Premier 1 MFC: Douglas pick up hard fought win against Kinsale

Douglas 2-13 (2-1-11)

Kinsale 0-11 (0-1-9)

It took Douglas 40 minutes to eventually pull clear, but when they did, there would be no way back for Kinsale in their Premier 1 Minor Football Championship clash at Douglas on Wednesday evening.

While two points remained the difference between the teams after 35 minutes, two goals in the space of six minutes put Douglas in a commanding seven point lead and left their opponents chasing shadows.

The first of those saw Diarmuid O’Donovan pick out Mark O’Brien, and he offloaded to Thomas Murray. The corner-forward turned and fired into the bottom corner with ease.

While Rory O’Brien’s free and a sweet effort from Ollie Buckley had Kinsale back to within four, the next major was allowed all too easily and killed off Kinsale’s challenge.

Mark O’Brien passed to Joe Mouret, and he darted away through the middle. For fear of leaving one of their men free, Kinsale’s full-back line were left paralysed, and Mouret waltzed through and rifled home to cap off an outstanding display, leaving it 2-10 to 0-9 with 20 remaining.

Ben O'Keeffe, Douglas, tries to block Conall Kingston, Kinsale. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Aaron Keane worked it to Christian McCarthy Cleary for a point back, but Douglas hit the next three to leave no doubt as to who would win.

Douglas had been the better team for much of the first half, and were denied goals four times in as many minutes during the first quarter. Kinsale’s scoring chances were few and far between as the clock ticked. They were dominated on both their own and opposing restarts.

And yet, the two-point half-time deficit didn’t flatter Kinsale. David Forde and Cillian Fitzgerald had been impenetrable in the full-back line.

Goalkeeper Seán Byrne more than made up for his kickout mishaps with two big saves, the first to deny Padraig McGrath in the 12th minute, and then again two minutes later when he stopped O’Donoghue, even if Mark O’Brien pointed the follow up to leave it 0-4 apiece with 14 elapsed.

But for all they got right at the back, including an excellent tackle from midfielder Aaron Keane to deny Ronan Sweeney a goal chance in the 17th minute, they could do little but watch everything fall apart at the other end.

Liam Kelleher, Douglas, battles for the high ball with Gerard Murphy, Kinsale. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Kinsale had just two scores in the second quarter. Not all as a result of attacking shortcomings, though.

Douglas full-back Tadhg Curtin completely nullified Rory O’Brien, who finished scoreless from play. Goalkeeper James O’Flaherty was faultless on kickouts.

After Douglas’s attempts at making green flag shapes had proved fruitless, lateral passing became the aim in the first half – maybe too often – but it did lead to a run of four scores in a row, of which Sweeney was involved in the build-up of three, as Jack O’Brien converted two.

That left the hosts 0-8 to 0-5 in front with two minutes to the short whistle, but a late score from Kinsale’s Gerard Murphy and a missed free from McGrath at the other end left just two in it. Kinsale were very much in the fight.

Until they were hit with two green punches that they simply wouldn’t recover from.

Jack O'Brien, Douglas tries to challenge Aaron Keane, Kinsale. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Scoring opportunities became far too sparsely spread as the game went on, and they only had the one two-pointer – a brilliant passage of play involving O’Brien and Ben Cahill to set up Gerard Murphy.

That score left it 0-3 each, but three short and three wide attempts in the second period was never going to be enough to take down such a strong Douglas outfit.

Scorers for Douglas: J Mouret 1-2, M O’Brien, P McGrath (1 tpf), J O’Brien 0-3 each, T Murray 1-0, B Herlihy 0-2.

Scorers for Kinsale: R O’Brien (0-3 f), G Murphy (1 tp) 0-3 each, C Fitzpatrick, O Buckley, L Kirwan, B Long, C McCarthy Cleary 0-1 each.

DOUGLAS: J O’Flaherty; E Kilbride, T Curtin, D O’Donoghue; J Mouret, L Kelleher, J Gordon; D O’Connor, J O’Brien (c); B O’Keeffe, M O’Brien, R Sweeney; B Herlihy, P McGrath, T Murray.

Subs: A Kelly for McGrath (50), I Butler for O’Keeffe (54), S Linehan for Herlihy, K Kavanagh for Sweeney, E Gibson for J O’Brien (all 59) D Burke for Mouret (60+2-FT temp).

KINSALE: S Byrne; D Forde, O Ryan, C Fitzgerald; B Cahill, L Kirwan (jc), C Kingston; A Keane, B Long; J Hogan, C Fitzpatrick, O Buckley; C McCarthy Cleary, R O’Brien (jc), G Murphy.

Subs: E O’Connor for Kingston (HT), Kingston for Hogan (40), S Hurley for McCarthy Cleary (49), S Loughnane for Ryan (60+2).

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillons)

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