Premier 1 MFC: Douglas survive Na Piarsaigh comeback to advance to semi-final of minor football championship
Na Piarsaigh's Luke Hurley shoots under pressure from Douglas' Tadgh Curtin during their Cork ETB Rebel Óg P1MFC clash at Douglas. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Douglas have qualified for the semi-final of the Cork ETB Premier 1 MFC following their win over Na Piarsaigh at Douglas on Wednesday night.
It was a game the home side had to win or else they could have been knocked out, and early in the second-half they were well on top as they went 1-11 to 0-3 ahead, inspired by the likes of Thomas Murray, Ben Herlihy, and Diarmuid O’Donoghue.
But for the last 15 minutes, they started to struggle, and full credit to Na Piarsaigh they upped their game as they hit 1-5 without reply.
Time went against them, and Douglas also had their keeper, David Kelleher, to thank as he saved from Jamie Coughlan to deny him a green flag.
Luke Hurley, along with Coughlan and Craig O’Sullivan, led the late Piarsaigh charge, who exit the championship despite playing some impressive football over their three games.
Murray opened the scoring for Douglas in the first minute, with Ian Butler adding a second as the home side led by 0-2 to no score after four minutes.
In a low-scoring start, Douglas’ third point arrived after 10 minutes, when Darragh Barry made it 0-3 to no score.
It took another seven minutes for the fourth point of the tie to arrive, with Adam Kelly, making it 0-4 to no score.
Na Piarsaigh got off the mark after 20 minutes, when Josh Constant set up Hurley to point.
Herlihy replied at the other end for Douglas to put them 0-5 to 0-1 in front, as the game had yet to get going.
Coughlan got Na Piarsaigh’s second point, and he could have had a goal, but his effort went across the face of the goal and the danger was cleared
Neither side managed to score again before half-time as Douglas led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the break, after a disappointing half of football.
Douglas upped their game at the start of the second half with Liam Cregan and Tomas Reddington extending their lead.
With 35 minutes gone, they got their goal, after Cillian McAuliffe set up Murray to score.
Herlihy kicked the only two pointer of the game, and he added a point to see Douglas lead by 1-11 to 0-3 after 44 minutes.
But then Na Piarsaigh took over, with two points from Hurley reducing the deficit. Two frees from Coughlan made it 1-11 to 0-7 as the visitors were on top at this point.
O’Sullivan added a point before Coughlan scored a goal with three minutes left.
That proved to be the last score as Douglas hung on for the win to advance to the semi-final.
T Murray 1-2 (1f), B Herlihy 0-4 (1 2pt), I Butler, D Barry, A Kelly, L Cregan, T Reddintgon 0-1 each.
: J Coughlan 1-3 (2f), L Hurley 0-3 (1f), C O’Sullivan 0-2.
D Kelleher; P Rudden, R McCarthy, T Curtin; I Butler, D O’Donoghue, J Gordon; C McAuliffe, L Cregan; D O’Connor, D Barry, T Reddington; B Herlihy, A Kelly, T Murray.
C Fitzgerald for L Cregan, C Crowley for C McAuliffe (both 42), C Hallahan for C Fitzgerald (47 inj).
C Quinn; J O’Connor, R Quinlan, D O’Leary; N Coffey, R Cronin, D Casey; J Burke, C O’Sullivan; J Cahalane, C O’Sullivan, R Manley; J Constant, L Hurley, A Crowley, J Coughlan.
Referee: James Regan, Lough Rovers.
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