Doon club notes
September 10, 2014
Intermediate Championship
Doon 2-12 Shannonbridge 0-07
On Sunday last, Doon overcame a disappointing Shannonbridge side to reach the semi-final of this years' intermediate championship and gain promotion to Senior B status for 2015. A nervous opening half from both sides saw the Bridge take a 2 point lead by the tenth minute before a Callum Boland point in the 11th minute got Doon off the mark. By the 20th minute, it was the Bridge who had foraged into a 4 - 1 lead as Doon struggled to make inroads against a strong breeze into the town end. However, two James Coughlan points and one from Terry Byrne saw the sides all square at the first half whistle - a half in which saw the wide tally of 7 - 6 in Doon's favour as a result of some very poor shooting coupled with poor shot selection.
Upon the resumption, another James Coughlan point in the 2nd minute saw Doon take the lead for the first time which they subsequently didn't relinquish for the remainder of the contest. In most games, teams will always enjoy a period of possession and it's generally the team that is most efficient during that period that runs out winners. In Doon's case, this purple patch arrived over a 10 minute spell which yielded 2-07 without reply and killed off the game as a contest. With James Coughlan very much to the fore ably supported by Terry Byrne, Shannonbridge had no answer to Doon's power and ultimately clinical finishing in front of goal. Coughlan returned 1-4 alone in this period whilst the aforementioned Byrne returned 1-1. As the game tethered out, Shannonbridge tapped over 3 points to add a little respectability to the scoreline to leave Doon running out 11 point winners. Despite the scoreline, Doon will be acutely aware that this nothing like championship-winning performance. With 3 of the starting forwards failing to score and were ultimately replaced, it was far from a vintage showing. The backs can be satisfied with their performance albeit against a forward line lacking any real penetration with Paul Heavin playing a captains part at full back and suitably supported by William Healy and arguably a man of the match performance from wing-back, Keith Hamilton.
As the Guinness flowed in Doon on Sunday night, conversation eventually turned to our semi-final opponents, Raheen. Raheen have been the form team of this year's intermediate championship which saw them produce high scoring performances, the ability to get goals pooled with a very low concession rate. It will take significant improvement if Doon are to overcome the next hurdle. However, with a league final against Tullamore to look forward to this weekend, in advance of the Raheen encounter, Doon should be approaching the penultimate stage of the championship in near-perfect preparation.
Doon Team: Mark Langtry; William Healy, Paul Heavin, Niall Mannion; Keith Hamilton, Alec Mooney, Anthony Phelan; Seamus Kelly, Des Egan; Terry Byrne; (1-2), Callum Bolland (0-2), Niall Kelly, James Coughlin (1-06 1f), Donie Ryan, Trevor Phelan,: Subs: Eoghan Hennessy for Seamus Kelly (26), Micko Kelly (0-2) for Donie Ryan (39), Cathal Joyce for Niall Kelly (51), Blaine Rigney for Trevor Phelan (53), John Egan for Terry Byrne (58)
Lotto Numbers;
There was no winner of this week's jackpot of €12,400 (9th September). The winning numbers were 1, 3, 5 and 16. There were 4 Match 3 winners of which were Mark Langtry, Paula and Aidan Bracken, Francis Fitzpatrick, Teresa Doyle and Mag Duffy. Next week's draw will be held in Shannonbridge on Monday 16th September and the Jackpot will be €12,600.
