Limerick SHC: Doon makes the breakthrough

Limerick SHC final

Doon 0-16 Na Piarsaigh 2-9

By Tom Clancy on TUS Gaelic Grounds

Adam English led the way as Doon lifted their first Limerick Senior throwing crown, during a very exciting hour of hurling on Shannonside.

In their fifth final, the East Limerick team lifted the Daly Cup for the first time after denying Na Piarsaigh a three-in-a-row. Eleven points from English were enough to see them come from six points behind to claim the honours.

Having lost to the Caherdavin outfit in their two most recent final outings, this was the kind of performance that was needed for Derek McGrath’s men. The former Waterford manager is now certainly a legend in Doon and their neighboring village of Oola.

The early exchanges were hampered by the miserable October drizzle, with inaccurate passing, shooting and balls falling everywhere. Conor Boylan opened the scoring, before Adam English scored a decisive score for his side.

The next two scores would also go to English, who was unplayable at times during this season’s championship. But the champions showed around the fifteen minute mark that they had a class lead. The two goals came about thanks to some magic from David Dempsey. The striker, who was listed as a substitute after missing the semi-final through injury, replaced his younger brother in the side before throwing in.

He collected a long throw 20 yards from goal, attracted three Doon men, slipped Adrian Breen through with a handpass and finished with typical class to set up Na Piarsaigh.

The East Side had only recovered from that heartbreak when another blow hit them again within 75 seconds. This time Conor Boylan teamed up with Dempsey in the corner, and seemingly out of the way the striker dug in from the tightest of angles to put his side two goals ahead.

Shane O’Neill’s men would convert a Ronan Lynch free ball but there was no other score in the final 13 minutes of action for the City side. Instead, Doon, through Adam English (65) and Darragh Stapleton, closed the gap.

English also scored two more frees and a trademark jink saw him come out of the game once more to end the half. Trailing by just a point, the Doon faithful roared aside as they made their way to the changing rooms.

Playing in front of 7,612 at the Gaelic Grounds, Na Piarsaigh had Shane Dowling on the cutter during the second half, while Ronan Lynch struggled in the deteriorating conditions. Dowling and Mike Foley traded points with Gareth Thomas and English, but the men in red took the lead after three quarters during a productive six minutes.

Another two frees from rising star English and a fine effort from captain Darragh O’Donovan put Doon into the lead.

Barry Murphy, Pat Ryan and English increased the gap to three before Peter Casey got a much-needed score for the 2016 All-Ireland Champions. Casey returned after six months injured for his first appearance as a second-half substitute.

Once Ronan and Dylan Lynch had leveled the score, English landed free of pressure with two minutes to go.

An eleventh English point and an eleventh wide for the eight-time champions in the closing stages proved the difference.

Meanwhile, Newcastle West defeated Garryspillane in the Premier Intermediate hurling final to return to the top flight after more than 30 years in the lower grades.

Scorers for Doon: Adam English 0-11 (6fs, 1 65), Darragh Stapleton 0-1, G Thomas 0-1, Darragh O’Donovan 0-1, Barry Murphy 0-1, Pat Ryan 0-1.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Adrian Breen 1-0, David Dempsey 1-0, S Dowling 0-2 (2fs), Ronan Lynch 0-2 (2fs), Conor Boylan 0-1, JJ Carey 0-1, Mike Foley 0-1, Peter Casey 0-1, Dylan Lynch 0-1.

Doon: Tomas Lynch; Eoin Fitzgibbon, Tommy Hayes, Cian O’Donovan; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy, Richie English, Jack Ryan; Darragh O’Donovan (captain), Adam English; Pat Ryan, Gareth Thomas, Eddie Stokes; Kevin Maher, Darragh Stapleton.

subtitles: Cormac Ryan for G Thomas (37); Mikey O’Brien for Stapleton (51); Patrick Cummins for C O’Donovan (59).

After Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling; Vince Harrington, Mike Casey (captain), Emmett McEvoy; Mike Foley, William O’Donoghue, Jerome Boylan; Ronan Lynch, Tommy Grimes; Kevin Downes, Will Henn, Conor Boylan; JJ Carey, David Dempsey, Adrian Breen.

subtitles: Peter Casey for Henn (43); Dylan Lynch for Breen (51); Keith Dempsey for Downes (60).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).