Joy for promoted Dons
The Donoughmore squad for the 2008/09 season
Thursday April 30 2009
LEAGUE 2A Millstreet Celtic 0 Donoughmore Athletic 2 DONOUGHMORE Athletic clinched promotion to the Cork AUL First Division with a superb 2-0 victory over fellow contenders Millstreet Celtic at the Duhallow venue on Sunday. The Dons went into the game knowing a point would be enough to secure a place in the higher grade, but defeat would leave the door open for Millstreet or Killowen to grab the prize spot.
The mid Cork side quickly warmed to their task by taking the lead in the seventh minute. Aidan O'Shea slotted a precise pass into the path of Damian Barrett who took the ball a further 30 yards before finding the bottom corner of the net.
The Dons maintained the pressure by putting the home side on the defensive by forcing a number of corners. Indeed, Connie Buckley and Colm O'Sullivan were unlucky with efforts that went the wrong side of the post. The 'Street came more into the game as the half wore on, but Cathal O'Hanlon and Peter Murphy stood firm at the back.
Tadhg Collins had a great opportunity to level matters early in the second half, but dragged his shot wide. The decisive moment arrived in the 55th minute – Connie O'Sullivan combining with O'Shea for the latter to score at the second attempt. O'Shea and Barrett continued to ask questions and centre back Alan McSweeney turned in a 'man of the match' performance as the Don's comfortably saw out the remainder of the 90 minutes. They can now look forward to football in League 1A next season. Best on a bitterly disappointing day for Millstreet included Tadgh Collins and Brian Sheehan.
Delighted Donoughmore club chairperson Don Cafferkey commented on the club's success, saying: "After eleven seasons in Division 2A, we finally secured Division 1 status. In those eleven years we finished third on four occasions, because of that, promotion this season is made all the more sweeter. Twenty nine players were used in the league campaign and every one involved played their part.
"Special mention must go to manager Ted Daly who in his third year in charge of the team put a huge amount of effort into the whole campaign. We also benefited from the developed facilities in the Donoughmore Community Centre where we play our home matches. This was certainly a factor in our season as we only called-off two home matches all season. Now our focus is making an impression in the first division and with the average age of the squad at 23 years there is every reason to be optimistic. We will now take a well earned summer break and will be back in pre-season training in the first Week of July," he told The Corkman.
MILLSTREET CELTIC: Noel O Sullivan, Donal O Sullivan, Eamon O Keeffe, Tim Kiely, Brian Sheahan, John Lehane, Michael Murphy, Donal O Riordan, Brian G Murphy, Chris Cleary, Tadhg Collins Subs: Danny O Riordan, John O Sullivan, Sean Fahy
DONOUGHMORE ATHLETIC: N O'Connell; C O Hanlon, A McSweeney, C Buckley; P Foley, D Hennessy, C O'Sullivan, R O' Sullivan; D Barrett, A O Shea Subs: D Daly for P Foley, T Looney for P Murphy, D Hogan for D Barrett, D McSweeney, D O Shea G Fagan
