Doon survive late Kilmallock comeback to win opening SHC clash
OPENING WIN: Sean Connery, Kilmallock, trying to control the sliotar against Doon. Picture Brendan Gleeson
Doon opened the 2024 Limerick SHC with a nail-biting 2-20 to 3-16 victory over Kilmallock at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Two Phelim O’Reilly goals late on brought Kilmallock back into a contest that Derek McGrath's Doon dominated but their comeback proved too little, too late.
Adam English topped the scoring charts for Doon with 0-10, with Darragh Stapleton and Chris Thomas accounting for their two goals.
Doon hit the front early doors thanks to well taken scores from Gareth Thomas and Adam English before Oisin O’Reilly put Kilmallock on the scoreboard.
English and Phelim O’Reilly then traded scores but strikes from the former and Pat Ryan saw the east Limerick side 0-4 to 0-2 in front on the nine minute mark.
A long range Paddy O’Loughlin free brought Kilmallock to within one but another English free and a well worked strike from Cian O’Donovan put Doon three to the good.
Darragh Stapleton was then nearly in on goal after a pinpoint Barry Murphy pass, only to be denied by a last ditch hook from Shane O’Brien, who was operating in the unfamiliar position of centre back.
However, it was only to be a momentary reprieve for Kilmallock as Stapleton made no mistake moments later. This time it was English with the pass that sent the full forward clear and Stapleton delivered a powerful finish to the net.
Phelim O’Reilly and Graeme Mulcahy arrested the slide for Kilmallock with scores from play but two further English strikes from frees kept Doon comfortable after 22 minutes.
Pat Ryan made it a six-point advantage with his second score of the half but Kilmallock roared back into the contest with four points on the trot in the lead up to half time.
O’Loughlin sent over another two monster frees, while Michéal Houlihan and Oisin O’Reilly also raised white flags. Thomas nailed his second of the game right on the short whistle to give Doon a 1-11 to 0-10 lead.
O’Brien was dispatched to the edge of the square at the beginning of the second half and that move worked immediately as he flashed a thunderbolt to the net.
That goal and a Houlihan free levelled the game for the first time but Doon hit back with the next six scores to take control once again.
Three from English, two from Cian O’Donovan and one from Donal Coughlan looked to have put Doon in a firm position at 1-17 to 1-11 after 48 minutes.
However, there was plenty more drama to come in the final stages of the game. Phelim O’Reilly got the first of his brace with five to play with a powerful shot passed Tomas Lynch.
Doon were soon raising a green flag of their own with Chris Thomas ghosting away from would-be tacklers, before finding the bottom right corner of the net.
Phelim O’Reilly was at it again on the hour with a deft finish to the net from a Houlihan long range delivery.
English and Aaron Costello traded scores in added time but it was Doon that held on for an opening night win.
A English 0-10 (9f), D Stapleton 1-1, C Thomas 1-0, C O’Donovan 0-3, G Thomas and P Ryan 0-2 each, D Coughlan and R English 0-1 each
: P O’Reilly 2-2, M Houlihan 0-5 (3f, 1 ’65), P O’Loughlin 0-4 (4f), S O’Brien 1-1, O’ O’Reilly 0-2, G Mulcahy, A Costello
: T Lynch; C O’Donovan, E Fitzgibbon, T Hayes; R English, B Murphy, J Ryan; D O’Donovan, C Thomas; E Stokes, A English, P Ryan; C Thomas, D Stapleton, D Coughlan.
: K Maher for G Thomas (47).
: B Hennessy; C Hayes, B Burke, L English; A Costello, S O’Brien, P O’Loughlin, P O’Reilly, K O’Donnell; C Staunton, G Mulcahy, D Woulfe; P Connery, O O’Reilly, M Houlihan.
: G O’Mahony for Connery (43).
: J O’Halloran (Bruree).
