Jack Ryan's goals crucial but Doon 'have to go and finish the job' in Limerick final

Pat Ryan scored seven points from play as Doon earned their spot in the Limerick SHC final

Jack Ryan of Doon scores his side's second goal past Kilmallock goalkeeper Barry Hennessy at LIT Gaelic Grounds. Picture: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Limerick SHC: Doon 2-20 Kilmallock 1-17 

Doon’s general efficiency up front — and goalscoring ability in particular — was the difference in this entertaining Limerick SHC semi-final in the Gaelic Grounds, the men in red showing a greater cutting edge to get past Kilmallock and book a final slot against Na Piarsaigh.

The timing of those goals was crucial — Doon’s Jack Ryan found the net just after each water-break, giving his side valuable momentum.

Winning manager Tony Ward acknowledged that those goals “made a big difference”, while Kilmallock’s only goal was too late to make a difference: “It probably was, while our first goal put us four or five ahead, which was a killer for them.

“If it were the other way around they’d probably have been able to keep four or five ahead of us. Our first one in particular came at a great time for us.” Ward was correct, though from early on Doon were impressive, with Pat Ryan causing the Kilmallock defence problems all through the game.

Despite Graeme Mulcahy’s best efforts, Josh Ryan pushed Doon two ahead by the first water-break, 0-7 to 0-5.

Doon seized the initiative then with a Jack Ryan goal from close range; he and Barry Murphy — very accurate all evening — added points and it was 1-10 to 0-7.

Paudie O’Brien, Oisin O’Reilly and Kevin O’Donnell hit back for Kilmallock but two late Murphy frees left Doon 1-12 to 0-10 ahead at half-time.

Doon maintained their advantage thanks to Pat Ryan’s hard running and Barry Murphy’s free-taking, and the game again took a turn after the water break.

Pat Ryan of Doon scores one of his seven points. Picture: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Jack Ryan finished calmly from close range for his second goal, putting the contest to bed: Doon led 2-17 to 0-15 entering the final ten minutes.

Kilmallock never gave up but Graham Mulcahy’s goal came too late.

Ward agreed that the likes of Pat Ryan had been “outstanding”, but he sounded a note of warning.

“We’ll need it all again in a week’s time, won’t we? We’ll have to lift if for Na Piarsaigh. What stood to us was that Kilmallock hadn’t had a hard game in five or six weeks, and that takes a toll.

“Some people will say you’re picking up injuries (in games) but the fellas who don’t pick up injuries are getting games, and that’s a big plus.

“It’s a bit like the World Cup, you’re going from week to week. We didn’t pick up any injuries today, hopefully, but you never know. It helps but it’ll be a more even game next week because the other semi-final will bring the winner on as well.”

It’s only two years since Doon were last in a county final, when Na Piarsaigh beat them. Ward is hoping to draw on his own experience with Sarsfields in Galway to improve on that result.

“We have to go and finish the job now but we know it’s not going to be easy.

“Na Piarsaigh have county finals under their belt, and that makes a difference, to have won a few. Going by my own club, once we won one we found it kind of easier to go on and win another two or three.

“It’s just getting over the line the first time is the hardest, but we’re a week away from it now.”

Scorers for Doon: B. Murphy (0-8, 7 frees, 1 65); P. Ryan (0-7); Jack Ryan (2-0); Josh Ryan (0-3); D. Stapleton, D. Coleman (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kilmallock: M. Houlihan (0-4, 65, 2 frees); G. Mulcahy (1-3); O. O’Reilly, P. O’Brien, K. O’Donnell (0-2 each), G. O’Mahony (free), D. Woulfe, C. O’Connor, R. Hanley (0-1 each).

DOON: E. McNamara, C. Thomas, E. Fitzgibbon, T. Hayes, C. Ryan, M. O’Brien, J. Cummins, M. Ryan, E. Stokes, D. Moloney, P. Ryan, B. Murphy (c), Josh Ryan, D. Stapleton, Jack Ryan.

Subs: D. Coleman for Stokes (HT); P. Cummins for M. Ryan (50); C. O’Donovan for J. Cummins (52); N. Maher for Stapleton (60) Referee: J. O’Mahony (Kildimo-Pallaskenry).

KILMALLOCK: B. Hennessy (vc), D. Joy, Philip O’Loughlin (c), A. Costello, M. O’Loughlin, G. O’Mahony, Paddy O’Loughlin, C. O’Connor, D. Woulfe, P. O’Brien, G. Mulcahy, K. O’Donnell, M. Houlihan, R. Hanley, O. O’Reilly.

Subs: K. Hayes for Woulfe (39)

Ref: J. O'Mahony (Kildimo-Pallaskenry).