News Story
DOHENY NOTES - (Number of times read: 935)
PRO | Tuesday 5 March 2019
The Doheny Senior footballers suffered their first loss of the year away to Ilen Rovers in Division 3 of the County football league losing out by the narrowest of margins on a score-line of 0-11 to 1-07. Conditions were not conducive to fast free flowing football with a blustery wind whipping in from the Ilen estuary and underfoot ground conditions were wet & heavy but credit to both teams they served up a good game of football. The Doheny team will feel aggrieved that they left Rath without at least a draw as they led for the vast majority of the game but indiscipline and a number of spurned scoring opportunities proved costly. Dohenys played for 40 minutes of the game with 14 men and this took its toll towards the end of the game as energy levels understandably dropped and Ilen Rovers used their numerical advantage to get their noses in front with the winning post in sight. Dohenys had a glorious goal opportunity in injury time to snatch victory but the Ilen Rovers net minder pulled of an outstanding save to send the Dunmanway men home empty handed.
Although aided with a stiff breeze in the 1st half Dohenys were slow out of the blocks & it wasn’t until a Mark Buckley point, after 11 minutes, that the Dohenys began to find their rhythm & settle into the game. Keith White struck a major almost immediately after & that was followed up by another point by Jamie Carroll. Dohenys looked well in control. There was an exchange of points between the teams before a major turning point in the game came when Dohenys wing forward Jamie Carroll saw the line for two bookable offences in quick succession. Ilen Rovers took control for a while as Dohenys had to adjust to playing with 14 men but credit to the men in green they finished the half strongly to lead 1-05 to 0-04 at the break.
It was always going to be an uphill battle in the 2nd half for the Dohenys men playing against the wind & a man down. However the Dohenys men rolled up their sleeves and fronted up admirably to the challenge. Ilen Rovers kicked the opening score of the 2nd half but Dohenys responded with 2 points of their own, from Mark Buckley & Fionn Herlihy, to open up a five point lead 10 minutes into the 2nd half. Dohenys defended resolutely thereafter but Ilen Rovers with their numerical advantage kept the pressure on and eventually began to make inroads as the Dohenys men tired. Dohenys had a number of chances to put the game to bed but it wasn’t to be and Ilen Rovers kicked the winning score with the clock going into the red.
The Doheny seniors are making steady progress in 2019 so they shouldn’t despair with this loss. It’s an eye opener for the team though, that there’s still a lot more work to be done but the raw material is there to continue progressing. Dohenys full back line of Jerry O’Farrell, Donal Rice & Declan Collins were rock solid throughout. Cullen Barry caused endless problems attacking Ilen Rovers from his wing back position. Keith White must have covered every blade of grass in Baltimore and did trojan work carrying ball from defence into attack. Mark Buckley was again scorer and chief up front for the Dohenys kicking 5 points in total, 3 from play.
Team: Stephen Daly, Jerry Farrell, Donal Rice, Declan Collins, Barry O Donovan, Eoin Lavers, Cullan Barry, Cathal O Donovan, Johnny Kelly, Niall Hurley, Brendan McCarthy, Jamie Carroll (0-1 free), Fionn Herlihy (0-1) , Mark Buckley (0-5, 0-2 frees), Keith White (1-0).
Subs:- Bill Murphy and Padraig Mahony
Additional Panel Members:- Aidan O Donovan, Ray Jennings, Kieran Forbes, Jason Daly, Cathal Daly