Dohenys 1 - 15 Kilbree 1 – 12
Since it was just before the famous Ballabuidhe race festival Dohenys, of Dunmanway, had no excuses for a listless display in this Saturday afternoon South West U-21BHC semi-final. In the previous round, against St Marys, Dohenys had been involved in a free flowing affair but in their most recent outing had many of their stars curbed by a committed Kilbree. The losers had surprised lots of people when defeating Clon in the previous round but gave an indication as to why by pushing a fancied Dohenys to the limit. Dylan Coffey and Michael Mennis caused most problems in attack while Darren Deasy and Seamus Tobin showed up well in a defiant defence where ‘keeper Darragh Coakley excelled. Their one fault was in the way they failed to maximise the powerful presence of full forward Michael Mennis, particularly in the opening half, when aided by a strong breeze.
With Alan Sheehan and Jerry McCarthy leading their scoring charge Dohenys picked off the points early on before Kilbree got their bearings. When they did they had Dylan Coffey deadly accurate, from frees and play, while Michael Mennis was in fact a real menace. Several times he brushed aside his marker to bear down on goal but somehow Dohenys survived eventhough a ninth minute Mennis effort deserved better than to rebound back into play off the winner’s crossbar. While Dohenys were in trouble in some areas they were fortunate that Cian Ó’Loingsigh, Conor Hurley and Daren Kelly were ever willing to get stuck in and create the chances from which the winners managed to stay in touch during a below par opening half.
Just before the break, a minute after Dylan Coffey had given the loser’s the lead for the only time in the game, came Dohenys goal when Conor Hurley followed up a Patrick McCarthy shot, saved by Darragh Coakley only for the rebound to be pushed home by the marauding Hurley. It should have been much easier after the resumption for wind assisted Dohenys but they were never allowed get away from a gritty Kilbree who were just a point in arrears entering a final quarter where the McCarthy brothers, Jerry and Patrick, along with Alan Sheehan finally got room to show their undoubted class. Patrick capitalised on two poor Kilbree clearances while Conor McCoy and Keith Sheehan also finished strongly to ease Dohenys out of danger before Kilbree substitute Shane McCarthy scored his side’s goal with the last puck of a sporting encounter.
Scorers; Dohenys; A Sheehan 0-9 (0-6f), C Hurley 1-0, P McCarthy 0-3, J McCarthy 0-2 (0-1f), D Cronin 0-1.
Kilbree; D Coffey 0-9 (0-7f), S McCarthy 1-0, M Mennis 0-2, T McCarthy 0-1.
Teams; Dohenys; C Ó’Loingsigh; C Cronin, K Sheehan, D McCarthy; C Lynch, C McCoy, F Cronin; T Collins, J McCarthy; C Hurley, P McLoughlin, D Kelly; D Cronin, A Sheehan, D Crowley. Subs; P McCarthy, B O’Sullivan, J Collins, E Monaher.
Kilbree; D Coakley; D Bennett, D Kelly, D Deasy; S Kemp, S Tobin, D O’Leary; A Coakley, B O’Donovan; D Coffey, D McSweeney, P Dignan; T McCarthy, M Mennis, S Dignan. Subs; S McCarthy.
Referee; Michael O’Leary.
DOHENYS CAPTAIN, DIARMUID CROWLEY: REFEREE, MICHAEL O' LEARY, DIARMUID O' MATHUNAS
