Adam English led the charge for Doon, contributing eleven points and demonstrating impressive form throughout the match.
Na Piarsaigh initially took control, with early goals from Adrian Breen and Daithi Dempsey establishing a strong lead. Conor Boylan put Na Piarsaigh on the board three minutes in, but English quickly responded for Doon. Two additional frees from English saw Doon pull ahead, 0-3 to 0-1, by the 11th minute. However, Na Piarsaigh retaliated with a scoring burst.
JJ Carey brought Na Piarsaigh back within a point before two rapid-fire goals in as many minutes changed the game’s complexion. Dempsey set up Breen, who overcame a strong effort from Doon’s keeper Tomas Lynch to blast the ball into the net. Just over a minute later, Dempsey found the net again, skillfully driving the ball beyond Lynch to push Na Piarsaigh ahead 2-2 to 0-3 by the 15th minute.
Ronan Lynch extended Na Piarsaigh's lead with a free, their final score of the half. Doon rallied late, with English’s ’65 and a strike from Darragh Stapleton narrowing the gap. English took center stage again, landing two long-range frees, one from deep within his own ’65, to bring Doon within two points. A point from play, assisted by Eddie Stokes and Pat Ryan, brought Doon to 2-3 to 0-8 by halftime.
The second half saw Na Piarsaigh end a 17-minute scoring drought with a ’65 from Shane Dowling. Doon equalized on 40 minutes with a long-range strike from captain Darragh O’Donovan. English then nudged Doon into the lead with a pinpoint effort from play, though Dowling leveled it soon after with another long-range shot.
Barry Murphy, Pat Ryan, and English combined to push Doon ahead 0-15 to 2-6 as the clock approached the 58th minute. Peter Casey, returning from a significant injury earlier in the season, made his mark for Na Piarsaigh with a point, narrowing the deficit to two. Scores from Ronan Lynch and Dylan Lynch brought the game level for the third time, setting up a tense finish.
In the final moments, English stepped up once more, sealing the historic victory for Doon with a decisive point.
Teams
Doon: Scorers: Adam English (0-11, 8f, '65), Barry Murphy (0-1), Darragh O'Donovan (0-1), Gareth Thomas (0-1), Pat Ryan (0-1), Darragh Stapleton (0-1). Substitutes: Cormac Ryan for G Thomas (37), Mikey O’Brien for Stapleton (50), Patrick Cummins for C O'Donovan (59).
Na Piarsaigh: Scorers: Adrian Breen (1-0), Daithi Dempsey (1-0), Shane Dowling (0-2, 1f, ’65), Ronan Lynch (0-2, 2f), JJ Carey (0-1), Conor Boylan (0-1), Mike Foley (0-1), Peter Casey (0-1). Substitutes: Peter Casey (0-1) for Henn (43), Dylan Lynch for Breen (50), Keith Dempsey for Downes (60).
