Hurling famine ends for Doon

A joyous Doon team in the changing room after the county final win. Photo: James Dormer.

OVER a century of heartbreak – to paraphrase captain Darragh Oโ€™Donovan – ended as Doon dethroned Na Piarsaigh in a lively Limerick Senior Hurling Championshp Final at the Gaelic Grounds.

Beaten in many finals, the east club have eventually made the long-overdue breakthrough with this slender 0-16 to 2-9 victory over the modern day giants on Shannonside.

Na Piarsaigh flashed home goals through Adrian Breen and Dรกithรญ Dempsey to lead 2-3 to 0-8 at the interval.

The teams were tied on a few occasions in the closing period, but the winning gap opened late-on when the brilliant performer Adam English struck over his 11th point.

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A proud Doon mother: Rose Thomas pictured with her two sons Gareth and Chris after Doon defeated Na Piarsaigh in the county senior hurling final on Sunday. Photo: James Dormer.

Earlier, Doon showed some real class with serious scores in a row from English, and stalwarts Oโ€™Donovan, Barry Murphy and Pat Ryan Simon.

The likes of Shane Dowling, Ronan Lynch, Dylan Lynch and Peter Casey (yes, heโ€™s thankfully back) struck important points also for Na Piarsaigh.

For the dreadful conditions, the decider was hugely enjoyable, one attended by around 7,500 enthusiastic supporters.

Doon:ย Tomas Lynch; Eoin Fitzgibbon, Tommy Hayes, Cian Oโ€™Donovan; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy (0-1), Richie English; Darragh Oโ€™Donovan (0-1), captain, Adam English (0-11); Eddie Stokes, Gareth Thomas (0-1), Pat Ryan Simon (0-1); Jack Ryan, Kevin Maher, Darragh Stapleton (0-1).

Substitutes used:ย Cormac Ryan, Mikey Oโ€™Brien, Patrick Cummins.

Na Piarsaigh:ย Shane Dowling (0-2); Vince Harringon, Mike Casey, Emmet McEvoy; Mike Foley (0-1), William Oโ€™Donoghue, Jerome Boylan; Ronan Lynch (0-2), Tommy Grimes; Kevin Downes, Will Henn, Conor Boylan (0-1); Daithi Dempsey (1-0), JJ Carey (0-1), Adrian Breen (1-0).

Substitutes used:ย Peter Casey (0-1), Dylan Lynch (0-1), Keith Dempsey.