soak up the pressure and get a breakaway score and Ashbourne to begin eating into the lead. But it was the Brosnasiders who began in positive fashion as Ryan Delaney whipped over a point to see them lead 0-8 to 0-1. This was to prove the Gallen lads' last score until Joe Maher's insurance score with five minutes to go. Gallen CS just battened down the hatches, soaked up the pressure and their tactic of getting men behind the ball and crowding out the opposition worked well as Ashbourne kicked wides by dint of Gallen pressure. Yet, aided by the wind, it was inevitable that Ashbourne would work their way back into it and they did just that. Points by Shorthall, Bannon, Murtagh (excellent score from a sideline ball) and Hughes in the 10th, 15th, 18th and 20th minutes respectively narrowed the gap to two points, Gallen CS 0-8 Ashbourne 0-6, with ten minutes to go. It was now real backs to the wall stuff for the Ferbane lads who dug deep and defended in numbers. Helped by crucial blocks by Darren Digan and James Nally and by a great catch in the goalmouth by Daragh Corbett, Gallen broke upfield and Maher's point put the seal on the Ferbane side's victory by a margin of three points. SCORERS - Gallen CS: J Maher 0-4 (1f), A McDonagh, E Lowry, B Grehan, C Cahill and R Delaney 0-1 each. Ashbourne CS: D Murtagh 0-2 (1f, 1 sideline), N Shorthall, P Bannon, A Hughes and R Thorpe 0-1 each. GALLEN CS: D Digan, D Kelly, C Lowry, J Nally, S Wren, D Corbett, S Costello, C Cahill, L Fox, J Maher, A McDonagh, D Keenaghan, R Delaney, B Grehan, E Lowry. ASHBOURNE CS: A Colgan, C Cannon, C Walsh, N Lenihan, J Weld, S Melia, G Deely, D Murtagh, N Shorthall, J Dwyer, R Thorpe, T Strich, R Howard, T Kent, P Bannon. Subs: A Duff for R Howard (h-t), A Hughes for T Kent (52 mins). REFEREE: Gary McCormack. (Din() (Dublin).