Goals help Doonbeg to victory

Doonbeg  3-7

Ennistymon  1-9

Although they scored just a single point during the first 20 minutes of the second half, Doonbeg picked up both points in Quilty last Saturday evening. They now sit top of the group on four points, while Ennistymon, Cooraclare and Liscannor are on two apiece.

Ennistymon were competitive but never seriously threatened winning a game that was played on a top class surface in Quilty.
Missing Joe Blake and David Downes due to injury, Doonbeg centre-back Paraic Aherne went to Australia earlier this week, which will further test the depth of the champion’s panel.
Seán McConigley’s eighth minute goal, following a Joe Dowling delivery, suggested that Ennistymon might put it up to the Magpies. To an extent they did but a Frank O’Dea goal two minutes later, thanks to a David Tubridy layoff and a Colm Dillon goal ten minutes before the interval, helped Doonbeg to a 2-5 to 1-4 half time lead.
Michael Hoey was initially detailed to mark Tubridy but Laurence Healy was switched on to the Doonbeg forward inside ten minutes.
An Aherne run from centre back placed Tubridy for Doonbeg’s first score of the second half two minutes in. The next 20 minutes were largely uneventful but Ennistymon did score two points from Brian Conway and Joe Dowling, without reply.  This left Doonbeg just 2-6 to 1-6 up and a sense that Ennistymon might lift it. Ten minutes from time though David Tubridy guided the ball beyond David McInerney to net Doonbeg’s third goal and that nailed down the result.
Conway twice and Willie Murphy put over three late Ennistymon points and Tubridy pointed the games final score, after Paul Dillon nearly goaled.
In what was their first competitive game since losing the Cusack Cup final, Doonbeg won without having to overly tax themselves. Their next game against Liscannor could be more intense given that last year’s beaten finalists must win to remain in the championship.
Paraic Aherne, Colm Dillon, Enda Doyle and David Tubridy played well for the winners while Joe Dowling, Seán O’Driscoll and Micheál O’Loughlin did their best for Ennistymon.
They play Lissycasey in their third game with both needing a win.

Doonbeg: Nigel Dillon; Richie Vaughan, Padraig Gallagher, Conor Whelan; Brian Dillon, Paraic Aherne, Shane O’Brien; Colm Dillon, Enda Doyle; Shane Ryan, Shane Killeen, Frank O’Dea; Paul Dillon, Kevin Nugent (C ), David Tubridy.
Subs: Eamon Tubridy for Kevin Nugent (injured), Conor Downes for Eamon Tubridy.
Scorers: David Tubridy 1-6 (0-2F), Colm Dillon 1-1, Frank O’Dea 1-0.
Wides: 7; frees won: 22;  45s: 1
“Ennistymon are an up and coming team. It’s only a matter of before they make a big breakthrough. We got a lucky goal with about five minutes to go and up until that it was anyones game. Doonbeg manager,” Kieran O’Mahony.

Ennistymon: David McInerney; Michael Devitt, Laurence Healy, Michael Hoey; Willie Murphy, Micheál O’Loughlin, Oisín Vaughan; Ronan Linnane, Seán O’Driscoll; Kevin Scales, Joe Dowling, Robert McDonagh; Seán McConigley, Brian Conway, Joey Rouine.
Subs: Cathal Malone for Ronan Linnane, Michael McDonagh for Kevin Scales, Brian McDonagh for Robert McDonagh, Michael Houlihan for Joey Rouine.
Scorers: Brian Conway 0-4, (0-3f, 0-1 line ball), Seán McConigley 1-1, Joe Dowling 0-2, (0-1f), Robert McDonagh, Willie Murphy 0-1 each.
Wides: 5; frees won: 16; 45s: 1
Referee: Rory Hickey (Éire Óg).