Duggan heroics inspire Dungarvan

Dungarvan 1-15 Fourmilewater 2-9

Duggan reserved his best until last when he somehow managed to deny the Fourmilewater attackers three times in ten exhilarating seconds when the sides were deadlocked.

And inspired by his excellence, Dungarvan finished in style to close out the game with a three point flurry in the final two minutes.

The opening 20 minutes were tame, with Cormac Curran’s clinically finished goal giving Dungarvan a deserved 1-3 to 0-3 lead in the 25th minute, but three minutes later Seamas Lawlor netted from a deft Diarmuid Wall pass and the sides were level, 1-5 each, at the break.

Fourmilewater’s second goal in the 35th minute was scored by Jamie Barron after Duggan had again made a tremendous double stop, but their immediate response in the way of superb Shane Kearney and Cathal Curran points was the guarantee Dungarvan were far from finished.

The closing 20 minutes were tense and thrilling, and while Dungarvan’s county duo of Jamie Nagle and Gavin Crotty had quiet first half displays, they thundered into the game when the need was greatest. Shane Kearney and Kenny Moore too remained at their impregnable best in the half-back line, with teenagers Ryan Donnelly and Cathal Curran menacing up front. Seamas and Liam Lawlor, Shane Walsh, and the O’Gormans did all they ever do for the losers.

Not before Duggan’s goalkeeping heroics however again came to their rescue and those late points by Cormac Curran, Donnelly, and Crotty sealed an epic victory.

Scorers for Dungarvan: Cormac Curran (1-6, 0-6 frees); G. Crotty (0-3); R. Donnelly (0-2); J. Nagle (0-2); Colm Curran, Cathal Curran (0-1) each.

Scorers for Fourmilewater: S. Lawlor (1-2); S. Walsh (1-1); J. Barron (0-3, frees); T. O’Gorman, L. Lawlor (f), C. Guiry (0-1) each.

DUNGARVAN: D. Duggan; K. Daly, D. Barry, L. Egan; S. Kearney, K. Moore, C. Sheridan; J. Nagle, S. Ryan; Cormac Curran, G. Crotty, E. Healy; Cathal Curran, Colm Curran, R. Donnelly.

FOURMILEWATER: C. Ryan; J. Walsh, R. Rice, S. Lawlor; Mce. O’Gorman, L. Lawlor, T. O’Gorman; B. Wall, S. Lawlor; Ml. O’Gorman, D. Wall, C. Guiry; S. Ryan, S. Walsh, J. Barron.

Subs: R. Fenton for D. Wall; A. Lawlor for Ryan.

Referee: Maurice Condon, Clashmore.