Dohenys’ all-round strength sinks Kilbree
Dohenys 1-15 Kilbree 1-12
Kilbree, After a good first round win over Clonakilty, had high hopes of advancing in the South West u.21B hurling championship when they met Dohenys in the semi-final in perfect conditions in Ballinacarriga on Saturday afternoon last. However, they came up against a Dohenys team that was well-balanced and possessed some class hurlers and who were also hopeful of winning this semi-final, having beaten a fancied St. Marys in the first round. Improving with every outing, Dohenys kept their dream intact and just had too much talent for a game Kilbree on this occasion.
There was little between the sides in an even first half with Dohenys, against the breeze, getting off to a great start but being slowly reeled back in the second quarter. Kilbree took the lead for the first time in the 29th minute but then, just before half time, came the most vital score of the game when Conor Hurley rattled the Kilbree net to give his side a two-point lead at the break.
With the breeze, Dohenys gained a firm grip around the middle of the pitch in the second half but couldn’t shake off a tenacious Kilbree fifteen. The lead varied from one to three points all during the second moiety but Kilbree just could not draw level and Dohenys couldn’t pull clear because of too many missed chances. Eventually, in the closing minutes the Dohenys pressure began to tell as they opened a six-point gap, one they were glad to have as Kilbree finally broke through for the elusive goal per Shane McCarthy, in the last minute but it was too little and too late.
This game produced a high standard of hurling with some outstanding individual displays. Foremost was Dohenys’ Jerry McCarthy at midfield where he showed lovely touches, fierce determination and drove Dohenys forward, giving his side a distinct advantage in this vital area. Keith Sheehan at full back fought a great battle with the strong Michael Mennis and was the master before the end while wing backs, Finbarr Cronin and Cian Lynch hurled a lot of ball and centre back, Conor McCoy, sealed off the centre and had a great second half duel with the talented Dylan Coffey. Tom Collins gave great assistance to Jerry McCarthy at midfield while, up front, Alan Sheehan took his scores very well, scoring an impressive nine points, seven from frees, and Darren Kelly and Conor Hurley battled hard. The introduction of returned Yank, Patrick McCarthy, in the half forward line was the move that swung this game firmly Dohenys’ way.
Once again Dylan Coffey was a class act for Kilbree in the half forward line and his nine points, seven from frees, was a superb haul against a tough defence. Donal McSweeney played his heart out at midfield and was often back to help out the defence while the strong Michael Mennis started very well at full forward but faded later. Darragh Coakley was solid in goal with corner backs, Damien Bennett and Darren Deasy clearing well. Senan Kemp and Séamus Tobin did well in the half back line and Brian O’Donovan worked very hard at midfield.
Referee, Mick O’Leary, Diarmuid Ó Mathúna.
Against the breeze, it was Dohenys who got off to the better start and points from Denis Cronin, Alan Sheehan, play and free and Jerry McCarthy, play and free, with a single reply from Kilbree’s Dylan Coffey, free, gave them a 0-5 to 0-1 lead within a blistering seven minutes. Darren Kelly had a great chance of a goal for Dohenys in the fifth minute when he soloed right through the Kilbree defence but his kicked shot was well save by Coakley.
Kilbree, with Coffey and McSweeney very prominent, began to get their act together and points from Tom McCarthy, Michael Mennis, Dylan Coffey, free, and Donal McSweeney had the sides level, 0-5 each, by the 13th minute. Kilbree should have hit the front when Michael Mennis got inside the defence but from point blank range his rocket of a shot cannoned of the crossbar to safety. When Alan Sheehan pointed a free Dohenys were ahead by a point at the end of the first quarter.
It was tit for tat in the second quarter as Sheehan, free, stretched Dohenys’ lead but Coffey pointed from play and free to level. He then put his side in front for the first time in the 29th minute when he pointed a free but the lead was short-lived as Dohenys launched a fierce assault on the Kilbree goal and after Patrick McCarthy’s drive for goal had been saved, Conor Hurley was on hand to shoot to the net from an acute angle.
It was 1-7 to 0-8 in Dohenys’ favour at the break and they were firmly in the driver’s seat with the breeze behind them in the second half. With Jerry McCarthy, Tom Collins, Patrick McCarthy and Alan Sheehan dominating the middle of the pitch, they laid siege to the Kilbree goal but gallant Kilbree dug deep and hit well on the counter-attack. We were treated to a shoot-out between Dohenys’ Alan Sheehan and Kilbree’s Dylan Coffey in the third quarter as they shared six points between them, two each from placed balls.
It was Dohenys in front by two points, 1-10 to 0-11, as the last quarter began and again Sheehan and Coffey swapped frees. Pa McCarthy made it a three-point gap and Sheehan stretched it to a safer four with a free in the 55th minute. Pa McCarthy then stamped his class on proceedings with two opportunist points after defensive mistakes and the door was firmly shut on Kilbree. The Blues did manage a late consolation goal from sub, Shane McCarthy, but by then Dohenys were safely into the final against the winners of Ballinascarthy and St. James, who drew the other semi-final.
Scorers- Dohenys; Alan Sheehan 0-9, 0-7 frees, Conor Hurley 1-0, Pa McCarthy 0-3, Jerry McCarthy 0-2, 0-1 free, Denis Cronin 0-1. Kilbree; Dylan Coffey 0-9, 0-7 frees, Shane McCarthy 1-0, Donal McSweeney 0-1, Mike Mennis 0-1, Tom McCarthy 0-1.
Dohenys – Colin Lynch, Conor Cronin, Keith Sheehan, Dan McCarthy, Cian Lynch, Conor McCoy, Finbarr Cronin, Jerry McCarthy, Tom Collins, Darren Kelly, Paul McLoughlin, Conor Hurley, Denis Cronin, Alan Sheehan, Diarmuid Crowley. Subs, Pa McCarthy, Brian O'Sullivan, David Collins, James Collins.
Kilbree – Darragh Coakley, Damien Bennett, Daniel Kelly, Darren Deasy, Daniel O’Leary, Séamus Tobin, Senan kemp, Anthony Coakley, Brian O’Donovan, Dylan Coffey, Donal McSweeney, Felim Dignan, Sam Dignan, Mike Mennis, Tom McCarthy. Sub, Shane McCarthy.
“Cois Farraige”