Storming finish propels Doon past Ahane in dramatic Limerick premier minor hurling final

TWO injury-time goals saw Doon clinch their 14th Limerick minor hurling crown in dramatic fashion, edging past Ahane 3-12 to 0-19 in a pulsating County Premier Minor final in Cappamore on Sunday afternoon.

For long spells it looked set to be Ahane’s day. The Mackey Park men dominated for long spella and looked on course to bridge an 11-year gap to lift their fifth-ever title at this level.

However, a late Doon onslaught flipped the script, as their East Limerick rivals struck for goals twice in stoppage time to snatch glory and seal a second championship in three years.

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It was a tough outcome for Ahane, who had breezed past Doon in the opening round of the competition with a commanding victory. That early meeting suggested there was some daylight between the sides, but this decider proved otherwise.

Ahane dominated the middle third of the game and led by seven with just 12 minutes to play. Yet Doon refused to bow. In a heart-stopping finale, they outscored Ahane 3-3 to 0-3 in the final minutes, the winning goal arriving with virtually the last puck of the game.

Doon, aided by a strong breeze, wasted no time making their mark as Robbie McGrath split the posts within 30 seconds of the throw-in.

Ahane, however, hit back immediately through a classy effort from Donal Dawson.

Two Robbie McGrath frees and a fine Conor Ryan point from play cut into Doon’s lead, but a beautifully wristy strike from Donal Coughlan restored the advantage and left the East Limerick men 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after just five minutes.

Ahane responded with points from Dara Moloughney and Ryan to level matters, only for Doon to seize the initiative again. A brace from the lively Josh McLoughlan, followed by a booming effort from distance by captain Eamonn Richardson, pushed them three clear.

The four-time champions then seized control, rattling off six unanswered points as David Moran, Dara Moloughney, and Jack Cosgrove all found their range. Ahane suddenly led 0-10 to 0-7 by the 23rd minute.

Limerick minor panellist Diarmuid Crowe finally ended Doon’s drought before rising star of Limerick club hurling John O’Connor fired over a quickfire brace.

On the stroke of half-time, it looked as though Josh McLoughlan was destined for a certain goal for Doon, but the Ahane rearguard stood tall to block his effort on the line and carry a four-point cushion into the break, 0-12 to 0-8, despite now facing into the breeze.

Ahane pushed that gap to seven points soon after the restart, with O’Connor and Moloughney continuing where they had left off. Crowe, Cosgrove, and Robbie McGrath then traded frees to leave the scoreboard reading 0-16 to 0-10 with just 13 minutes remaining.

But Doon weren’t finished. A sweeping move carved open the Ahane defence, and McLoughlan rattled the back of the net, cutting the deficit to a single score and reigniting the contest.

O’Connor replied with a simply breathtaking point before frees from Robbie McGrath and Jack Cosgrove left the sides poised for a grandstand finish, the scoreboard reading 0-18 to 1- 12 as the clock ticked into injury time.

In the second minute of additional time, Diarmuid Crowe launched a long-range free towards the goal. As it dropped short, Conor Kenny rose highest to flick the sliotar beyond Eoin Murphy and into the Ahane net, sparking wild celebrations among the Doon supporters and bench.

Ahane appeared to have steadied the ship when Cosgrove drilled over a free that looked like the winner.

But with virtually the last puck of the game, Doon struck again with another penetrating move finished by Kenny, who got the decisive touch to flick the ball into the back of the net and seal an unforgettable victory.

SCORERS: Doon: Robbie McGrath 0-6 (4F), Conor Kenny 2-0, Josh McLaughlin 1-2, Diarmuid Crowe 0-2 (1f), Eamonn Richardson 0-1, Darragh Coughlan 0-1. Ahane: John O’Connor 0-5 (3f), Jack Cosgrove 0-5 (4f), Dara Moloughney 0-3, Conor
Ryan 0-2, Donal Dawson 0-2, David Moran 0-1, Shane Moloughney 0-1.

DOON: Caimhin Lynch, Pakie Richardson, Fionn Roche, Paddy Ryan, Denis Blackmore, Eamonn Richardson, Hugh Maher, Sean Hanly, Diarmuid Crowe, Darragh Coughlan, Michael Ryan, Jack Taheny, Conor Kenny, Josh McLaughlin. SUB: George Maher for Paddy Ryan (37 mins)

AHANE: Eoin Murphy, Anton Donohue, Andrew O’Connor, Denis Blackwell, David Moran, Jack Cosgrove, Sean Lucey, Ronan Butler, Conor Ryan, Donal Dawson, John O’Connor, Cian McCarthy, Dara Moloughney, Cormac Ryan, Shane Moloughney.
SUBS: Shane Gill for Cormac Ryan (42 mins), Dan Glynn for Cian McCarthy (50 mins), Ewan Coulter for Dara Moloughney (54 mins), and Kevin McNamara for Sean Lucey (60 mins).

REFEREE: John O’Halloran (Bruree)