Doon avoid the top contenders

Doon CBS 3-12 Our Ladys, Templemore 2-6

Victory ensures the Limerick side top their group and guarantees they will avoid the likes of St Colmans and St Flannans in the quarter-finals, something their coach Liam Ryan was quite pleased to hear.

While both teams were assured of a place in the quarter-finals, it didn’t prevent them from serving up a marvellous contest, brimful of some great hurling and featuring a number of outstanding individual performances.

The main difference between two excellent teams was physical strength and Doon had that in abundance. Niall Lysaght was superb in defence, Paudie Ryan lorded it at midfield, while the towering figure of Padraig McNamara at full forward, posed endless problems for an overworked Templemore defence.

Roger Ryan on the 40 and later at full forward and Brian Fenton were other Doon forwards to make major contributions to their side’s victory.

While Templemore lacked real physical presence, their stickwork was a joy to watch. Ian Delaney gave a marvellous display of wing back play, Liam Burke and Lorcan Egan had their moments at midfield, but Our Ladys main problems were in attack.

Their lighter forwards could make little impact against a hard-hitting Doon defence, and only Evan Sweeney posed any serious threat.

He got his side off to the perfect start with two excellent points in as many minutes but two evenly matched sides were level twice in the opening quarter before Doon’s greater strength began to tell.

With Padraigh McNamara using his height and strength to great advantage, Doon struck for a splendid goal when Michael Fitzgerald’s shot nestled in the back of the net and helped his side to a 2-7 to 1-5 half time lead. Tightening their grip on the game on the changeover, Doon put real daylight between the sides with a third goal from Roger Ryan.

Playing at full forward, he first timed the sliothar to the net and while Our Ladys replied with a like score through Eoin Franks, Doon were clearly in the driving seat and with Paudie Ryan driving them on from midfield, they ran out comfortable winners.

Doon: R. Ryan 1-3; P. Ryan 0-5 (frees); P. McNamara, M. Fitzgerald 1-1 each; B. Fenton, J. Bradshaw 0-1 each.

Our Ladys: E. Sweeney 0-6 (0-5 frees); R. Stapleton, E. Franks 1-0 each.

DOON CBS: B. Byrnes; R. Dunne, E. Kiely, S. Mooney; A. Lysaght, D. Ryan, A. Hickey; P. Ryan, T. Dawson; M. Fitzgerald, R. Ryan, J. Bradshaw; B. Fenton, P. McNamara, K. Ryan. Subs. T. O’Donoghue for K. Ryan; D. Moloney for A. Hickey.

OUR LADYS: J. Cody; B. Dowling, R. Burke, D. O’Connor; I. Delaney, C. Campion, E. Connolly; L. Burke, L. Egan; J. Egan, K. McGrath, E. Franks; B. Maher, E. Sweeney, R. Stapleton. Subs. E. O’Meara for J. Egan; JP Costigan for R. Burke; M. Ryan for L. Egan; P. Greed for I. Delaney.

Referee: W. Horgan (Cork).