Doughan-inspired Nenagh CBS dump Midleton CBS out of Harty Cup

Doughan finished with 1-14 – five of those from play – and while Midleton showed flickers of threat, there was no disputing which side were in control.

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026 - 15:49

Jack McKay

Harty Cup: Nenagh CBS 3-19 Midleton CBS 2-14

Nenagh CBS never loosened their grip.

From the opening quarter to the closing exchanges, the 2023/24 Harty Cup champions dictated terms in Bansha, their control spearheaded by a commanding individual display from Eoghan Doughan as Midleton CBS were well beaten at the quarter-final stage.

Doughan finished with 1-14 – five of those from play – and while Midleton showed flickers of threat, there was no disputing which side were in control.

Shane Cleary was immense at centre-back, dominating the air, while Nenagh’s half-forward line repeatedly pinned Midleton deep, turning turnovers into scores.

By the 22nd minute, Midleton were eight points adrift and struggling to escape their own half.

Midleton did briefly stir.

Cormac Deane hit two points on the trot, before a Nenagh puckout was intercepted by Sam Ring. He raced through on goal, fired to the net, to inject belief into red and white shirts. That joy, however, would be short lived.

Two minutes later, Patrick Hackett would send Austin Duff through, and he darted around several Midleton defenders before popping to the net from close range. Their third major would arrive in first-half injury-time, and it would be the crushing blow.

Billy O’Brien made a deep run from midfield, played a one-two with Patrick Ryan, and smashed it to the top corner, 3-9 to 1-5.

The difference was 10 at the break – the same as Midleton’s wide count – and Nenagh would add three more on the restart to go 13 clear.

Midleton did improve, landing five in a row from the 42nd minute, as Cormac Deane impressed, but there would be no way back, even with a superb late goal from Colm Garde.

He gathered Tom A Walsh’s quick free, spun, and rasped into the top corner deep in added-time. But the first 19 minutes, which yielded one point, is where Midleton’s regret will lie.

When a Paul Cahalan effort cannoned of the crossbar and into the path of Joe O’Dwyer, he was brought down for a penalty before he could get his shot off.

Doughan stepped up and slotted to the corner, leaving Nenagh CBS 1-2 to 0-1 up after nine minutes.

Nenagh would keep finding the target, and while Ring’s goal offered hope, Nenagh ensured it was nothing more than that.

Scorers for Nenagh CBS: E Doughan 1-14 (0-8 f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65), A Duff, B O’Brien 1-0 each, P Cahalan, L McKeogh, P McCormack (f), E Tucker, J Grace 0-1 each.

Scorers for Midleton CBS: C Deane 0-5, S Ring 1-2 (0-1 f), F Daly 0-4 f, C Garde 1-1, T A Walsh, D Murphy 0-1 each.

NENAGH CBS: P McCormack (Moneygall); D Fogarty (Kildangan), D O’Dwyer (Kildangan), C Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); J Grace (Burgess), S Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs), E Jones (Nenagh Éire Óg); E Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg), A Duff (Tommevara); B O’Brien (Nenagh Éire Óg), E Doughan (Moneygall) (c), P Cahalan (Burgess); P Ryan (Borrisoleigh), P Hackett (Toomevara), J O’Dwyer (Burgess).

Subs: J Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Cormac Kennedy (19 inj), R McGrath (Kildangan) for J O’Dwyer, L McKeogh (Ballina) for Tucker (both 45), Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for O’Brien, D McKelvey (Silvermines) for Cahalan (both 57).

MIDLETON CBS: T C Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (St Colman’s), R O’Connell (Fr O’Neill’s), F Cahill (Midleton); T A Walsh (Carrigtwohill) (jc), S Carroll (Midleton), C Garde (Lisgoold); M McSweeney (Midleton), J Coleman (Lisgoold); A Hennessy (Midleton), F Daly (Kiltha Óg), C Deane (Killeagh); C Stack (Midleton) (jc), S Ring (Carrigtwohill), E Connolly (Kiltha Óg).

Subs: D Murphy (Lisgoold) for Coleman (HT), F Connaughton (Kiltha Óg) for Connolly (41), J Devoy (Aghada) for Daly (50-53 temp), D Guiney (Lisgoold) for Cahill (55).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).