Doon make history with first Limerick senior hurling final success
DOON created history by winning their first Limerick senior hurling championship title on Sunday evening when edging past hat-trick seeking Na Piarsaigh at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Doon suffered heartbreak in 1989, 2000, 2018 and 2020 losing four county finals, but came good this time in a nail-biting 0-16 to 2-9 final success.
Both sides deserve massive credit for the spectacle they produced in difficult wet conditions.
Seven Limerick hurlers lined out in this clash for their clubs. Both sides won six of their seven championship games in 2024.
Conor Boylan got the scoring underway to put Na Piarsaigh into an early lead. Doon battled back and two placed balls from Adam English along with an effort from play had Doon leading 0-3 to 0-1. On five minutes, Darragh Stapleton had a great goal chance but Na Piarsaigh stood tall.
Space opened on the wing for JJ Carey and he tapped over a neat point to make it 0-3 to 0-2.
In the space of 75 seconds, Na Piarsaigh played some breathtaking hurling. Dempsey flicked the sliotar to the corner forward Adrian Breen and Breen drilled his shot into the back of the net.
On 15 minutes, Conor Boylan switched the play and in the direction of David Dempsey. Dempsey was on the scoresheet with Na Piarsaigh's second goal of the evening. Ronan Lynch added a placed ball on 18 minutes and Shane O'Neill's charges led 2-3 to 0-3.
The east Limerick side needed a response and Doon finished the first half strongly. The 2020 county finalists hit five points in a row. Adam English led the charge to Na Piarsaigh.
In the remaining 12 minutes of the first half, English was on target with 0-4. Darragh Stapleton chipped with an effort from play in that period and Doon trailed 2-3 to 0-8 at the break.
7612 spectators attended the Limerick senior hurling championship decider. Limerick star William O'Donoghue won two crucial turnovers in the Na Piarsaigh half back line.
Shane Dowling landed a long free from distance. In the opening five minutes of the second half, Dowling and Ronan Lynch both missed frees. After that Gareth Thomas and Mike Foley swapped scores. Na Piarsaigh led 2-5 to 0-9.
Momentum was now with Doon, Adam English made it a one point game through another placed. Captain Darragh O'Donovan stepped up with an inspirational score from distance to level matters and English stretched his side into the lead on 42 minutes.
Goalkeeper Shane Dowling was proving vital to the Caherdavin side and Dowling had the sides all square again. It was anyone's game. Barry Murphy, Pat Ryan and Adam English all registered crucial scores and Doon were 2-6 to 0-15 in front.
Limerick hurling fans were delighted to see Peter Casey return from injury. Casey, Ronan Lynch and Dylan Lynch levelled matters once again on 54 minutes.
On 58 minutes, the clincial Adam English scored his 11th point of the evening and it ended proving to be the decisive score. Doon hung for a famous victory and the reigning county champions will be back in action against Ballygunner on Sunday, November 3 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds at 4pm in the Munster senior hurling championship quarter-final.
SCORERS: DOON: Adam English (0-11, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), Pat Ryan, Barry Murphy, Darragh Stapleton, Darragh O'Donovan and Gareth Thomas 0-1 each. NA PIARSAIGH: David Dempsey and Adrian Breen 1-0 each, Ronan Lynch (0-2, 0-2 frees), Shane Dowling (0-2, 0-2 frees), JJ Carey, Mike Foley, Dylan Lynch Peter Casey and Conor Boylan 0-1 each
DOON: Tomas Lynch; Eoin Fitzgibbon, Tommy Hayes, Cian O'Donovan; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy, Richie English; Darragh O'Donovan (Captain), Pat Ryan; Gareth Thomas, Adam English, Eddie Stokes; Jack Ryan, Kevin Maher, Darragh Stapleton. SUBS: Cormac Ryan for Gareth Thomas (36 minutes), Mikey O'Brien for Stapleton (50 minutes), Patricks Cummins for Cian O'Donovan (59 minutes)
NA PIARSAIGH: Shane Dowling; Vince Harrington, Mike Casey (Captain), Emmett McEvoy; Mike Foley, William O'Donoghue, Jerome Boylan; Ronan Lynch, Tommy Grimes; JJ Carey, Will Henn, Conor Boylan; David Dempsey, Kevin Downes, Adrian Breen. SUBS: Peter Casey for Henn (42 minutes), Dylan Lynch for Breen (50 minutes), Keith Dempsey for Downes (60 minutes).
REFEREE: John O'Halloran (Bruree)
