Doon too strong for Our Lady’s

DOON CBS made a statement of intent in sunny New Inn yesterday with this hard-earned but fully merited win over one of their main group rivals.

The four-point win over Our Lady’s Templemore maintains their unbeaten record in this year’s Harty Cup.

There was never more than three points between the sides ’til right at the death when Doon sub Gearoid Ryan pounced to put his team a goal ahead. Full-forward Jerry O’Neill hit over the insurance point a couple of minutes into injury time.

Doon wing-forward Dean O’Dwyer opened the scoring with a fine point. Impressive midfielder Eamonn Gleeson added to that a minute later, but those points were soon negated by Aidan Fogarty and Noel McGrath for Templemore, and it was game on.

Robert O’Donnell, who spent the first quarter acting as sweeper for Doon to curb the influence of Templemore danger-man Noel McGrath in midfield – moved forward to his named position of corner-forward and immediately made an impact by scoring two fine points.

Centre-forward Shane Power also pointed, but it was full-forward Jerry O’Neill who did most of the Doon scoring, four points in that opening period.

For Templemore, Willie Donnelly struck two fine points after taking over the free-taking duties temporarily from McGrath. Aidan McGrath and Seán McCormack also came in with a point apiece, but it was Kevin McGrath who did the real damage. He goaled in the 26th minute to level the game 1-4 to 0-7, and the contest was tied again at the break, 1-6 to 0-9.

A fine solo O’Donnell point for Doon began the second half. It was followed by scores by Templemore wing-forward Adrian Ryan, Doon’s Jerry O’Neill and Gleeson in the 42nd minute.

Our Lady’s Noel McGrath then drilled a difficult free from the left wing over the bar. He followed that up minutes later with a perfect ball into space to find Willie Donnelly, who pointed for the Tipp school.

On the 49th minute the sides were level again thanks to another point from the accurate O’Neill.

Then came Gearoid Ryan’s intervention and O’Neill’s insurance.

It was tough on Templemore, but Doon power on.

Scorers: Doon: J. O’Neill 0-10 (0-7 frees 0-1 65); R. O’Donnell 0-4; G. Ryan 1-0; E. Gleeson 0-2; S. Power, D. O’Dwyer, 0-1 each. Templemore: N. McGrath 1-5 (0-4 frees); W. Donnelly 0-3 (0-2 frees); A. Ryan 0-2; S. McCormack, A. McGrath, E. Murray, A. Fogarty, 0-1 each.

DOON CBS: M. Byrnes; J. Furlong, C. McNamara, D. Sheehan; S. Kennedy, L. Reale, M. Treacy; G. McPartland, E. Gleeson; P. Doyle, S. Power, D. O’Dwyer; R. O’Donnell, J. O’Neill, M. Barry.

Subs: M. Buckley (Doyle 28); G. Ryan (Buckley 50).

OUR LADY’S, TEMPLEMORE: P. Murray; A. Ryan, L. Butler, P. Moynihan; C. Hennessey, W. Ryan, S. Delaney; N. McGrath, S. Leahy; A. Ryan, W. Donnelly, A. Fogarty; E. Murray, S. McCormack, A. McGrath.

Subs: E. Fitzpatrick (Moynihan 36); K. O’Riordan (Leahy 40).

Referee: E. Browne (Cashel).