Doon denied by Thurles in high-scoring Harty Cup tie between the Limerick and Tipperary schools

DOON'S SCOIL na Tríonóide Naofa's Harty Cup campaign has come to an end following their final group three outing in this year's Harty Cup. Brian O'Grady's side were beaten on a scoreline of 4-26 to 3-14 in UL's North Campus on Wednesday afternoon. 

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Even though neither team's group position would've altered no matter what the result on Wednesday, it did not stop the teams playing some fine hurling on a bitterly cold afternoon in Limerick. 

Thurles' 15-point win cemnted their place at the summit of group three, the reigning boasting a perfect three wins from three. As for Doon, it was the Limerick side's third defeat of the campaign, leaving them on zero points.

The lively James Butler got the scoring underway for Thurles in the second minute but his effort was cancelled out by the energetic Diarmuid Crowe, who was excellent from placed balls all afternoon.

The first goal of the game came via Thurles full forward Leelan Donoghue but his effort was cancelled out when Diarmuid Crowe rifled home 90 seconds later to leave the sides at 1-2 to 1-1 after 10 minutes. 

The goals continued to flow when Thurles centre forward Tomás Ryan raised a third green flag of he day after 12 minutes, this the point in the first half when Thurles began to turn the screw.

Points from James Butler, Eoghan Hickey and Darragh Doyle put the Tipperary men in a commanding position heading into half time but efforts Sean Hanley and Diarmuid Crowe kept Doon within touching distance.

Just like in the opening few minutes, both sides raised a green flag in quick succession. Conor Kenny netted for Doon and moments later, with five minutes to go until the interval, James Butler finished smartly to leave the sides at 3-8 to 2-4 after 25 minutes. 

Both teams traded scores as the the opening half concluded and it was Thurles who went in at the break with a seven point advantage, 3-10 to 2-6. 

Thurles showed why they are reigning champions in the second half, Niall Cahill's side kept the scoreboard ticking over but to Doon's credit, they never gave in.

The second half continued in a similar vein to how the first half ended, with both teams trading scores and splitting the posts with some excellent efforts.

The likes of Jack Cahill, Leelan Donoghue and Eoghan Hickey ensured that last year's winners would keep their opponents at arm's length but Doon stayed in the game and kept battling through the likes of Eamon Richardson, Diarmuid Crowe and Ciaran Gantley.

There was to be another chance for both teams to trade a green flag each before referee Sean Carey blew for full time. Larry Collins netted for Thurles before George Maher would return the favour moments later, the Limerick side once again showing that they would not back down. 

Points would be traded as the match came to a close and it was Thurles who deservedly march on in this year's competition, as they look to defend their 2024 crown. 

SCORERS: THURLES: James Butler 1-5, Leelan Donoghue 1-4, Tomás Ryan 1-2, Jack Cahill 0-5 (5f), Eoghan Hickey 0-5 (2f), Larry Collins 1-0, Tony Ryan 0-2, Darragh Doyle, Bill Fogarty and Dáire Ryan 0-1 each.

Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa DOON: Diarmuid Crowe 1-5 (5f), Conor Kenny 1-0, George Maher 1-0, Ciaran Gantley 0-3, Eamon Richardson 0-2, Jonothan Dawson, Daire Long, Darragh Coughlan and Sean Hanley 0-1 each.

SCOIL NA TRÍONÓIDE NAOFA DOON: Noah Murphy Ryan (Pallasgreen), James Ryan (Cappamore), Fionn Roche (Doon), Pakie Richardson (Doon), Conor Kenny (Doon), Eamon Richardson (Doon), Cathal Mulcahy (Cappamore), Diarmuid Crowe (Doon), Sean Hanley (Doon), Denis Blackmore (Doon), Daire Long (Pallasgreen), Darragh Coughlan (Doon), Jonothan Dawson (Sean Treacy's), Josh McLoughlin (Doon), Ciaran Gantley (Cappawhite) SUBS: Micheál Ryan (Doon) for Josh McLoughlin (51 minutes), James Ryan (Cappamore) for Cathal Mulcahy (51 mins), Charlie Stokes (Pallasgreen) for Denis Blackmore (55 mins), Tommy Dillon (Cappamore) for Eamon Richardson. 

THURLES CBS: Jamie Stapleton (Thurles Sarsfields), Kyle O'Dowd (Thurles Sarsfields), Darragh Hickey (Emeralds), Conor Kennedy (Boherlahan Dualla), Danny Barry (Fethard), Evan Nolan (Thurles Sarsfields), Dáire Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), Sean Griffin (Upperchurch Drombane), Jack Cahill (Ballingarry), Tony Ryan (Killenaule), Tomás Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane), Alex Coppinger (Thurles Sarsfields), Darragh Doyle (Killenaule), Leelan Donoghue (Thurles Sarsfields), Eoghan Hickey (Holycross Ballycahill) SUBS: Bill Fogarty (Thurles Sarsfields) for Jack Cahill (42 mins), Tadhg Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill) for Darragh Hickey (42 mins).

REFEREE: Sean Carey (Limerick)