Kilmallock impress to win Limerick U-21 hurling title over Doon
Jerome O’Connell Limerick Leader Sport

Kilmallock impress to win Limerick U-21 hurling title over Doon

KILMALLOCK were crowned Limerick Premier U-21 hurling champions for the eighth time this Wednesday evening in the Gaelic Grounds.

The south Limerick side had a 1-19 to 1-13 final win over Doon to win this title for the first time since 2011.

Na Piarsaigh had won the last six titles in this grade – indeed Kilmallock and Na Piarsaigh have won the last 13 titles in this championship; Na Piarsaigh withs seven and Kilmallock with six

Doon were the last side outside of the dominant duo to win the title but on this occasion they were second best to a fine drilled Kilmallock side.

The champions had stars all over the field but David Woulfe sparkled with a return of eight points from play.

Kilmallock were 1-9 to 0-6 ahead at half time after playing against the breeze.

The sides were level on four occasion up to the mid-point of the half and then The Balbec took over six of the remaining eight scores of the half.

David Woulfe led the way with a return of six points in the half for the men in green. He had the first two and the last two points to ensure a six point interval advantage.

The goal came after 26-minutes from Oisin O’Reilly, who made light of a tight angle after working his way in from the right. That moved Kilmallock 1-6 to 0-5 ahead.

Doon had only two points in the final 15-minutes of the half. They had a first half return of three points from play from county minor panelist Bob Purcell.

It took Kilmallock 11-minutes to reopen their second half account and Doon had made some headway with Barry Murphy frees either side of a Josh Ryan point.

That left it 1-9 to 0-9 but then Kilmallock came to life again with a run of scores.

Ciaran O’Connor, Micheal Houlihan, Phelim and Oisin O’Reilly and David Woulfe all with points from play to move the south Limerick side 1-16 to 0-10 ahead entering the final quarter.

Doon needed a goal but it came too late – Barry Murphy’s low drive finding the net four minutes from the end.

SCORERS: Kilmallock: David Woulfe 0-8, Oisin O’Reilly 1-3, Micheal Houlihan 0-3 (2frees), Rory Connaghan and Pheliam O’Reilly 0-2 each, Ciaran O’Connor 0-1. Doon: Barry Murphy 1-3 (0-2frees), Josh Ryan and Bob Purcell 0-3 each, Mark Coleman, Tadgh Whelan and Dubhan O’Grady 0-1 each.

KILMALLOCK: Seamus Connery; Andrew Finn, Josh Cahill, Brian Daly; Fergal Chalke, Paddy O’Loughlin, Ciaran O’Connor; Cal McCarthy, Liam English; Phelim O’Reilly, Anthony Barrett, Micheal Houlihan; Rory Connaghan, David Woulfe, Oisin O’Reilly. Sub: Jack Barry for Rory Connaghan (51mins).

DOON: Eoin Doyle, Paraic Ryan, Eoghan McNamara, Cormac Ryan; Chris Berkery, Brian McPartland, Mikey O’Brien; Tadgh Whelan, Dubhan O’Grady; Bob Purcell, Josh Ryan, Jack Ryan; Mark Coleman, Barry Murphy, Jack Downey. Sub: Ivan O’Dwyer for Chris Berkery (h-t).

REFEREE: Jason O’Mahony (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

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