Doon power past Ballybrown to book place in Limerick Senior Hurling Championship final

DOON have booked their place into the Whitebox Property Developments Limerick senior hurling championship final after they defeated Ballybrown 2-21 to 0-14 in Kilmallock on Sunday evening. 

This is the first time Doon have reached back-to-back Limerick senior hurling finals in their club's history. Derek McGrath's side will now meet Na Piarsaigh in the Limerick SHC final on Sunday October 19 at 3:30pm in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. Doon’s wider range of scorers, with nine players contributing, proved crucial as Ballybrown could manage only four points from play.

It was a cagey opening period between Ballybrown and Doon, with both defences on top in the early stages at the south Limerick venue.

After eight minutes, the sides were level at 0-2 apiece, with Ballybrown’s Aidan O’Connor and Doon sharpshooter Adam English both converting two frees. It took until the twelfth minute for the first score from play, when Eddie Stokes tapped over a neat point to edge Doon 0-3 to 0-2 ahead.

O’Connor responded six minutes later with his third placed ball to level matters once again. The reigning county champions then moved two clear through the lively Donal Coughlan and another English free, but Limerick senior hurler Colin Coughlan struck a monster point from inside his own half to cut the deficit to one.

Limerick U20 star Donal Coughlan added his second point, and another English free had Doon 0-7 to 0-5 in front with four minutes remaining. However, Ballybrown finished the half strongly, as three frees in succession from Aidan O’Connor saw the Clarina men take a 0-8 to 0-7 lead into the interval.

The sides continued to trade scores after the restart and were level at 0-13 apiece after 43 minutes. McGrath’s side then took complete control, outscoring Ballybrown 2-8 to 0-1 in the final seventeen minutes. 

The victors began to pull away as Eddie Stokes and Kevin Maher both struck for goals in a three-minute spell. Doon’s first came on 44 minutes when Darragh O’Donovan set up Stokes for a fine finish, and just three minutes later Dean Coleman turned provider for Maher, who finished smartly from close range

Adam English, Dean Coleman, Cian O'Donovan, Darragh O'Donovan, Cormac Ryan and Donal Coughlan were all on target for the east Limerick side late on sealing a comfortable thirteen point victory in the end. Ballybrown could only manage a point from Luke O'Connor during that period.

SCORERS: 

BALLYBROWN: Aidan O'Connor (0-11, 0-9 frees, 0-1 65), Colin Coughlan, Luke O'Connor and Leigh Doolan 0-1 each

DOON: Adam English (0-10, 0-8 frees), Eddie Stokes 1-2, Kevin Maher 1-1, Donal Coughlan 0-3, Pat Ryan, Cormac Ryan, Cian O'Donovan, Darragh O'Donovan and Dean Coleman 0-1 each

DOON: Darragh Stapleton; Cian O’Donovan, Tommy Hayes, Mikey O’Brien; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy, Aidan O'Connell; Darragh O’Donovan (Capt), Jack Ryan; Dean Coleman, Adam English, Eddie Stokes; Donal Couglan, Kevin Maher, Pat Ryan.

SUBS: Gareth Thomas for Pat Ryan (55 minutes), Cormac Ryan for O'Connell (55 minutes), Eoin Fitzgibbon for Chris Thomas (57 minutes).

BALLYBROWN: Cian Hedderman; Ned Quinn, David Hartnett, James Coughlan; Mikey Gavin, Colin Coughlan, Keith Punch; Killian Gavin, Leigh Doolan; Ross Kenny, Aidan O’Connor (Capt), Ross Griffin; Barry Adams, Bryan Griffin, Mikey Kiely.

SUBS: Luke O'Connor for Kiely (Half-Time, injury), Josh Adams for Ross Griffin (43 minutes), Bobby Smith for Kenny  (57 minutes).

REFEREE:John O'Halloran (Bruree)