Butler stars as Our Lady’s dig out victory over Doon CBS

Our Lady’s, Templemore 0-14 Doon CBS 1-8

The Tipperary school knitted sparkling passages of play together with below-par spells, which had the consequence of allowing Doon CBS to remain in the hunt for long stages. But the Limerick side were never able to capitalise on their periods of territorial control, and their injury-time goal, when Michael Barry’s free from distance flew all the way to the net, gave the final score a lopsided feel.

Two power-packed Our Lady’s scoring bursts at the end of each half inserted the real daylight between the sides but it was their defence that proved the bedrock of their challenge. Full-back Liam Butler, who featured for the Tipperary minors this year, was outstanding in repelling Doon attacks and he was supported by Pio Kennedy and Andrew Ryan. The midfield duo of Liam Tracey and Eoin Fitzpatrick put in a good hour’s work as well and the fact Our Lady’s only conceded 0-2 from play was a testament to the prowess of their backline.