Doneraile 1-15 Araglin 0-9

Doneraile are this year’s Avondhu Shreelawn Oil JAHC kingpins after they defeated Araglin in the final before a large attendance at Castletownroche on Sunday. Over the hour the far superior Doneraile outfit had the measure of their opponents with the issue never really in doubt.

Doneraile had a tonic start as they raced into a commanding lead when Garry Sweeney (6) Patrick Enright and Cillian Good reeled off points inside the opening 19 minutes that moved them into a comfortable position when ahead 0-8 to 0-1, the Araglin point by Richie Whelan.

As the half progressed Araglin in an attempt to stay in contention improved greatly with Tom Kenneally most effective in a sweeper role in the half backline as they tried to contain the threat imposed by the pacey Doneraile forwards. In a move that worked well for a while the Araglin challenge slowly grew in stature with James Kearney having two points on the trot while a ‘65’ by Tom Kenneally narrowed the deficit to just four points by the 24th minute. In the closing moments Araglin looked like closing the gap further but a late attack by Doneraile saw key players Cillian Good and Patrick Enright combine well to place Gavin O’Keeffe for a goal as they went on to hold a 1-8 to 0-4 lead at the break.

On the changeover Doneraile were quick into the action and from the throw-in Michael O’Rourke gathered possession and scored a fine point from long range, James Kearney responded with a point for Araglin but it was the winners that found scores much easier to come by. ‘Man of the match’, Garry Sweeney added another point from a free while in the 36th minute Paudie Brennan intercepted an Araglin attack and his clearance found Garry Sweeney who scored from long range. Moments later Ross Hunter made it 1-12 to 0-5.

Araglin to their credit refused to yield and were denied three goal scoring chances in the last 20 minutes when the Doneraile keeper Donal Murphy made three great saves. Murphy denied Richie Whelan in the 42nd minute at the expense of a ‘65’ that Tom Kenneally pointed while at the end of third quarter Vincent O’Donoghue cut through the heart of the Doneraile defence only to be denied by another save by an alert Murphy. However, there was no denying Doneraile their well merited victory with Brian O’Rourke, David Sheedy, Ian O’Brien, Ross Hunter, Garry Sweeney, Cillian Good and Patrick Enright influential figures throughout as they ran out worthy winners in the end and gain promotion to the Hibernian Hotel Premier JHC for next season.

After the game Julie Mai O’Leary presented the Foxy O’Leary Cup to the winning captain Brian O’Rourke in the presence of board chairman, John O’Donnell and John Stafford on behalf of sponsors Shreelawn Oil,

Scorers for Doneraile: Garry Sweeney 0-11 (0-7f, 0-2 ‘65’s) Gavin O’Keeffe 1-0, Cillian Good 0-1, Patrick Enright 0-1, Michael O’Rourke 0-1, Ross Hunter 0-1.

Araglin: James Kearney 0-4 (0-2f) Tom Kenneally 0-3 (0-2 ‘65’s 0-1f) John Tobin 0-1, Richie Whelan 0-1.

DONERAILE: Donal Murphy, Paudie Brennan, William Cronin, Mark Reid, Brian O’Rourke, David Sheedy, Keith Sweeney, Ross Hunter, Ian O’Brien, Garry Sweeney, James O’Callaghan, Michael O’Rourke, Patrick Enright, Gavin O’Keeffe, Cillian Good, Subs Jason O’Callaghan for James O’Callaghan, Kevin Sheehan for Mark Reid, Billy Hedigan for Gavin O’Keeffe, John Hickey for Cillian Good, Kevin Cotter for Donal Murphy,

ARAGLIN: Michael Lyons, Liam Keane, Shay Russell, Brian Keane, Brendan Allen, Paul Hickey, Tom Kenneally, Vincent O’Donoghue, Paddy Kenneally, Neilius Kearney, Dave Browne, Richie Whelan, Kevin Fitzgerald, Mark Hickey, James Kearney, Subs Tom Lyons for Neilius Kearney, P.J. Aherne for Paddy Kenneally (inj) Denis Drislane for Richie Whelan, John Tobin for Mark Hickey, Tom Browne for Paul Hickey (inj)

Referee Ciaran O’Regan (Ballyhea)

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