Doon ease to 10th Limerick SHC semi-final in a row with Adare rout

DOON eased to the semi-final of the Whitebox Senior Hurling Championship with a facile 2-27 to 1-14 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

The win means a 10th consecutive SHC semi-final for Paul Keane’s side.

They now face Na Piaesaigh in a repeat of the last two county finals in two weeks time.

Once again, Limerick star Adam English shone for the east club.

English’s personal tally hit double figures yet again, including five from play.

Adare had five changes from the listed program and started without former Limerick players Wayne McNamara and John Fitzgibbon as well as former Munster U21 winner Willie Griffin.

Doon got off to a whirlwind start, scoring 1-5 in the first six minutes.

The goal from Donal Coughlan opened the scoring as the full forward tapped in from close range. He was initially well hooked by John McSweeney but at the second attempt was able to get the ball into the back of the net.

The returning Eddie Stokes, Richie English and Adam English quickly added scores as Doon led by six with just three minutes on the clock.

Cian O’Donovan and Dean Coleman added white flags and when Pat Ryan pointed midway through the half, Doon had seven different scorers in the opening quarter.

In reply, Adare had just three Patrick Kearney frees.

Ronan Connolly got their first score from play in the 20th minute.

At the of the field, the wide count was building for the men from east Limerick. A wayward Darragh O’Donovan strike their sixth miss in the first 20 minutes.

However, Adam English scored a breathtaking point from the sideline to show the class Doon possesses. English beat his marker to score his fifth of the half, third from play. Pat Ryan added his second to increase the lead to 10 points after 22 minutes.

As the heavens opened, it got worse for Adare. Coleman and Ryan added scores as Doon were easing their way to the last four.

Darragh Gleeson scored late in the half as Adare trailed 1-16 to 0-5 at the interval.

Doon started the second half brightly offering no respite as Chris Thomas, Coleman and English added early points after the restart.

Kearney got his first from play to open Adare’s second half account. Mark Foley emptied the bench, bringing on experienced players like McNamara, Griffin and Fitzgibbon.

But they were unable to turn the tide as Doon eased to the last four.

Jack Ryan put 20 between the sides in the third quarter.

A pair of Griffin score and one from Ronan Connolly kept the scoreboard ticking for the west division side.

A John Fitzgibbon goal from a free put some gloss on the scoreline but it was a disappointing outing for the side who have failed to perform in a county quarter-final for the second year in a row.

An injury time Pat Ryan goal was the icing on the cake.

SCORERS - DOON: Adam English 0-11 (6f); Pat Ryan 1-4; Donal Coughlan 1-0; Dean Coleman 0-3; Cian O’Donovan and Chris Thomas 0-2 each; Eddie Stokes, Richie English, Barry Murphy, Jack Ryan and Sean McDonnell 0-1 each.

ADARE: John Fitzgibbon 1-2 (1-1f); Patrick Kearney 0-5 (3f); Ronan Connolly and Willie Griffin (1f) 0-2 each; Darragh Gleeson, Conor Ryan and Jack Doran 0-1 each.

DOON: Tomas Lynch; Eamonn Richardson, Tommy Hayes, Cian O’Donovan; Aidan O’Connell, Barry Murphy, Richie English; Darragh O’Donovan, Chris Thomas; Jack Ryan, Adam English, Eddie Stokes; Dean Coleman, Donal Coughlan, Pat Ryan.

Subs: Gareth Thomas for D Coughlan (41 mins); Kevin Maher for Coleman (42 mins); Sean McDonnell for Stokes (48 mins); Darragh Coughlan for T Hayes (51 mins); Cormac Ryan for Thomas (58 mins).

ADARE: Bryan Curtin; John McSweeney, Joe Sweeney, Conor Ryan; James Canty, Declan Hannon, Darragh Gleeson; Sean Connolly, Ronan Connolly; David O’Mahony, Sam Hickey, Brendan O’Connor; Mike Keane, Mark Connolly, Patrick Kearney.

Subs: John Fitzgibbon for McSweeney (h-t); Willie Griffin for Hickey (h-t); Charlie McCarthy for S Connolly (37 mins); Wayne McNamara for M Connolly (37 mins); Jack Doran for O’Mahony (49 mins).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (St Senans).