Stylish Shannon demolish Douglas

Shannon CCS 2-15 Douglas CS 0-6

With victory essential to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages alive, Shannon were not found wanting and, under the inspirational leadership of captain Damien Browne, dominated throughout.

Browne with a total of 1-8, five from frees, played a key role, while corner-forward David Reidy also impressed greatly as Shannon swept aside their Cork opponents .

Douglas, who had centre-back Cillian Murphy and centre-forward Fintan O’Leary sent off near the end for two yellow card offences, were never in the hunt.

After Browne had edged the winners two points in front, full-forward Eoin Quinn pounced to score an opportunist goal in the sixth minute which really knocked the stuffing out of a Douglas side playing with the strong wind.

Shannon led 1-3 to 0-1 after the opening quarter, but Douglas clawed their way back into contention when centre-forward O’Leary pointed three frees in quick succession.

However, with Shannon 1-4 to 0-5 to the good at the interval, and the elements to favour them after the resumption, the cards were always stacked against Douglas.

And so it proved. An avalanche of scores - with Browne and Reidy pointing the way - propelled the Clare side into an unassailable lead. The only reply from Douglas was a point from full-forward Stephen Moylan in the 48th minute.

Shannon were ten points in front before the quick-fire dismissals of O’Leary and Murphy. And to really rub salt into their wounds, ‘Man of the ‘Match Browne hit home a goal two minutes from time to copper-fasten his side’s comprehensive win.

Scorers: Shannon CCS: D. Browne 1-8 (0-5 frees); E. Quinn 1-1, D. Reidy 0-2; E. Barrett, C. Morey, C. King, S. Stack 0-1 each. Douglas: F. O’Leary 0-3 (0-3 frees); B. O’Connor, W. McCarthy, S. Moylan 0-1 each.

SHANNON CCS: S. Hayes; G. O’Connell, D. McMahon, R. McInerney; J. Roughan, C. King, S. Stack, P. Gleeson, E. Barrett, C. Murray, J. Reidy, D. Browne, S. O’Brien, E. Quinn, D. Reidy.

DOUGLAS CS: P. Murphy; R. Murphy, A. Barry, D. Lynch, M. Hayes, C. Murphy, E. Herne, W. McCarthy, E. Cotter, S. Hanrahan, F. O’Leary, C. Murphy, P. Casey, S. Moylan, B. O’Connor. Subs: P. Callinan for Hanrahan; R. Barrett for Casey.

Referee: M. Sexton (Bruree).