Killeen goal seals victory for Doonbeg

DOONBEG cruised into the last eight of the senior football championship in Cooraclare last Saturday evening. Although they led by just two points at half-time, the Magpies were never seriously threatened by Kilrush, who had plenty of possession but were unable to reflect that on the scoreboard. In fact, Kilrush kicked 14 wides but Ruairí O’Connor’s 1-1 was their total return from play.
Had Kilrush been slicker up front and had they been able to vary their attacking play, they could have been much closer to Doonbeg, who faded at midfield during the second half in particular.
With a player like David Tubridy in attack however, Doonbeg can afford the odd downfield lapse, knowing that the classiest forward in Clare doesn’t need a constant supply of ball to display his ability. While his right foot is apparently his strong side, defenders trying to force him onto his left are wasting their time as Tubridy is equally proficient on his left.
Kilrush delegated John Hayes to try and curb the Doonbeg magician but the Kilrush man found Tubridy’s balance and shooting beyond handling as his former county colleague landed four points from play and two frees. Kilrush missed Hayes from their half-back line and perhaps on reflection, which is when everyone is wisest, Chris Dixon should have been tasked with attempting to marshal Tubridy.
Just 30 seconds after Seán Chambers’ frantic yet ultimately futile attempts to crank the national anthem into gear, Frank O’Dea pointed Doonbeg ahead after excellent work from Richie Vaughan, Paraic Aherne and Shane Ryan. Peadar McMahon replied from a free near the sideline before Tubridy’s left footed shot put Doonbeg a point up. Tubridy and the impressive Shane Killeen ensured that Doonbeg led by three points at half-time, with O’Connor the only Kilrush man to add to McMahon’s earlier free.
While each Tubridy score from play vied with the last for score of the game, his effort from near the sideline, 20 seconds after the restart, was sublime and it put Doonbeg 0-6 to 0-2 ahead.
Kilrush then got a grip around midfield but Paddy Clancy (twice), Donal O’Sullivan and Alan Daly, from a line ball, kicked four successive wides.
Jim Young’s pointed 45 was soon put in the shade by Shane Killeen’s goal after Chris Dixon had inadvertently hit his own crossbar. McMahon from a free and Tubridy swapped points before O’Connor fisted past Nigel Dillon after John Hayes had landed a huge delivery in front of the Doonbeg goalmouth. Two minutes later, seven minutes from full-time, O’Connor fisted another effort goalwards but Dillon saved comfortably and cleared. Four minutes from the end, Tubridy kicked Doonbeg’s insurance point, leaving them 1-8 to 1-4 ahead. That was more or less it but late points from Conor Whelan and Colm Dillon eased Doonbeg home. 
Doonbeg meet Shannon Gaels in the quarter-final, while Kilrush play Wolfe Tones in the Senior B semis.
Readers may have guessed that David Tubridy wasn’t bad, while Conor Whelan, Shane Killeen and Paraic Aherne also impressed.
Seamus Bolton and Chris Dixon were Kilrush’s best defenders, with Rory O’Connor their liveliest forward.

Doonbeg: Nigel Dillon; Joe Blake, Pádraig Gallagher, Conor Whelan; Richie Vaughan, David Downes, Paraic Aherne; Colm Dillon (captain), Enda Doyle; Brian Egan, Shane Killeen, Frank O’Dea; Kevin Nugent, Shane Ryan and David Tubridy.
Scorers: David Tubridy (0-6, 0-3f); Shane Killeen (1-1); Frank O’Dea, Conor Whelan and Colm Dillon (0-1) each.
Wides: 3  Frees: 18
Yellow cards: Shane Ryan, Joe Blake.

Kilrush: Tony Burke; Seamus Bolton, Chris Dixon, John Hayes; Cathal Lyons, Matthew Moloney, Con O’Brien; Donal O’Sullivan, John Moody; Pajoe McGrath, Paddy Clancy, Alan Daly; Ruairí O’Connor, Jim Young and Peadar McMahon.
Subs: Dermot O’Brien for Padjoe McGrath and Stephen Sweeney for Alan Daly.
Scorers: Ruairí O’Connor 1-1; Peadar McMahon (0-2f) and Jim Young (0-1 45).
Wides: 14:  Frees: 20; 45s: 2
Yellow cards: John Hayes.

Referee: Michael Rock, (Ennistymon).