Doyle and Carroll fire clubs into semi-finals

WEXFORD’S Naomh Eanna and Coolderry of Offaly powered through to the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals, after wins over Camross and Mount Leinster Rangers respectively yesterday.

Padraig Doyle scored nine points, and top-scored for Naomh Eanna as early goals proved key in their 3-18 to 2-16 win at O’moore Park, Portlaoise.

All three goals for the Gorey outfit arrived in the opening half, to help them to a 3-10 to 1-8 interval lead.

Camross battled hard on the restart, but Naomh Eanna held that extra edge to book a last-four date with Kilkenny’s Ballyhale Shamrocks. David O’brien found the net twice, while Conor Mcdonald also raised a green flag in the opening half, but it was Camross who got off to a brighter start. The Laois side were 0-5 to 0-1 clear after just seven minutes, with Ciaran Collier, Mark Dowling and the prolific Zane Keenan on target.

However, Naomh Eanna quickly struck a blow when O’brien netted his first goal in the 11th minute, and although Keenan found the net, the Wexford side hit hard again.

O’brien netted his second goal, before Mcdonald completed the hat-trick. Camross struck another goal in the second half from substitute Oisin Bennett, but it was too little too late.

Stephen Corcoran, Brian Carroll and Kevin Connolly were outstanding for Coolderry in their 1-22 to 1-16 win over Carlow’s Mount Leinster Rangers at O’connor Park in Tullamore.

Coolderry finished with 13 men after the second half dismissals of Kevin Brady and Mark Bergin, but had enough in the tank for a six-point win.

Corcoran, Carroll and Connolly fired all bar five-points for the Offaly champions between them, in a game where Coolderry led 1-13 to 1-9 at the break with Carroll (1-5, inset) netting with a spectacular shot on the turn.

Chris Nolan fired the Carlow champions goal, in a game where his side scored all bar two points of their tally from play. Coolderry await the winners of Ballyboden St. Enda’s and Clonkill which takes place on Tuesday.