Doon fall to Rice College in final round Dr Harty Cup group fixture:
By Paul Shaughnessy Limerick Leader Sport
RICE College Ennis defeated Scoil na Trioniode Naofa Doon 1-18 to 1-15 in the final round of the Dr Harty Cup group stages at ULs North Campus on Wednesday afternoon to end the Limerick side’s hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages.
The Doon side had needed to rack up a comprehensive victory before throw-in in order to have a chance to advance to the knock-out stages of the competition.
John the Baptist Community School, Hospital’s defeat to CBC, of Cork, earlier in the afternoon, meant the east Limerick school needed to win by 18 points if they were reach the last 12 of the Dr Harty Cup.
It was a game that ebbed and flowed throughout the 60 minutes where the sides were level on nine occasions. The Ennis outfit finished strongly in the final quarter to record their first win in this year’s Harty Cup.
After nine minutes, Rice College raced into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead. Padraic O’Donovan was to the forefront where he landed 0-3 in that period. Diarmuid Crowe, Michael Ryan Bob and Conor Gantley kept the Doon school within touching distance.
O’Donovan and Michael Ryan Bob traded points on 12 minutes. Rice College then drove a long range free into the square, corner forward Darren Moroney was alert and he drilled his shot into the back of the net. On 14 minutes, O’Donovan scored his fourth point of the day to push Rice College 1-6 to 0-4 ahead.
Diarmuid McCarthy’s charges took control of the contest in the final 16 minutes of the first half. Wing forward Sean Hanley pounced on a long delivery into the square and Hanley slotted the sliotar into the back of the net.
Diarmuid Crowe added two frees after that to make it 1-6 to 1-6 on 26 minutes. Tipperary native Sean Hayes was off the mark for the first time before half time. Doon led 1-7 to 1-6 at the interval.
Diarmuid Crowe and Michael Ryan Bob started the second brightly and Scoil Na Tríonóide Naofa were now leading 1-9 to 1-6 on 35 minutes.
Callum Hency registered Rice College’s first score of the second half. Crowe replied with two points of the own to give Doon some breathing space. If Doon were to progess to the knockout stages, they needed goals but the Rice College defence stood tall.
Rice College began to enjoy their purple patch in a nine minutes where they scored six of the next seven points. Padraic O’Donovan proved crucial where he was on target with 0-4. The victors led 1-13 to 1-12 on 49 minutes.
Doon sharpshooter Diarmuid Crowe scored 0-2 quickfire points and his side were now leading 1-14 to 1-13 on 52 minutes.
It was Rice College who finished strongly outscoring their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 in the final eight minutes.
Scores from David Cahill and Padraic O’Donovan proved to be the difference as the Clare school recorded their first victory of the Harty Cup.
This result means Rice College Ennis have finished in third place on two points, while Doon finish bottom on one point.
CBC Cork have finished top of group one and the Cork school advance straight into the quarter final. John The Baptist Community School finished in second place of group. The Hospital outfit have advanced into the preliminary quarter-finals.
SCORERS:
Doon: Diarmuid Crowe (0-9, 0-8 frees), Michael Ryan Bob 0-3, Sean Hanley 1-0, Michael Berkery, Conor Kenny and Sean Hayes 0-1 each.
Rice College Ennis: Padraic O’Donovan (0-12, 0-10 frees), Darren Morroney 1-0, Niall Doyle and Calum Henchy 0-2 each, David Cahill and Eoin Fitzpatrick 0-1 each
Scoil Na Tríonóide Naofa: Michael English (Cappawhite), Sean Ryan (Doon), Tommy Costello (Cappawhite), Padraig Crowe (Doon), Sean McDonnell (C) (Doon), Eamon Richardson (Doon), Michael Berkery (Cappamore), Diarmiud Crowe (Doon), Darragh Coughlan (Doon), Micheal Ryan Bob (Doon), Brian Buckley (Cappawhite), Conor Gantley (Cappawhite), Sean Hayes (Cappawhite), Sean Hanley (Doon), Conor Kenny (Doon). SUBS: Denis Blackmore for Buckley (38 minutes), Daire Long (Pallasgreen) for Hayes (58 minutes).
RICE COLLEGE: Daniel Meehan, Caleb Walsh, Liam Clune, Conor O’Toole; Ben O’Halloran, Riain Mulcahy, Ronan McDermott; Niall Doyle , David Cahill; Scott Kelly, Padraic O’Donovan, Callum Henchy; Eoin Fitzpatrick, Dylan Tierney, Darren Moroney.
SUBS: Darragh Quinlan for Tierney (58 minutes).
REFEREE: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)