Harty Cup: Rice College Ennis finish strong to edge past Scoil na Trionoide Naofa Doon
TIGHT BATTLE: Michael Ryan Bob of Scoil na Trionoide Naofa, Doon, battles for the ball. Picture: Brendan Gleeson
In a game between two teams that were effectively out of the Harty Cup, it never really took off.
Rice College Ennis were the side to come through and win late on against Scoil na Trionoide Naofa Doon in UL on Wednesday.
As Diarmuid Crowe sent the ball over the bar from a free to level it for the eighth time, with three minutes to go, it could have gone either way.
The lead had changed over and back throughout the final quarter – but Ennis finally established control.
A free from Pádraic O’Donovan – who finished with 12 scores in total, got them back in front. The midfield partnership of Niall Doyle and David Cahill sent over the last two scores each before the clock moved into the red.
Doon went searching for an equalising goal but Ennis held out, largely due to the outstanding performance of corner back Caleb Walsh, who came up trumps when needed.
It’s a disappointing result for Doon who led by three at the break, and after two scores from Crowe, one free and an excellent strike from play, they moved four in front after 38 minutes.
Frees from O’Donovan for Ennis cut the lead to two but a superb tight angled point from wing-back Michael Berkery returned the lead to three heading into the final quarter.
But Rice College moved the ball well and notched three points in four minutes, setting up a close finish. They would eventually prevail after outscoring Doon five to two in the final 10 minutes.
The first half was slow, with the game gathering a little life in the 13th minute when Clare minor Darren Moroney ran with pace before firing it across goal into the bottom corner, moving Ennis into a 1-5 to 0-4 lead.
O’Donovan stretched their lead to a game high five, but out of nowhere a dropping ball broke favourably for Doon’s Sean Hanley. He drilled it into the net at the 20 minute mark.
A couple of frees from Crowe levelled it, before Doon almost hit for a second goal. Eamon Richardson passed to Darragh Coughlan who struck it long, and Brian Buckley knocked it beyond Ennis goalkeeper Daniel Meehan.
But a crowd of yellow jerseys converged with Padraig Crowe appearing to clear it off the line.
Doon kept the pressure on and a stellar run from Conor Kenny saw the corner forward cover half the field to set up Sean Hayes for a white flag, putting them in front, 1-7 to 1-6.
They stretched that lead to three by the interval, but couldn’t hold on.
P O’Donovan (0-12, 10 fs), D Moroney (1-0), N Doyle, C Henchy (0-2 each), E Fitzpatrick, D Cahill (0-1 each).
D Crowe (0-9, 8 fs), M Ryan Bob (0-3), S Hanley (1-0), C Gantley, S Hayes, M Berkery (0-1 each).
D Meehan (Newmarket on Fergus); C Walsh (The Banner), L Clune (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), C O’Toole (The Banner); B O’Halloran (The Banner), R Mulcahy (Éire Óg), R McDermott (Éire Óg); N Doyle (Éire Óg), D Cahill (Clooney Quinn); S Kelly (The Banner), P O’Donovan (c) (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), C Henchy (The Banner); E Fitzpatrick (The Banner), D Tierney (Éire Óg), D Moroney (Éire Óg).
D Quinlan (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield) for Tierney (58).
M English (Cappawhite); S Ryan (Doon), T Costello (Cappawhite), P Crowe (Doon); S McDonnell (c) (Doon), E Richardson (Doon), M Berkery (Cappamore); D Crowe (Doon), D Coughlan (Doon); M Ryan Bob (Doon), B Buckley (Cappawhite), S Hanley (Doon); C Gantley (Cappawhite), S Hayes (Cappawhite), C Kenny (Doon).
D Blackmore (Doon) for Buckley (38), D Long (Pallasgreen) for (57).
Jim Hickey (Cratloe).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
