Article from https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/1030/827975-donaghmore-ashbourne-v-simonstown-meath-sfc-final/

Simonstown Gaels 1-14

Donaghmore-Ashbourne 0-08

Victory and a first ever Meath SFC title was virtually secured by half-time for Colm O'Rourke's Simonstown Gaels who broke their county duck in some style at Páirc Tailteann.

Leading by 10 points at the break the Navan outfit could afford to cruise through the second-half and still win with plenty to spare.

Free-taker Pauric McKeever top scored with six points for a Gaels side that was powered on by a midfield axis of ex-Meath star Shane O'Rourke and rising talent Conor Nash.

The duo hit four points between them though club and county supporters will be disappointed to learn that towering Nash, who received a black card late on, is bound for Australian Rules Football with Hawthorn.

It was a sweet win for boss O'Rourke, the legendary Meath forward, who was in charge of the club when they lost their two previous finals in 2003 and 2004.

They will play Rhode of Offaly, who hammered Wexford's Gusserane elsewhere, in the AIB Leinster club football championship quarter-finals on 13 November.

Despite winning with such ease Simonstown came into this contest as considerable outsiders and surprisingly opened up that big early lead.

McKeever hit their first point after just 10 seconds and they received a major boost in the third minute when 'keeper Robbie Burlingham pulled off a penalty save.

Meath attacker Andrew Tormey earned the penalty and took the kick but it was at a perfect height for Burlingham to dive to his right and tip it away.

The miss appeared to knock the stuffing out of Donaghmore-Ashbourne who scored just two points in the entire half, from full-back James Colgan and midfielder Conor Carey.

Simonstown, in contrast, played with power and purpose and their midfield duo of O'Rourke and Nash ruled the sector and pitched in with 0-03 between them in that period.

Former Meath captain Seamus Kenny put in the hard yards for them all afternoon and they strode 0-07 to 0-02 clear before netting after 24 minutes.

Mark McCabe put the ball in from the right and Joe Lyons snuck in when JP Casserly only half cleared to seize possession and bang the ball home.

O'Rourke and Conor Sheridan added points and Simonstown were sitting pretty on a fully merited 1-09 to 0-02 lead at the break.

Donaghmore-Ashbourne needed a miracle after the break and did hit the opening score through Tormey but remained in Simonstown's slip stream.

The north-Navan side weren't as dominant but picked off the points to keep a considerable lead intact at all times.

Kenny got a deserved score to put the Gaels 11 ahead at one stage and though Donaghmore-Ashbourne rallied in the last 10 minutes, going for goals, they didn't come close to reeling in the giant deficit.

Simonstown Gaels: R Burlingham; S Moran, N McMahon, S Gallagher; M O'Rourke, B Conlon, N Kane; S O'Rourke (0-02), C Nash (0-02); J Lyons (1-0), S Kenny (0-01), M McCabe; P McKeever (0-06, 0-04f), C Sheridan (0-01, 0-01 45), E Donoghue.

Subs: S Tobin for Sheridan, B McGrath (0-01) for M O'Rourke, M Brennan (0-01) for Nash BC, S Barry for Lyons.

Donaghmore-Ashbourne: J Hannigan; T McGovern, J Colgan (0-01), S Curran; P Gilligan, JP Casserly, D McGovern; C Carey (0-01), D Morgan; C Carton, B Menton, C Field; D Brady (0-01), A Tormey (0-02), M Deegan (0-03, 0-02f).

Subs: C McGill for Morgan, E Riordan for Casserly, C Ellis for Field, A Hughes for Carton, J Giles for D McGovern, S Melia for Gilligan.

Referee: C Reilly (St Mary's)