Corn Phádraig SH B Final – Doon CBS 2-6 Dungarvan CBS 0-11

Quirke delivers winner for dogged Doon

Doon CBS (Limerick) 2-06 Dungarvan CBS 0-11

By Jackie Cahill for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Shattered Dungarvan CBS players must rouse themselves quickly for Sunday’s Dr Harty Cup final after a number of them suffered a heartbreaking defeat in Saturday’s Munster Schools SBHC decider. Ten players who featured for Coláiste na nDéise in the Harty semi-final victory over De La Salle started for Dungarvan CBS on Saturday, but they finished as Corn Phádraig runners-up against a dogged Doon outfit who thoroughly deserved their win. Doon’s first victory in this competition since 1998 was secured by full-forward Russell Quirke six minutes from time, when the Cappawhite youngster took advantage of a defensive mix-up to smash home a cracking goal. Quirke’s strike handed Doon a 2-6 to 0-10 lead and while Dungarvan’s top scorer, Cathal Curran, cut the gap to the minimum in stoppage time, time ran out on the Waterford boys.

Doon selector Diarmuid Carr said: “The school is closed in two years time so we feel this is our last chance to win something before we go into an amalgamation. It’s massive for the lads and they deserve it. Heart and determination won it on the day for us.” The Limerick outfit inflicted a second successive Corn Phádraig defeat on a talented Dungarvan side and goals at crucial times were the difference. Tony Berkery crashed home a stunning goal in the 24th minute after his first shot was blocked and that handed Doon a 1-2 to 0-4 advantage, after they had fallen 0-1 to 0-4 behind with just 11 minutes gone.

Dungarvan endured a 21-minute barren spell on the scoreboard in the first half but trailing by 0-5 to 1-4 at half-time, they would have been content enough having played against the breeze in the first half. And having moved two points clear, 0-10 to 1-5, with less than a quarter of an hour remaining, Dungarvan were firm favourites to claim silverware. But Doon, inspired by Tom Fox at wing-forward, stormed back into contention and ultimately, Quirke’s clinical strike proved decisive. Doon will play St Mary’s of Belfast in the All-Ireland semi-final on March 3.

Scorers for Doon CBS: T Berkery 1-2, R Quirke 1-1 (0-1f), T Fox 0-2, M Dee 0-1.

Scorers for Dungarvan CBS: C Curran 0-6 (5f), C Dunford, C Curran, M Harney, M Kiely and P Curran 0-1 each.

DOON CBS: D Stapleton; C Berkery, R English, J Hayes; Stephen Ryan, Sean Ryan, P Roche; D O’Donovan, T Fox; P Ryan, T Berkery, M Dee; D Coleman, R Quirke, K Stapleton.

Sub: S O’Connell for Stapleton (60+1).

DUNGARVAN CBS: E Kearns; K Looby, T Tobin, S Hyslop; S Hally, C Dunford, K Healy; K Power, Cormac Curran; Cathal Curran, M Harney, M Shine; M Kiely, R Donnelly, P Curran.

Sub: J O’Donnell for Shine (40).

Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)