Limerick SHC: Doon 4-14 Patrickswell 0-20 Four different goals from four different goalscorers gave Doon a precious victory over Patrickswell to pile the pressure on their winless rivals after two rounds of the Limerick SHC. While far from a vintage display by Derek McGrath’s charges, this was one laden with moments of brilliance that left Ciaran Carey’s Patrickswell chasing the clash for much of the second half. They backed up last weeks narrow win over Kilmallock with a patchy but overall effective 60 minutes of hurling.
As well as picking out the top corner for his own goal, star man Adam English also laid on a brace of passes for two more as his electrifying pace proved too much for the experienced Well rearguard. In truth, a dozen wides, shared equally in either half hurt the well – many of those at key moments when the game was very much a contest. But once more, their opposition found scores from many avenues, but the late goals from Darragh O’Donovan and Chris Thomas swung this game Doon’s way.
Chasing a maiden Daly Cup, Doon had eight different scorers in that opening half, including each of the starting forwards. Among those was the impressive Kevin Maher (0-2) who started in place of the injured Pat Ryan. The opening goal was a thing of beauty, and perhaps a dream for the coaching team.
Barry Murphy forced a turnover, and passed to Adam English – his pace unmatched – he centred for Darragh Stapleton who caught neatly and finished beyond the onrushing Jason Gillane. That came 24 minutes with earlier points from Aaron Gillane and Cian Lynch keeping the Well in touch. Patrickswell’s response to that goal was sharp – hitting the next three points.
Cian Lynch got his second before Evan Fitzgerald got one from deep. Then Kevin O’Brien scored after hard graft and the sides were separated by two when English landed a late free. 1-10 to 0-11.
English bagged 1-1 to start the second half, including taking a handpass at full pace on the 45, before a solo run which ended in him picking out the top corner. However, the East Limerick side didn’t drive home their advantage. Aaron Gillane, Diarmaid Byrnes, Nigel Foley and Jason Gillane (free) all scored in a 0-6 to no score run to level the clash.
No sooner were they level did Darragh O’Donovan ghost through the cover and bury his sides third goal. It ended nearly 20 minutes without a score with their fourth goal from Chris Thomas on 55 minutes effectively sealing the win. Again, English burst through and fed his teammate who did the rest.
Patrickswell tried for a green flag of their own and will need something in round three, at the end of the month, to ignite their championship hopes. Scorers for Doon: A English 1-5 (0-4 frees); C Thomas 1-1; D Stapleton, D O’Donovan 1-0 each; K Maher 0-3; G Thomas 0-2; R English, E Stokes, D Coughlan 0-1 each. Scorers for Patrickswell: D Byrnes 0-5 (0-3f); A Gillane 0-4 (0-3f); C Lynch, P Kirby 0-3 each; E Fitzgerald, K O’Brien, M Carmody, N Foley, J Gillane (free), 0-1 each.
Doon: T Lynch; T Hayes, E Fitzgibbon, R English; C O’Donovan, J Ryan, C Thomas; D O’Donovan (C), B Murphy; K Maher, A English, E Stokes; G Thomas, D Stapleton, D Coughlan. Subs: M O’Brien for Stokes (53). Patrickswell: J Gillane; K Lynch, C Fitzgerald, J Flynn; M Carmody, N Foley, E Fitzgerald; D Byrnes, J Murray; C O’Gorman, C Lynch (Capt), J Kelleher; P Kirby, K O’Brien, A Gillane.
Subs: T O’Brien for P Kirby (57); J Kirby for Murray (58). Referee: Johnny Murphy (Ballylanders)..
