Patrickswell earn extra time win over Doon to lift Junior 'B' title
The win for the ‘Well came after a titanic tussle that included extra time
PATRICKSWELL have returned to the Junior ‘A’ grade at the first attempt after a 1-19 to 1-17 extra time win over Doon in the Woodlands House Hotel and Spa Premier Junior B Hurling final in Bruff.
Doon looked like they were on their way to victory when they defied the gale blowing in their faces to lead at half-time but the ‘Well came back to earn a stunning win.
Doon could have had a couple of goals early on but it was Patrickswell that fired the first three scores thanks to two Nigel Foley efforts and one from Sean O’Brien.
A couple of further points then looked to have Patrickswell in a firm position in the first half.
However, once they got their first decent delivery past midfield, Doon catapulted back into contention when Seán Sweeney soloed past three challenges and whacked to the net without breaking his stride and were within a point after Bob Purcell twice found the target.
Foley's reply on the quarter-hour briefly halted the Doon march but Sweeney and Purcell soon reeled them back in.
Another Purcell double reflected the constant Doon pressure before Foley sent over a free at the other end to leave the score at 1-7 to 0-8 at the break.
Doon struck first after the break with a Purcell free. Patrickswell then burst into life with Paudie Maher and Peter Harty efforts from play before a Foley ‘65 drew them level heading into the final quarter.
Nerves then kicked in with both sides firing over scores and missing chances which saw the game end all square and the game went to extra time.
Straight from the restart, the Well struck the game's defining moment when Josh Carey doubled on a high delivery and the ball flew to the net.
Patrickswell had scores from Sean O’Brien and Darragh Ahern in the remainder of the first period with Purcell firing over two for Doon. That left the score at 1-17 to 1-14 in the ‘Well’s favour.
A Foley free moved the gap back out to four at the beginning of the second period of extra time but Doon then gained some momentum after Purcell's free was followed by sub Conor Whelan pointing from the sideline.
With Doon putting the pressure on, Patrickswell broke away for Carey to strike from distance to settle nerves.
Purcell's free at the other end cut the lead back to two and Doon looked like they were about to steal a miraculous victory when an attack left Conor Kenny with space in front of him at the edge of the square but his shot to cannoned back off the crossbar and Patrickswell scrambled the ball to safety and hold on for the win.
SCORERS - PATRICKSWELL: Nigel Foley 0-11 (8f, 1 '65), Josh Carey 1-1, Seán O'Brien 0-2, Kieran Long, Thomas O'Brien, Paudie Maher, Peter Harty, Darragh Ahern 0-1 each; DOON: Bob Purcell 0-13 (8fs), Seán Sweeney 1-2, Conor Kenny, Conor Whelan 0-1 each.
PATRICKSWELL: Cian Enright; Jonathan McMahon, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Foley; Paddy McGrath, Paddy Gardiner, Conor Robinson; Paudie Maher, Josh Carey; Thomas O'Brien, Nigel Foley, Darragh Ahern; Peter Harty, Seán O'Brien, Kieran Long; Subs: Barry Carey for McGrath (h-t), Dayle McDonagh for Long (h-t), Shane Quinlan for McDonagh (57 mins), Kieran Long for Quinlan (68 mins), Josh Mulcahy for Josh Carey (70 mins), Josh Carey for S O'Brien (77 mins)
DOON: Denny Moloney; Jack Hayes, Pádraig Crowe, Seán Ryan; Evan Crowe, Diarmuid Ó Cuimín, Jack Morrissey; Liam Cummins, Colm Ó Cuimín; Conor Kenny, Seán Sweeney, Bob Purcell; Cormac Ryan, Niall Maher, Mike Ryan; Subs: John O'Callaghan for C Ryan (44 mins), Mike McKenna for Sweeney (50 mins), Packie Richardson for M Ryan (66 mins), Conor Whelan for L Cummins (68 mins), Hugh Maher for Colm Ó Coimín (70 mins, inj), George Allis for Maher (76 mins)
Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport).