Doon finally reach the promised land with one-point win over Na Piarsaigh

Doon are Limerick SHC champions for the first time following a 0-16 to 2-9 victory over Na Piarsaigh at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

It’s the first ever Daly Cup win for the east Limerick side. They had lost to Na Piarsaigh twice in the last few years (2020 and 2018) but finally crossed the line this evening.

Adam English starred for Derek McGrath’s men with 11 points for a Doon side that once trailed by six points at one stage in the first time.

Na Piarsaigh had put daylight between the teams with two goals in the opening 20 minutes thanks to goals from Adrian Breen and Daithi Dempsey. However, Doon were not to be denied.

Conor Boylan and English got the scoring underway for their respective teams early on. English then fired over two points to give Doon a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage.

JJ Carey put one point between the sides, before Breen found the back of the net after being put through by Dempsey.

Just over a minute later it was Dempsey that raised a green flag after a great run along the end line and a devastating finish to the net from an acute angle. Ronan Lynch then pointed a free to leave the score at 2-3 to 0-3 after 18 minutes.

The concession of the goals seemed to focus Doon and they were the better side for the rest of the half with English landing four points, while Darragh Stapleton fired over a point from play to leave just one-point between the sides at the break.

Shane Dowling landed a ’65 for Na Piarsaigh on the restart with Gareth Thomas responding for Doon soon after the keeper’s strike.

Mike Foley restored a two-point advantage for Na Piarsaigh after being set up by Will Henn but it was Doon that took control from there.

Three points on the trot from English (2) and Darragh O’Donovan saw Doon hit the front on a 0-12 to 2-5 scoreline after 41 minutes.

Dowling’s second effort from distance reduced the gap for Na Piarsaigh to one but Barry Murphy, Pat Ryan and English saw Doon three up as the game entered the final quarter.

Peter Casey made a welcome return for Na Piarsaigh off the bench for his first appearance since the serious injury picked up for Limerick during the Munster SHC and scored a trademark point to keep Na Piarsaigh in it.

Ronan Lynch and Dylan Lynch then hit the target to square the game up heading into the final minutes of the contest.

However, it was Doon that had the final say with an English free on 58 minutes seeing them to victory and a first ever Daly Cup.

Scorers – Doon: Adam English 0-11 (8f, ‘65), Darragh Stapleton, Gareth Thomas, Darragh O’Donovan, Barry Murphy, Pat Ryan, 

Scorers – Na Piarsaigh: Adrian Breen and Daithi Dempsey 1-0 each, Ronan Lynch (2f) and Shane Dowling (1f, ’65) 0-2 each, Conor Boylan, JJ Carey, Mike Foley, Peter Casey and Dylan Lynch 0-1 each.

Doon: Tomas Lynch; Eoin Fitzgibbon, Tommy Hayes, Cian O’Donovan; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy, Richie English; Darragh O’Donovan, Adam English; Eddie Stokes, Gareth Thomas, Pat Ryan; Jack Ryan, Kevin Maher, Darragh Stapleton.

Subs: Cormac Ryan for G Thomas (37), Mikey O’Brien for Stapleton (50), Patrick Cummins for C O’Donovan (59), 

Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling; Vince Harringon, Mike Casey, Emmet McEvoy; Mike Foley, William O’Donoghue, Jerome Boylan; Ronan Lynch, Tommy Grimes; Kevin Downes, Will Henn, Conor Boylan; Daithi Dempsey, JJ Carey, Adrian Breen.

Subs: Peter Casey for Henn (43), Dylan Lynch for Breen (50), Keith Dempsey for Downes (60).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).