Vital win for Doneraile in Division 3 Football League

Doneraile 2-10 Abbey Rovers 0-14

THIS was a close and exciting Cavanagh’s Fermoy 13-a-side Division 3 FL game at Doneraile on Sunday evening. Both sides had their moments. They were level on four occasions during the first half 0-4, 0-5, 0-6 and 0-7 each at the break.

On the resumption Ben Cronin and Dylan O’Connor swopped a pointed free 0-8 each. Abbey Rovers came very strong with Muiris Browne and Dylan O’Connor excelling.

Kevin Stack gave Doneraile the lead after a good solo run. Abbey Rovers were back on terms at 0-9 apiece in the 39th minute. Good play by Adrian O’Donovan and Seamus Skinner led to a lead point by Muiris Browne. Browne followed with another point at the end of the third quarter 0-11 to 0-9.

Muiris Browne worked well for Liam Sugrue who pointed as they moved three points clear 0-12 to 0-9. Dylan O’Connor made it a four point lead in the 50th minute. Doneraile battled very hard. They had a goal in the 54th minute when Ian O’Brien, Kevin Smith and Ben Cronin combined for Kevin Sheehan who goaled.

The winners had a second goal within a minute when the outstanding Sean Hannon and Ben Cronin placed Ian O’Brien who goaled in off the post giving Doneraile a lead 2-9 to 0-13.

Abbey Rovers tried very hard to get back on terms. Dylan O’Connor had his eighth point as the game moved into injury time. Deep in stoppage time Kevin Sheehan pointed for Doneraile following a four man attack.

DONERAILE: G O’Keeffe, W Cronin, S Hannon, M Reid, D O’Hanlon, K Sheehan 1-1, P Brennan 0-1, R McCarthy, K Sweeney, I O’Brien 1-1, B Cronin 0-4 (3f), O Hallahan, K Stack 0-2. Subs: K Cotter for P Brennan, C Sweeney 0-1 for O Hallahan, K Smith for M Reid, S Roche for D O’Hanlon, R Jones for G O’Keeffe (inj)

ABBEY ROVERS: J Batterberry, J P Ryan, L Sugrue 0-1, W Madden, S Skinner 0-1, M Browne 0-3, P Madden, S Mullane, C Relihan 0-1, D Linehan, T Batterberry, A O’Donovan, D O’Connor 0-8 (4f). Sub: M Ryan for T Batterberry.

REFEREE: John O’Brien (Ballygiblin)