Premier SFC: Duhallow ease to victory over Douglas to seal a semi-final spot

Duhallow: 3-11 

Douglas: 0-10 

IT was all too easy for Duhallow as they progressed into the last four of the Bon Secours Hospital Premier SFC following victory over a disappointing Douglas outfit at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday evening.

This quarter-final tie was more or less wrapped up in the first-half when Duhallow scored two excellent goals as Ger O’Sullivan’s team book a semi-final spot against reigning champions Nemo Rangers.

The large crowd had to wait five minutes for the first score to arrive when Douglas hit the front through Adam Cantwell after being set up by Seán Powter. Five minutes later, Duhallow opened up the Douglas defence following a swift move involving Seamus Hickey and Donncha O’Connor which resulted in goal poacher Mikey McAuliffe palming the ball into the net for an easy finish.

The sides traded points before Duhallow raised a second green flag after 15 minutes courtesy of an outstanding finish from Darragh Cashman into the corner of the net, 2-1 to 0-2. An outrageous Shane Kingston white flag kept Douglas in touch, but they were struggling in defence. Duhallow could have easily scored a third goal, but Luke Murphy decided to fist the ball over the bar, 2-2 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.

The team in orange and black tacked on three points on the bounce in the remainder of the half as they opened up Douglas at will, 2-5 to 0-3 at half-time.

Douglas did improve for a period in the second-half which yielded early points from Kingston and two Conor Russell close-range frees, 2-5 to 0-6 after 39 minutes. Murphy, who had another fine game, bisected the posts for Duhallow ten minutes into the new half, which was a much needed score for them to stem the Douglas tide.

Points from Hickey, Conor O’Callaghan and an O’Connor free pushed Duhallow nine points clear with 15 minutes remaining, 2-9 to 0-6. Shane Hickey raised Duhallow’s third green flag after 47 minutes, an easy finish from close-range. Duhallow far too slick for their opposition.

Powter, who was relatively quiet, fisted his first point before the impressive Cashman split the posts for the winners, 3-10 to 0-7 with nine minutes left on the clock. The game petered out, Douglas landed two points before they were reduced to 14 players in injury-time when Ciarán Kenny received a black-card.

Murphy from Cullen landed a gorgeous long-range point for the winners before Kingston pointed in the dying embers.

Duhallow will take on Nemo next Sunday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2pm.

Scorers for Duhallow: L Murphy 0-5, D Cashman, Shane Hickey 1-1 each, M McAuliffe 1-0, Seamus Hickey, C O’Callaghan, D O’Connor (f), S Curtin 0-1 each.

Douglas: S Kingston 0-3, C Russell (f), S Powter 0-2 each, B Hartnett, A Cantwell, J Cunningham 0-1 each.

DUHALLOW: F O’Connor (Cullen); K Crowley (Millstreet), K Cremin (Boherbue), D Buckley (Boherbue); Shane Hickey (Millstreet), C O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), J Murphy (Dromtarriffe); D Cashman (Millstreet), Seamus Hickey (Rockchapel); A O’Connor (Boherbue), D O’Connor (Ballydesmond), L Murphy (Cullen); B O’Keeffe (Dromtarriffe), G O’Sullivan (Boherbue), M McAuliffe (Rockchapel).

Subs: S Curtin (Rockchapel) for Shane Hickey (22, temporary), J Curtin (Rockchapel) for G O’Sullivan (50), S Curtin (Rockchapel) for Shane Hickey (54), J Linehan (Millstreet) for K Crowley (57), D Linehan (Castlemagner) for B O’Keeffe (57), L Moynihan (Boherbue) for D O’Connor (62).

DOUGLAS: B Boyle; K Hayes Curtin, C Kenny, D Ward; D Kelly, K Flahive, S Wilson; C Kingston, E Nash; A Cantwell, B Hartnett, K Shanahan; S Kingston, C Russell, S Powter.

Subs: J Cunningham for A Cantwell, A O’Hare for K Shanahan, B Powter for S Wilson (all h-t), C O’Keeffe for K Hayes Curtin (43), C Joyce for C Russell (45).

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).