McNamara seals Doon win with late goal
It came as Cashel were threatening a recovery, having been seven points down, but McNamara grabbed a superb sideline cut by Paudie Ryan, before billowing the net from the edge of the small square.
Overall, Doon's greater physical strength, allied to some superb hurling by Shane Mooney, Edward Kiely, Paudie Ryan and Roger Ryan on the 40, ensured the victory.
However a youthful Cashel side can be well pleased with their efforts. In Nigel Hayes they had an outstanding full-back, who was only beaten once, though crucially, by Paudie McNamara; M. Heelan, Tomas Hayes, Jonathan Coleman and Paul O'Dwyer, were others who hurled their hearts out for the losers.
Although Doon played with the aid of the strong wind in the first-half, things began well for Cashel - chiefly because of the brilliance of Nigel Hayes at full-back - and at the end of the opening quarter the sides were tied at 0-3 .
The second quarter belonged to Doon as Paudie Ryan's class began to shine through at midfield. However, for all the pressure they exerted on the Cashel defence, they could only managed a half-time lead of three points.
Clearly, the Doon players got a roasting at the break because, in the space of eight minutes, they rifled over five unanswered points to stretch their lead to eight playing into the strong wind.
It took Cashel 11 minutes to open their second-half account with a Jonathan Gleeson point and when Paul O'Dwyer and Darragh Hickey added two more, the scene appeared to be set for a grandstand finish.
It wasn't to be however as the classier Doon side, inspired by Paudie Ryan, nipped the Cashel recovery in the bud with McNamara's brilliant goal in the 50th minute.
It was the only time he managed to shake off the attentions of Nigel Hayes.
Again Cashel threatened to make the closing minutes uncomfortable for Doon when Paul O'Dwyer's long delivery went all the way to the net. However, Doon replied in an instant with a Kevin Ryan point and they kept their five point advantage to the finish, saving a late penalty by Jonathan Gleeson, to set up a mouth-watering semi-final against St. Flannans on the weekend of February 15/16.
Scorers - Doon CBS: P. McNamara 1-2; P. Ryan 0-5 (0-3 frees); R. Ryan 0-3; D. Fenton 0-2; E. Kiely (free), M. Fitzgerald, C. Ryan 0-1 each. Cashel CS: P. O'Dwyer 1-3; J. Gleeson 0-3 (0-2 frees); M. Harding (0-1 free), D. Hickey 0-2 each.
DOON CBS: B. Byrne; R. Dunne, D. Ryan, S. Mooney; N. Lysaght, E. Kiely, A. Hickey; P. Ryan, D. Moloney; M. Fitzgerald, R. Ryan, J. Bradshaw; B. Fenton, P. McNamara, C. Ryan. Sub. J. Butler for Dunne.
CASHEL CS: P. Ryan; J. Heffernan, N. Hayes, P. Hayes; M. Heelan, T. Hayes, A. Lonergan; J. McCarthy, D. Hickey; M. Coleman, J. Coleman, J. Maher; M. Harding, K. Griffin, P. O'Dwyer. Subs. T. Hewitt for Lonergan; E. Shine for Maher; S. Hickey for Griffin.
Referee: W. Horgan (Cork).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
