Fourteen-man Doonbeg came from four points down to retain their title at Kilmihill yesterday, with a goal and a point from veteran Gerry Killeen the crucial scores. Kilmurray will be bitterly disappointed as they were the better team for much of the game, but faded in the final quarter.
A goal from Johnny Daly helped Kilmurray into a 1-3 to 0-3 lead at halftime. Less than five minutes into the second half, Doonbeg's Padraig Conway was sent off, and moments later Kilmurray increased their lead to four points and looked to be on their way to their first success in six years.
Doonbeg, however, then showed their great battling qualities. Killeen popped up to score the all-important goal and a point which gave them the lead for the first time and from here to the finish they were the dominant team.
DOONBEG: N Dillon; K O'Mahony, C Whelan, P Gallagher (0-1); D Griffin (0-1), K Burns, P Smith; K Nugent (0-1), D Tubridy; P Hehir (0-1), F McInerney (0-2), D Conway (0-1); P Conway, S Hehir, G Killeen (1-1). Subs: B Lynch for S Hehir; M Conway for D Conway.
KILMURRAY-IBRICKANE: D O'Brien; B Cooney, J O'Connor, M Murphy; P O'Connor, D Coughlan, V Talty; M Cahill, P O'Dwyer; O O'Dwyer (0-2), M Keavey (0-1), M O'Connor; A Moloney jnr, J Daly (1-3), A Moloney snr. Subs: M O'Dwyer for Moloney jnr; T O'Connor for Moloney snr.
Referee: M McGann (Michael Cusacks).
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