Coughlan double helps Doon to Limerick SHC win over Ballybrown

A GOAL in either half helped Doon to an opening round victory on a 2-21 to 2-16 win over Ballybrown in the WhiteBox Properties Limerick SHC tie at Claughaun on Friday evening.

Donal Coughlan’s double, which he supplemented with a brace of points, ensured Doon led from the 12th minute all the way to full-time, with Colin Coughlan’s late red card capping a frustrating evening for Ballybrown.

Coughlan, a late sub in the recent All-Ireland final win over Galway, was given his marching orders in the final seconds, for a wild pull which connected with Mikey O’Brien.

By this stage, Ballybrown were chasing a third goal, after Aidan O’Connor’s green flags gave them false hope late on but it was Derek McGrath’s Doon who looked in control for long spells.

The Waterford native is set to take over Wexford for the 2027 season, but this is his third year with Doon, and the experience of McGrath, coaches Denis Moloney, Paul Keane and Tom Murphy make them a live threat for a second Daly Cup.

They were slow to the boil, but once Darragh O’Donovan cut them ahead with a lineball, they didn’t relinquish the lead. Ballybrown had the early running, with points from O’Connor, James Coughlan and Killian Gavin.

Donal Coughlan, Eamonn Richardson and Adam English came in reply before the opening goal from the stick of Donal Coughlan opened a four point lead.

By half-time the gap was still four, with O’Connor and English trading blows before Dean Coleman and Barry Adams both raised white flags.

Tomás Lynch denied Mikey Gavin with a smart save while Adams also threatened the goal, but had to be happy with a point.

Pat Ryan, Darragh O’Donovan and Chris Thomas were grafting in the middle for Doon and they pulled nine clear by the 48th minute. English’s frees, which helped him to 11 points in all, and a Donal Coughlan point were important but the pair combined, before Coughlan was on hand to bury a second goal.

From here, it looked like game over. However, O’Connor bagged a first goal on 50 minutes to give the game some life, before English (free) and Dean Coleman pointed either side of Luke O’Connors solo point.

The Limerick star O’Connor flashed home a second major late on, burying a rebound after seeing Tomás Lynch save his penalty.

A goalmouth scramble saw Coughlan dismissed by inter-county official Murphy, meaning he will miss the second-round tie with Ahane. Doon will get ready for a mouthwatering tie with Kilmallock, next Thursday.

Scorers - Doon: Adam English 0-11 (8f; 2 ’65s); Donal Coughlan 2-2; Dean Coleman 0-2; Eamonn Richardson, Cian O’Donovan, Darragh O’Donovan (s/l), Pat Ryan, Chris Thomas, Gareth Thomas 0-1 each; Ballybrown: Aidan O’Connor 2-9 (5f); Killian Gavin 0-3; Barry Adams 0-2; Luke O’Connor 0-1.

Doon: Tomás Lynch; Cormac Ryan, Tommy Hayes, Cian O’Donovan; Aidan O’Connell, Mikey O’Brien, Richie English; Darragh O’Donovan, Chris Thomas; Sean McDonnell, Adam English, Eamonn Richardson; Dean Coleman, Donal Coughlan, Pat Ryan; Subs: Kevin Maher for McDonnell (55 mins), Gareth Thomas for Richardson (55 mins).

Ballybrown: Cian Hedderman; Ned Quinn, David Hartnett, Keith Punch; James Coughlan, Josh Adams, Colin Coughlan; Killian Gavin, Mikey Kiely; Ross Griffin, Aidan O’Connor, Ross Kenny; Leigh Doolan, Barry Adams, Mikey Gavin; Subs: Luke O’Connor for Kiely (37 mins); David Hall for Doolan (45 mins); Bobby Smith for Killian Gavin (57 mins).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Ballylanders).