Douglas footballers hit Mallow for four goals in impressive opening round win
Douglas' David Buckley is tackled by Mallow's Cathal Mullins during their Premier SFC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane.
The first round of group games are always significant. They matter even more when say, Carrigaline topple group favourites and reigning champions St Finbarr’s on the opening night.
Douglas and Mallow needed to produce their very best in Grenagh on Saturday to give themselves the best shot at reaching the knockout stages. Douglas’s four-star performance proved sufficient, but Mallow will be left with plenty of regret.
There’s no denying the City side were full value of their victory here. They dominated at both ends of the pitch with the wind in the second half.
Their second goal was their first score in the second period, Shane Kingston teeing up Luis Dwan Fogarty before he buried across goal. A minute later Kingston knocked one over from outside the arc, increasing the Douglas to five.
Shane Merritt set up Mark Tobin for a desperately needed reply, but then came the third Douglas green flag, with David Buckley sending Adam Cantwell through, and he played a clever one-two with Conor Russell before palming home, 3-7 to 0-9 with 15 still to go.
A stunning two-pointer from Coakley increased the Douglas lead to nine, and while Mallow worked their way back into the fight four white flags on the spin, Coakley delivered the knockout blow after a sweet pass from Dwan Fogarty, which he fired home to leave it 4-9 to 0-13.
There was nothing Mallow could do at that stage; they were struggling prior to the fourth goal, Douglas preventing so much as a sniff at goal across the hour. Half-back Dwan Fogarty was immense beyond his scoreboard contribution, while corner-backs Dylan Ward and Ciaran Kenny were superb all throughout.
The second-half blitz was a surprise, particularly given how well Mallow had done in parts of the first. They led 0-5 to 0-1 after 19 minutes and could have been further clear after having had an abundance of chances. Yet, by the break, they were one behind.
Mallow had spent much of the first half in the lead and in control, as Jack Dillon getting them off to a flying start with a well-placed two-pointer straight from throw-in.
Sean McDonnell and Mark Tobin (two) added white flags to give them a four-point buffer, but their output stagnated as the half wore on.
Cork hurler Kingston got Douglas’s second point on the board after 20 minutes, and from there they picked up pace and tacked on the scores.
Seán Coakley kicked a stunning two-pointer to leave one between them, and then a great run from Shane Kingston afforded him the space to work it to Dwan Fogarty, and he passed to Russell. Russell’s shot was blocked but Douglas recovered possession once again, just in time for Shane Kingston to be pulled back by Eoghan Barry and a penalty awarded to Douglas.
Coakley converted and sent Kevin Doyle the wrong way, giving Douglas the lead for the first time after 27 minutes. They would not trail again for the rest of the game.
A two-pointer from Sheehan just before the interval to reduce Mallow's arrears to one, and he added a free on the resumption to leave them tied at 0-8 to 1-5. But Douglas’s second goal and second two-pointer put them clear, and a Mattie Taylor-less Mallow produced no answer.
S Coakley 2-4 (2 tp, 1-0 pen), L Dwan Fogarty, A Cantwell 1-0 each, S Kingston 0-3 (1 tp), D Ward 0-2, C Russell 0-1.
K Sheehan 0-4 (1 tp, 0-2 f), M Tobin, S McDonnell (0-1 f) 0-3 each, J Dillon (tp), C Mullins 0-2 each.
A Cotter; C Kenny, J O’Callaghan-Maher, D Ward; S Aherne, D Buckley, L Dwan Fogarty; N Hartnett, C Kingston; K Shanahan, B Powter, A Cantwell; S Coakley, S Kingston, C Russell.
D Mac Pháidín for Hartnett (51), C Mac Pháidín for Powter (52).
K Doyle; B Myers, E Barry, P Lyons; R Sheehan, G Daly, P Britton; S Merritt, J Dillon (c); D Copps, S McDonnell, M Tobin; K Sheehan, J Loughery, C Mullins.
D Moynihan for Copps (40), B O’Shea for Loughery (44).
J Ryan (Macroom)
App?
