Doon and Kilmallock play out thrilling draw in Limerick senior hurling championship

DOON and Kilmallock remain unbeaten in group one of the Whitebox Property Developments Limerick senior hurling championship after playing out a thrilling draw in round three at a sun-drenched Knocklong on Thursaday evening.

It finished, Kilmallock 2-16, holders Doon 0-22, in front of a sizeable attendance as both sides moved on to four points from their three Group 1 fixtures.

Early goals from Killian Hayes and Oisin O'Reilly propelled Kilmallock into a useful 2-5 to 0-4 advantage mid-way through the opening half.

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However, defending champions Doon rallied in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 0-7 to 0-2 during that period, to trail by just two points, 0-11 to 2-7, at half-time. 

Barry Murphy's point five minutes after the restart then brought Doon level. The second half proved to a highly competitive affair with never more than two points between the sides. 

When Chris Thomas set up Limerick senior star Adam English for a 58th minute point, the East Limerick side enjoyed a one point advantage, 0-22 to 2-15. 

Man of the Match English scored a significant 0-13 for the 2024 county champions, including four points from play.

However, Kilmallock earned a deserved share of the spoils when the impressive Oisin O'Reilly struck over an equalising score at the start of stoppage time. 

On a perfect evening for hurling, it was Kilmallock who got off to the perfect start, racing into a 2-0 to 0-1 lead after just five minutes. 

The Kilmallock goals came in the second minute after Killian Hayes rattled the net when he pounced on a rebound after Gearoid Enright's shot on goal was saved.

Their second goal arrived three minutes later when the influential Oisin O'Reilly seized on a break before racing clear and rifling a terrific shot to the net.

Doon trailed by four points, 0-3 to 2-1, when Adam English showed his class to fire over following a razor sharp touch and strike in the 10th minute.

However, Kilmallock continued to have the upperhand through that opening quarter and points from Conor Staunton, Shane O'Brien (free), Graeme Mulcahy and the first of three monster ling range pointed frees from netminder Conor Hanley Clarke, had them seven points to the good.

However, Doon managed to gain a foothold in the game, recovering from the body blow of conceding those two early goals. 

A pair of pointed frees from Adam English and excellent long range score from the influential Richie English reduced the deficit to four points after 21 minutes. 

Doon also managed four of the last five points of the half through Eddie Stokes, captain Darragh O'Donovan, off English's quickly-taken free, Jack Ryan and English with a glorious score from close to the right sideline, to leave the East Limerick side trailing by just two points at the change of ends. 

Two pointed frees from English had the county champions level within two minutes of the restart.

The momentum appeared to have swung in Doon's favour, but a resolute Kilmallock side had other ideas.

Hanley-Clarke, from a free, and the impressive Barry Murphy, for Doon, traded points.

The sides continued to swap points as the half wore on with Gearoid Enright firing over a brace of scores for Kilmallock and Killian Hayes and Oisin O'Reilly, who finished with 1-2 each from play, also on target.

At the other end, English was in top form for Doon from open play and placed balls. 

Next up for Doon is a round four meeting with Ballybrown on Friday, August 29 in Kilmallock, 6.15pm, while Kilmallock set their sights on a clash with Na Piarsaigh at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale on Saturday, August 30, 6pm.

SCORERS: Doon: Adam English 0-13 (0-9 frees), Barry Murphy, Eddie Stokes 0-2 each, Richie, Gareth Thomas, Pat Ryan, Darragh O’Donovan, Jack Ryan 0-1 each. Kilmallock: Killian Hayes, Oisin O’Reilly 1-2 each, S O’Brien 0-4 (0-3 frees, 0-1’65), Conor Hanley-Clarke 0-3 (0-3 frees), Gearoid Enright 0-2, Conor Staunton, Graeme Mulcahy, Dylan O’Brien 0-1 each.

DOON: Darragh Stapleton; Cian O’Donovan, Tommy Hayes, Mikey O’Brien; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy, Richie English; Darragh O’Donovan (Capt), Jack Ryan; Gareth Thomas, Adam English, Eddie Stokes; Donal Couglan, Kevin Maher, Pat Ryan.
SUBS: C Ryan for Coughlan (48 mins), Dean Coleman for Gareth Thomas (55 mins).

KILMALLOCK: Conor Hanley-Clarke; Dylan O’Brien, Robbie Egan, Liam English; Kevin O’Donnell, Aaron Costello, Ciaran O’Connor; Killian Hayes, Micheál Houlihan; Paudie O’Brien, Oisin O’Reilly, Gearoid Enright; Conor Staunton, Shane O’Brien, Graeme Mulcahy. SUBS: R Hanley for English (half-time), Gavin O’Mahony for Staunton (41 mins), David Woulfe for O'Brien (41 mins), Thomas Savage for Enright (42 mins, injured), Oisin Enright for O’Connor (63 mins).

REFEREE: J O’Halloran (Bruree)