Late scores see Doire Trasna edge away from Sean Dolan's

Doire Trasna 2-18

Sean Dolan’s 1-11

Don’t let the final score fool you, this was a tightly contested city derby that crackled and fizzed with real intensity and ferocity over an action packed hour.

Sure, the home side ran out deserved winners – a very late 1-4 glossing up an otherwise evenly worked scoreboard. New Sean Dolan’s manager David Lowry, however, can count on any number of positives from his team despite defeat in their opening encounter. Lowry’s opposing number, and fellow rookie bainisteoir, Colly Mac Eoin, will have exited Pairc na Piarsaigh with back to back wins under the belt having guided his side to that filleting of Doire Colmcille last week. To the winner, the spoils.

He’ll also be thanking the sporting gods for a certain Eoghan Quigg. Quigg was simply irresistible, gorging himself on 1-15 over an hour of sumptuous inside forward play built on pace and precision. Indeed, the all action front man nailed all but one of the Pearse’s ten points in the opening half, adding another six in the second for good measure. Oh, and the magician also produced a magical goal from his box of tricks.

Just before throw-in referee Cianan Canney, excellent throughout, could be seen deep in discussion with captains Caolan Doyle and Caoimhin Thompson, with the new rule enhancements no doubt the topic of conversation. Fears that they would ‘ruin the club’ game certainly appear greatly exaggerated at this early point.

The home side ran in four to the good at half-time, leading 1-10 to 1-6, but given the partisan breeze they were forced to contend with, Sean Dolan’s will have been satisfied with their first 30 minutes of work. With Quigg hitting his straps early on, including a mighty two pointer free, Trasna raced to an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead. Liam McNulty – excellent in the first half despite feeding off very little ball opened the Dolan’s scorecard in the 9th minute, before really putting the cat among the pigeons with a lethally struck 14th minute goal to leave just a point between the sides.

A brace of frees from Quigg and a lovely curling effort from the left peg of Caolan McCosker left the visitors trailing 0-7 to 1-2 after 16 minutes. An 18th minute Cormac Kelly goal, however, stretched Trasna’s lead to five points, sliding the ball into back of the net courtesy of an assist from that man Quigg.

But just when the hosts looked for all the world to be running away with things, Sean Dolan’s fought back admirably, hitting four of the next five points. Driven on by the meaty presence of Eamon McGinley at midfield and the relentless hard running from wing back Caolan McCosker, free-taker Dylan Carr nailed three points with McCosker adding his second of a fine first half.

But the home side would have the final say in a hotly contested and wonderfully physical opening 30 minutes, with you know who taping over close range before landing a late beauty to hand his side the initiative at the break.

Half-time:  Doire Trasna 1-10  -  1-06 Sean Dolan’s

Quigg and Ethan Doherty traded early scores soon after resumption of hostilities, before quick thinking from young gun Conor O’Donnell set Quigg through on goal only from the master marksman to blast over with the goal at his mercy. Turns out he is human after all.

Another O’Donnell jinking run resulted in another Quigg free – the flame-haired youngster is one to watch this coming season, and many more to come.

But, again, the visitors refused to bend. Eamon McGinley walloped over a mighty two pointer before McCosker notched his third point of the game. It left their side trailing 1-13 to 1-10 after the third quarter.

However, with the gun to their collective temples, the Pearses found a late high gear that propelled them to victory. Conor O’Donnell capped a very fine performance with two points just when his side needed them most.

But nobody steals the headlines from Eoghan Quigg. The Trasna star beat two men in the 54th minute before lasering the ball past Cathal Green for the home side’s second and matching winning goal.

Eamon McGinley never knows when he is beaten, and quite characteristically battled to the bitter end, hitting his side’s last point of the game with the writing on the wall. Two late Quigg frees confirmed another win for his side and a pretty special day for himself individually.

Scorers –

Doire Trasna: Eoghan Quigg 1-15 (11f), Cormac Kelly 1-0, Pol Brown 0-1, Conor O’Donnell 0-2

Sean Dolan’s: Liam McNulty 1-1, Dylan Carr 0-3 (2f), Caolan McCosker 0-3 (1f), Eamon McGinley 0-3 (2f), Ethan Doherty 0-1

Doire Trasna: Flynn Doherty, Niall Doherty, David Officer, Shea Sharkey, Conor O’Donnell, Nark Healy, Lorcan Doherty, Caolan Doyle, Cormac Kelly, Dylan Deery, Tom Casey, Eoghan Devlin, Somhairle McFadden, Eoghan Quigg, Pol Brown

Subs: Jack McCarron for P Brown (39), Ryan Lindsay for D Deery (53), Killian O’Neill for S Sharkey (57), Liam Travers for T Casey (57)

Sean Dolan’s: Cathal Green, Ryan McCallion, Paul Thompson, Ryan Watkins, Caolan McCosker, Caoimhin Thompson, Ryan McLaughlin, Sean O’Donnell, Eamon McGinley, Niall Friel, Joe Gallagher, Luke Clarke, Liam McNulty, Emmett Coyle, Dylan Carr

Subs: Frankie Jackson for N Friel (7), Ethan Doherty for S O’Donnell (14), Tiarnan Gallagher for F Jackson (39), Ryan Boyle for J Gallagher (45)

Referee: Cianan Canney (Na Magha)