Division 4 Minor Football Championship Rd 3: Moynalvey Boardsmill 2-8 Donaghmore-Ashbourne 0-10
Division 1 Minor Hurling Championship Semi-final: Ratoath 2-9 Donaghmore-Ashbourne 1-10
AND then there was one.
After 33 games at minor level across both codes and three teams, all that remains now is the Division 1 football final.
The breakdown to date is 12 hurling matches, 13 Division 1 football matches and 8 Division 4 football games, with the record: 23 wins, 1 draw and 9 defeats.
This week saw the Division 1 hurlers and Division 4 footballers’ seasons come to an end.
The Division 4 footballers bowed out at Moynalvey last Saturday against Moynalvey-Boardsmill in a game they might well have won.
A disallowed goal for an apparent throw ball with 10 minutes to go was crucial as the team came up short by four points.
If the lads had got a goal, it would have sparked them into life and they might well have been looking forward to a Division 4 semi-final, having won in Oldcastle earlier in the week.
Injuries to Leo Hendrick, Adam Doran and Scott Johnston were all blows, while the team’s handling under pressure also cost them.
Some fine scores from Doran, Leon Mahon and Alex Devine weren’t enough in the end.
It’s worth noting though that this is the highest level our second minor team have ever competed at and they more than held their own through the League and Championship.
With a bit of luck they could well have gone onto the last four.
Last night, Tuesday, it was back to Dunganny again for the Division 1 hurlers, following their Division 2 League final loss to Kilmessan.
The team was disappointing that night, but it was like night and day here in the Division 1 Championship semi-final against Division 1 League title winners Ratoath - a game few gave the team much chance in.
Despite having two players red carded - one in each half - the team put up as honest and hard working a display as you could imagine.
If the team had their full complement it might well have been a different story on a breezy night at the Meath Centre of Excellence.
To rub salt into the wound, Donaghmore-Ashbourne had two late goals disallowed for square balls.
Yes two.
And another goalmouth ruck saw the ball fly over the bar, when it might well have hit the net.
The lads applied serious pressure on their opponents - in their work rate and on the scoreboard - and it resulted in a series of second half Ratoath wides.
Ratoath had started strongly and got an early goal, but Fionnon Hogan, with the aid of his team mates, started to take a grip at full back.
Cornerbacks Matthew Tuite and Jodev Puchon stepped up to clear some great ball.
And led by Rhys Thomas at centre half back the team dug in after conceding a sloppy second goal, when three or four players might have got the ball out of danger.
Michael O’Sullivan half volleyed a cracker to the net after an Alex Devine flick, and nailed a series of frees, while Sean Doyle, Tomas Gaughan, Jack Keenan and Cael Sullivan drove over some fine scores.
The middle eight had a thankless task, but worked themselves into the ground to make up for the extra players the opposition had, and their efforts probably deserved more.
But Ratoath were able to stick a sweeper in for the final three quarters of the game and into the breeze it proved difficult to bypass the extra defender.
So it wasn’t to be for the club’s first Division 1 minor hurling side in three decades, but what a giant leap they’ve made over the past six months, and hopefully there is more to come from this group next year.
Some of these lads have played 25 matches since games resumed in June, and are a credit to their club for their ability to keep getting themselves up for big knockout matches despite a gruelling schedule.
For some lads the last week brought their final games at minor level, but there is plenty to look forward to if the past week is anything to go by.
The jump from under-17 (minor) to senior is too big and a decision the GAA at national level would want to hold up their hands to, say they got it wrong and revisit it sooner rather than later.
Hopefully we will see all these lads in the green and white jersey again in the future.
