| 14.4°C Dublin

Donnelly double silences Doon

RYAN Donnelly scored a stunning brace of late goals as Dungarvan Colleges began the defence of their title with a six-point victory in Golden.

The 2012 champions -- known as Colaiste na nDeise last season -- led by nine points at half-time but had to fend off a spirited second-half fightback from Doon CBS.

Patrick Curran's 10th-minute goal helped Dungarvan CBS, who played with the aid of a very strong first-half breeze, to lead by 1-10 to 0-4 at half-time.

But Doon CBS were a team transformed in the second half, and with just over 10 minutes remaining, the Limerick school had the gap down to just a single point, trailing by 1-11 to 1-10.

Playing into the wind, Dungarvan CBS were struggling badly for scores but Donnelly -- one of eight starters who featured against Nenagh CBS in February's Harty final -- scored 2-1 in the closing stages to clinch a crucial win.

Donnelly netted in the 53rd minute and again just minutes later as Dungarvan CBS finally managed to shake off their dogged opponents.

Patrick Ryan's 41st-minute goal had kickstarted the Doon CBS revival, but Dungarvan did just about enough to begin the new season on a positive note.

Scorers -- Dungarvan Colleges: R Donnelly 2-2, P Curran 1-5 (0-5f), C Dunford 0-3, C Breathnach, T Burke, Ml Harney 0-1 each. Doon: P Ryan 1-3, B Murphy 0-4 (3f), D Coleman 0-4 (2f, 1 s-l), D O'Donovan 0-2.

DUNGARVAN COLLEGES -- L Power; K Looby, B Looby, M Cronin; C Breathnach, T Devine, T Burke; C Dunford, C Curran; E Crotty, Ml Harney, R Donnelly; D Gartland, K Daly, P Curran. Subs: A Donnelly for Crotty (51), S Daly for Gartland (53), R Browne for Dunford (58).

DOON CBS -- C Ryan; F O'Grady, R English, T Hayes; P Cummins, S Ryan, S O'Connell; D O'Donovan, D Coleman; M Dee, P Ryan, D Orr; B Murphy, R Ryan, K Stapleton. Subs: B McCarthy for Orr (39), D Cosgrave for Stapleton (48), A Coleman for R Ryan (58).

Ref -- F Horgan (Tipperary).

Irish Independent