Harty Cup: No separating Doon and Rice College after high-scoring thriller

A large crowd enjoyed the battle at the University of Limerick Pavilion.

HOT PURSUIT: John Cahill of Rice College Ennis and SNTN Doon's Cathal Hayes during their meeting in the Harty Cup played in University of Limerick today. Pic. Brian Arthur

Harty Cup: Rice College Ennis 2-14 SNTN Doon 4-8 

This Harty Cup tie played in the University of Limerick Pavilion had it all with six green flags, 20 white flags, an unbelievable save and a hugely controversial red card for an off-the-ball incident. 

In the end a draw was probably the fairest outcome as neither school deserved to lose after giving it their all and entertaining the large crowd in attendance.

The game itself sprung into life immediately from the throw-in with a fine Aidan Moloney point opening the scoring. The highly impressive Padraic O'Donovan, who would finish the day with a whopping 11 points, levelled proceedings almost immediately before full forward Frankie Lyons reacted quickest to a dropped sliotar by keeper Callum Wallace and pulled first time to the net. 

Rather than let this setback deflate them Doon roared back into the contest immediately when centre forward Cathal Hayes superbly rifled home a penalty after an infringement on corner forward Tom Ryan. The pace certainly didn't let up as moments later Jack O'Neill lit up the Limerick venue with a truly sensational green flag. Gathering possession in the midfield area the Clooney-Quin player embarked on a scintillating solo run. Evading several challenges he audaciously bounced the sliotar off the ground 'Kyle Hayes' style before sidestepping another defender and rifling low to the bottom corner to roars of approval from the Clare crowd. At the interval the Ennis school deservedly led by four on a 2-6 to 1-5 scoreline.

The lead was extended to five upon the resumption of play before a 1-2 scoring burst in 90 seconds levelled the contest for the third time with the goal coming courtesy of wing forward Tadgh Hourigan when pulling first time on a breaking ball. In what was now an enthralling end-to-end battle, Padraic O'Donovan landed a brace before a superb catch and offload by Aidan Moloney to Hourigan laid to Doon's third major when the Pallasgreen club player blasted home to give his school the lead. 

Like a heavyweight boxing match, with the sides trading blows, back came Rice College and the action was now frenetic. In the 48th minute midfielder Evan Coleman caught a monster puck out and fired a rocket to the net to put Doon firmly in the ascendancy. We then had that controversial red card and Rice College certainly looked like a beaten docket but a miraculous save by Conor Nash kept their hopes alive before showing tremendous character player of the match O'Donovan coolly landed two huge frees to earn his side a deserved draw.

Scorers for Rice College Ennis: P O'Donovan 0-11 (6f, 1 65), J O'Neill 1-1, F Lyons 1-0, L Clune, R Mulcahy 0-1 each 

Scorers for SNTN Doon: C Hayes 1-4 (1pen, 4f), T Hourigan 2-0, E Coleman 1-0, A Moloney 0-2, T Ryan, M Ryan 0-1 each

Rice College Ennis: C Nash (Doora Barefield), L Pyne (Éire Óg), J Cahill (Clooney-Quin), L Clune (Doora Barefield), E Fitzpatrick (Banner), E McMahon (Doora Barefield), R McDermott (Éire Óg), N Doyle (Éire Óg), D Cahill (Clooney-Quin), P O'Donovan (Doora Barefield), J O'Neill (Clooney-Quin), R Mulcahy (Éire Óg), D Moroney (Éire Óg), F Lyons (Corofin/Ruan), C Perill (Éire Óg) Subs: None 

SNTN Doon: C Wallace (Doon), T Costello (Cappawhite), S Óg Blackmore (Doon), O Holmes (Murroe Boher), A O'Connell (Doon), J Stokes (Doon), E Coleman (Cappamore), D Hogan (Cappamore), T Hourigan (Pallasgreen), C Hayes (Doon), A Moloney (Doon), T Ryan (Doon), E Roche (Doon), C Gantley (Cappawhite) Subs: M Ryan (Doon) for C Gantley (45) Referee: Johnny Murphy (Ballylanders)