Doon's Dr Harty Cup hopes ends with narrow defeat to Midleton CBS

Needing a victory and a favourable result in the group's other fixture to join already-qualified opponents Midleton CBS in the Harty Cup play-offs, Scoil na Trionóide Naofa, Doon came up just short in Kilmallock on Wednesday when a late rally just failed to rescue their campaign as the East Limerick side suffered a 1-17 to 1-16 defeat.

However, despite losing by the narrowest of margins, Scoil na Trionoide Naofa left themselves that bit too much to recover when Midleton CBS outscored them by nine points to three after they drew level coming up the three-quarters mark as they struggled to contain their opponents' ability to score from distance.

It was a different story in the first half as Doon maintained an advantage of two or three points coming up to the break, but their efforts were wiped out by a fortunate Midleton goal after which the Cork school were never subsequently headed.

Although the Limerick side did manage to draw level twice in the third quarter, they missed a few crucial chances to regain the lead and paid for that waste when their opponents stepped on the pedal in the run-in.

Doon started brightly, getting the sliotar quickly through the lines and, after James O'Brien replied to Cathal Hayes' opening free, Aidan Moloney's free from halfway restored their lead.

Although O'Brien struck again to equalise, the Limerick school continued with their running game to open up the spaces or to draw the foul and points from Oisín Holmes, Moloney's free and a Holmes' free created some daylight on the scoreboard before Dylan McCarthy pulled one back for Midleton.

Although they were starting to make an impression in midfield, the Imokilly side were chalking up the wides, both from frees and from play as Evan Coleman stretched Doon's lead. It wasn't until Ben Walsh replied that they began to turn possession into scores and, after James O'Leary reduced the margin to the minimum, the game changed when a long effort dropped short on the edge of the Doon square and the breaking ball stuck in the heavy goalmouth for Colm Leahy to lift and strike to the net.

McCarthy sent the resulting puckout back between the posts but, just before the short whistle, Hayes sent over a pair of frees to narrow Midleton's advantage to 1-6 to 0-8.

The restart was delayed for an hour due to a medical issue in the stand, but it didn't stop Midleton going straight down to business as Barry Walsh and McCarthy found the target.

Once the Doon clearances started to stick, Holmes sent over a free and a sideline cut and was followed by Coleman's equaliser.

However, after Daniel Murnane's long free was met by Tadhg Hourigan, Midleton upped the tempo with another Murnane free, Patrick Walsh and McCarthy's free and, following Moloney's reply, Barry Walsh and James O'Leary stretched th gap to four.

Holmes' free broke the sequence, but chances of a Doon recovery faded when McCarthy's pointed free and points from Ben Walsh and Barry Walsh added to the Rebel tally going into the closing minutes before a late Moloney shot on goal was deflected over the crossbar.

Sean McDonnell made his 90-metre added time gallop up the field to blast to the net on the turn and a final Doon assault was blocked for a '65' which Holmes pointed right on Johnny Murphy's final whistle.

SCORERS: MIDLETON CBS: Dylan McCarthy 0-5 (2 frees), Colm leahy 1-0, Barry Walsh 0-3, James O'Brien, Daniel Murnane (2 frees), James O'Leary, Ben Walsh 0-2 each, Patrick Walsh 0-1; SCOIL NA TRIONÓIDE NAOFA, DOON: Oisín Holmes 0-6 (3 frees, 1 '65'), Tadhg Hourigan 1-1, Aidan Moloney 0-4 (2 frees), Cathal Hayes 0-3 (3 frees), Evan Coleman 0-2.

MIDLETON CBS: Fionn Murphy (Killeagh); Cárthaigh Cronin (Midleton), Seán O'Callaghan (Aghada), Darragh O'Brien (Killeagh); Seán Greaney (Dungourny), Daniel Murnane (Carrigtwohill), Cillian O'Callaghan (Dungourny); James O'Leary (Lisgoold), Ben Walsh (Killeagh); Barry Walsh (Killeagh), Patrick Walsh (Carrigtwohill), Dylan McCarthy (Killeagh); James O'Brien (Cloyne), Fionn O'Connor (Aghada), Colm Leahy (Killeagh). SUBS: Eoghan Fraser (Midleton) for Fionn O'Connor (half-time), Tiernan Walsh (Erin's Own) for Seán Greaney (50 minutes), Tadhg Brosnan (Father O'Neills) for Colm Leahy (53 minutes), Daniel Nolan (Carrigtwohill) for Darragh O'Brien (57 minutes), Tomás Walsh (Aghada) for Barry Walsh (58 minutes)

SCOIL NA TRIONÓIDE NAOFA, DOON: Callum Wallace (Doon); Tommy Costello (Cappawhite), Seán Óg Blackmore (Doon), Seán McDonnell (Doon); Oisín Holmes (Murroe-Boher), Aidan O'Connell) (Doon), John Stokes (Doon); Evan Coleman (Cappamore), Donnacha Hogan (Cappamore); Tadhg Hourigan (Pallasgreen), Cathal Hayes (Doon), Aidan Moloney (Doon); Tom Ryan B (Doon), Emmet Roche (Doon), Conor Gantley (Cappawhite). SUBS: Michael Ryan B (Doon) for Conor Gantley (injured, 21 minutes), Ciarán Hynes (Doon) for Michael Ryan B (45 minutes), Brian Buckley (Cappawhite) for Donnacha Hogan (51 minutes), Donnacha Hogan for Emmet Roche (injured, 61 minutes).

REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Glenroe).