Causeway V Abbeydorney - County Championship Semi Final

County Championship Semi Final
27/08/06	Causeway	2-14	V	Abbeydorney	1-11

A towering display at centre-back by Eamonn Fitzgerald, along with the scoring exploits of John Mike Dooley, saw Causeway defeat pre-match favourites Abbeydorney to advance to the County Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday, September 10th. Causeway took an early lead, but a rather lucky goal helped Abbeydorney into a 1-3 to 0-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

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However, the men in maroon came more into the game as the half wore on and were just one point in arrears at the interval (1-5 to 0-7). A goal just after the break from John Joe Canty and two more unanswered points saw them take a commanding four point lead. Abbeydorney hit back with three points to reduce the margin to the minimum, but a 20th minute John Mike Dooley goal gave Causeway the upper hand and they ran out six point winners at the end.

Tadhg Flynn opened the scoring with a first minute free after a foul on Cyril Dineen. Both sides swapped wides before a speculative lob by Kieran Hanafin deceived Kieran Canty in the Causeway goals and the sliotar wound up in the net for the opening goal of the game after three minutes. Brian 'Beano' O’Donovan pointed a free soon after while Michael Hanafin rewarded good work from Kieran Dineen with a fine point from play. David Nolan was wide after a Causeway defender was slow in clearing. John Mike Dooley was off target twice while Michael Hanafin was also wide from play.

John Joe Canty reduced the deficit with an 11th minute point from play, but Brian O’Leary replied straight away at the other end. Cormac Flynn collected a 65 from Dooley and pointed to leave just a goal between the sides. Beano and Tadgh Flynn swapped wides before Cyril Dineen pointed after collecting a pass from Dooley. A Kieran Dineen shot for goal was deflected into the side netting and Beano Donovan was wide from the 65. Cyril Dineen from play and a John Mike Dooley free from the right touchline levelled matters after 22 minutes of play.

Dooley was wide soon after following a good solo run. Yellow cards were issued to Conor Harty, Niall O’Connell and John Mike Dooley while earlier cards were issued to Brian O’Leary and Cormac Flynn. Beano Donovan pointed a free after a foul on David O’Connell and wing-back Robert Murphy sent over a fine point off his left to leave two points between the sides on the 30 minute mark. John Mike Dooley had the final score of the half when he pointed a free following a foul on himself in the third minute of injury time.

Two minutes into the second half Causeway struck for their first goal when John Joe Canty finished a Dooley cross to the net which should have been cleared by the Abbeydorney defence. Tony Maunsell was penalised for losing his hurley while passing to a comrade, and Dooley pointed the 20 metre free while Maunsell was yellow carded for dissent. Ger Brassil replaced Robert Murphy in the Abbeydorney side, but Causeway increased their lead when Dooley pointed from play following a good move. Michael Hanafin was wide at the other end, but Barry Sheehan opened his side’s second half account with a point from an acute angle after seven minutes. Shane Harty was yellow carded before Beano Donovan punished a loose Causeway pass with a point from play.

Ger Brassil kicked over a point after twelve minutes to reduce the margin to the minimum. Ian Maunsell replaced the injured Kieran Hanafin while Padraig Dineen came into the side for Niall O’Connell. Dooley was on target yet again from a free to leave the game delicately poised 1-10 to 1-8 at the end of the third quarter.

Dooley from play, following a good pass from Canty, and Brian Beano Donovan swapped points in the 18th minute with the game still there for the taking. However, two minutes later the ball broke inside the Abbeydorney defence and Dooley was quickest to react and finished to the net to give his side a five point lead. Abbeydorney did not give up and points from Barry Sheehan and Michael Hanafin reduced the margin to just a goal once more with four minutes remaining.

Causeway introduced Johnny Dillane for Tadgh Flynn and with his first touch Dillane sent the ball between the posts. Conor Harty followed with a point from inside his own half and Dillane killed off the game with his second point two minutes from the end. Brian Beano Donovan went for a goal from a 20 metre free, but it was cleared by the Causeway defence and last year’s finalists were out at the semi-final stage on this occasion.

Eamon Fitzgerald was outstanding at the heart of the Causeway defence and he was ably assisted by Fergus O’Carroll, Maurice O’Carroll, Shane Harty, Cyril Dineen, John Mike Dooley and substitute Johnny Dillane.

Abbeydorney were hampered by the withdrawal before the game of the injured Ivan McCarthy, but Tony Maunsell, Aidan Healy, Brian Beano Donovan, Michael Hanafin, Kieran Hanafin, Barry Sheehan and substitute Ger Brassil all gave their best for the side.

Team and Scorers: Kieran Canty, Fergus O Carroll, Maurice O Carroll, John Fitzgerald, Mark Dillane, Eamon Fitzgerald, Shane Sheehan, Gerry Canty, Shane Harty, Conor Harty (0-1), Cormac Flynn (0-1), Tadhg Flynn (0-1), John Mike Dooley (1-5), Cyril Dineen (0-3), John Joe Canty (1-1).

Subs: Johnny Dillane(0-2) for Tadhg Flynn, Stephen Goggin for John Joe Canty, David Leahy, Daniel O Connor, Michael Diggins, Shane Leahy,Paul O Grady, Padraig Harty, Kieran Leahy, John Whelan, Padraig Monson, Barry Walshe, Mark Murphy.

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