Donoughmore Athletic Football Club
 
Bohemians 3 Donoughmore AFC 3
This game finished up with honours even after a pulsating and very entertaining game at the Fairfield on Saturday. This was a vital game for both sides with title aspirations and it certainly lived up to it’s billing as the AUL’s match of the week. Donoughmore found themselves a goal down in the 2nd minute when a good interchange put the Bohs attacker through on goal and even though Noel O’Connell got a hand to the ball he couldn’t prevent it crossing the line. The game was then thrown wide open with a brilliant hat-trick by Jamie Lewis in the next 20 minutes. The first came in the 5th minute when a pass by Sean O’Mahony found Lewis thirty yards from goal and after taking on his man he unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box into the top corner. In the 12th  minute a poor clearance from the Bohs keeper hit his own man  and Lewis reacted fastest to the breaking ball and he finished clinically from 15 yards. Lewis completed his hat-trick in the 25th minute when he got the ball to his feet at the edge of the penalty area. He rolled his man superbly before curling a brilliant shot low into the bottom corner. Pat Foley had an excellent effort then just go over the top as Donoughmore looked to finish the game off before half-time. Bohs passing and movement was always a threat but Donoughmore seemed to be coping comfortably enough. Sean O’Mahony then had a half chance in the 35th minute but his effort was off target. Donoughmore finished the half strongly and the score was 3-1 at half-time. Donoughmore were aware that Bohs would throw everything at them at the start of the second half and this is how it turned out. Like the first half Donoughmore conceded in the 2nd minute after some dreadful defending from a Bohs free-kick. The free kick itself was badly hit but a poor clearance was pounced on by the Bohs winger on the by-line and some poor marking in the middle meant that a simple cross was finished to the net from 6 yards. This gave Bohs the lifeline that they needed and suddenly their tails were up. However Donoughmore seemed comfortable defending in open play and it was from set pieces that Bohs posed the biggest threat. The equaliser came in the 60th minute when the Bohs attacker powered a header into the top corner from a well taken corner despite the best efforts of Cathal O’Hanlon on the goal line. The final quarter of the game was very open as Donoughmore picked themselves up and chased the winner. Damien Hennessy had a well hit shot from the edge of the area turned goalwards by Sean O’Mahony but his effort was blocked on the line. Jamie Lewis continued to be a huge threat throughout but Darragh O’Shea couldn’t provide the finish to Lewis’ excellent cross from the left in the 75th minute. Pat Foley then had an excellent effort parried by the Bohs keeper from 20 yards as Donoughmore pushed on. Donoughmore should have grabbed the winner in the 85th minute when Pat Foley delivered a perfect corner to the far post where at least four Donoughmore attackers were inches from what would have been a simple finish. Colm O’Sullivan put in some huge tackles throughout this game and his midfield partners Damien Hennessy and Pat Foley also worked tirelessly and played well throughout. The man of the match award deservedly went to Jamie Lewis who on top of scoring a brilliant hat-trick also seemed to be all over the pitch  and his tackling and link-up play was excellent. Donoughmore are now approaching the business end of the season and the next three or four weeks will tell a lot in terms of who of the four or five teams still in contention will finish top of the pile come the end of the season.

Team: N. O’Connell, T. Daly, P. Murphy, R.  O’Sullivan, C. O’Hanlon, P. Foley. D. McSweeney,  C. O’Sullivan,        D. Hennessy, S. O’Mahony, J.Lewis.                                                                                                              Subs: D. O’Shea for S. O’Mahony, A. O’Shea for D. McSweeney and T. Looney for P. Murphy.

 
 
Next Fixture 03/17/2010
 
Donoughmore are away to Bohemians in a crucial Division 1A league game next Saturday the 20th in the Fairfield, kick-off 2:30.
 
 

Glen Celtic 1 Donoughmore Athletic FC 0
Glen Celtic dented Donoughmores title hopes on St. Patricks day when they fortuitously came away with all three points in what was a game Donoughmore didn’t deserve to lose. Donoughmore started brightly and Damien Hennessy had an excellent effort with a half volley from 20 yards that had the keeper beaten but just grazed the crossbar. Donoughmore won a series of corner kicks and Sean O’Mahony found himself unmarked from a Connie Buckley knock down but he couldn’t trouble the keeper. In the 15th minute Pat Foley forced a fine save from the Glen keeper when he had a good shot from 18 yards after good build up play from Jamie Lewis and Colm O’Sullivan. Glen took the lead minutes later when a Donoughmore clearance didn’t go far enough and the ball was knocked straight back in to the unmarked Glen striker who beat Noel O’Connell from 10 yards. Donoughmore kept the pressure on for the remainder of the first half and Jamie Lewis nearly grabbed the equaliser when put through by Colm O’Sullivan in the 30th minute. Lewis was completely taken out of it by the keeper and his off balance shot went wide and the referee ignored Donoughmores blatant appeals for a penalty. The score remained 1-0 at half-time but Donoughmore continued where they left off from the first half. Terence Looney passed up a glorious chance in the 55th minute when through on goal but with the keeper in no mans land he completely missed the target. Pat Foley, Damien Hennessy and Jamie Lewis then had further efforts blocked by the Glen defence and it looked only a matter of time before Donoughmore equalised. Jamie Lewis did equalise in the 65th minute when he finished coolly to the net from 15 yards after the Glen keeper dropped the ball at his feet but to Donoughmores frustration and complete surprise a free was awarded to the Glen. Sean O’Mahony had a further couple of chances but failed to hit the target and at this stage Donoughmore were piling forward. The Glen nearly caught Donoughmore with a sucker punch on the break but the ball went wide off the post from a well hit effort. Darragh O’Shea should have equalised in the 88th minute when a flick on by O’Mahony fell to him from 4 yards but he couldn’t adjust his feet in time and the keeper smothered the shot. Colm O’Sullivan, Jamie Lewis, Pat Foley and Damien Hennessy did best for Donoughmore.

Team: N. O’Connell, P. Murphy, C. Buckley, R.  O’Sullivan, D. McSweeney,  J.Lewis, C. O’Sullivan, D. Hennessy, T. Looney, S. O’Mahony, P. Foley.
Subs: D. O’Shea for T. Looney.

 
Fixture 03/14/2010
 
Donoughmore are away to Glen Celtic in the league on Wednesday 17th March at 11am
 
 
Postal Celtic 0 Donoughmore Athletic 1

Donoughmore progressed to the 3rd round of the Corinthian’s cup away to Postal Celtic on Saturday evening. The first half was a close affair, where very few chances were created from open play. Sean O Mahony and Darragh O Shea were showing well in the early stages and forced several free kicks and corners. Donoughmore's first clear chance came on the half hour when Sean O Mahony set-up Damien Hennessy, when it looked like he only had the keeper to beat, a defender managed to get a block in on the last second. Postal hadn't created any chance on note until then, when their centre forward found him self one on one with Noel O Connell, but the Donoughmore stopper was quickly off his line to smother the ball before the forward could get his shot off. Apart from that Connie Buckley and Rob O Sullivan were in control at the back. Jamie Lewis at this stage had switched from the right side to central midfield and was having more of an influence.

After winning a free kick 25 yards out, Darragh O Shea stepped up and the keeper had to make an excellent save in the bottom left hand corner.

Postal had their best spell straight after half time where created a few half chances. On the 55th minute they looks to have opened the scoring when the ball was clipped last Noel O Connell only for Pat Foley to get back to make a goal line clearance. What turned out to be the winning goal came on the 65th minute, Damien Hennessy clear the ball out of defence to Sean O Mahony on the left had side, he sent in a cross to the edge of the box, this became a race between Jamie Lewis and the keeper. Jamie bravely got there first and his effort bounced in to the net, Aidan O Shea was on the field at this stage and his strong running was causing Postal problems. Another cross from the left gave Damien Hennessy a chance but his volley went the wrong side of the post. Postal were pushing forward at this stage but the O Shea brothers, Lewis and O Mahony were dangerous on the break. O Mahony should have scored one of these occasions, but the keeper blocked with his legs.

In the end Donoughmore saw the game out comfortably, and are now safely in the hat for the last 16. Best on the day for Donoughmore were Connie and Rob at the back and Jamie and Damien in midfield.

Team: Noel O Connell, Pat Foley, Dan McSweeney, Rob O Sullivan, Connie Buckley, Damien Hennessy, Jamie Lewis, Colm O Sullivan, Darragh O Shea, Sean O Mahony & Terrence Looney. Subs: Aidan O Shea for Terrence Looney (65th min), Cathal O Hanlon for Rob O Sullivan (75th min) Tom Daly, Rob O Regan, Aidan O Brien.
 
 
Donoughmore Athletic FC 1 Mayfield Utd 1
Donoughmore and Mayfield played in what turned out to be a very competitive and entertaining game in Stuake on Saturday last that ended with both teams sharing the spoils. Donoughmore started the better and Sean O’Mahony had an early effort that he blazed over. Terence Looney then had a great chance minutes later when a shot from Damien Hennessy was parried into his path on the left but his shot from a difficult angle didn’t find the target. Mayfield then scored the opener slightly against the run of play when uncharacteristic confusion in the Donoughmore defence was pounced on by the Mayfield attacker who poked home from six yards. Jamie Lewis and the returning Aidan O’Shea looked dangerous throughout the first half and some good interchange between the two lead to Lewis being fouled in the penalty area and the referee awarded the spotter. Aidan O’Shea stepped up and beat the keeper with a good penalty low to his left. Donoughmore finished the half strongly and Looney had another chance from a similar angle to his first in the 25th minute but his shot was comfortably saved by the keeper. Aidan O’Shea had also two 30 yard free kicks saved by the keeper during this period of Donoughmore pressure. The second half was a rip roaring affair with both teams going for the win. Mayfield’s striker’s kept Connie Buckley and Rob O’Sullivan in the Donoughmore defence on their toes during this half and behind them Noel O’Connell dealt very well with anything that came at him. Darragh O’Shea came on for O’Mahony with 20 minutes remaining and he made an immediate impact. A Long Connie Buckley free kick was only half cleared by the Mayfield defence and Cathal O’Hanlon put a first time ball back into the box. O’Shea watched it all the way and broke the offside trap before bringing it down well but his well hit shot was wide of the target from 15 yards. Damien Hennessy and Colm O’Sullivan were getting the better of things in midfield as the half wore on and Hennessy was very unlucky when the ball was taken off his toe with a last gasp challenege when he seemed clear through on goal. Noel O’Connell came to Donoughmores rescue in the 85th minute when he saved brilliantly at the feet of the Mayfield striker just inside his box. Donoughmore still pushed forward at this stage and with minutes to go Aidan O’Shea took up possession just inside the Mayfield half, O’Shea pushed the ball past his man and was clear through on goal only to be cynically taken out of it by his marker. The resultant free kick was crossed invitingly by Jamie Lewis and Tom Daly got free well but his header from 12 yards was too close to the keeper. This was a game played at a very high tempo throughout by both teams and resulted in a very entertaining match. Noel O’Connell, Damien Hennessy and Jamie Lewis did best for Donoughmore in a game where generally the whole team worked hard throughout.
Team: N. O’Connell, P. Murphy, C. Buckley, R.  O’Sullivan, C’ O’Hanlon, J. Lewis,
C. O’Sullivan, D. Hennessy, T. Looney, S. O’Mahony, A. O’Shea.
Subs: T. Daly for P. Murphy, D. O’Shea for S. O’Mahony and P. Foley for T. Looney.

 
 
 
See our Gallery for new player pictures and some action shots from the recent game against Park Utd.
 
Next Fixture 02/28/2010
 
Donoughmore are at home to Mayfield in division 1A next Saturday, kick-off at 2.30pm.
 
 

Donoughmore AFC 0 Ballyvolane 0
Donoughmore dominated this league game but could not break down a resolute Ballyvolane defense in Stuake on Saturday last. Donoughmore started very strongly with Jamie Lewis narrowly shooting wide in the 2nd minute after a flick on from Jonathan Hennessy. Connie Buckley then also hit wide from a corner from the right and following a second corner Rob O’Sullivan narrowly missed the target with a powerful header that went narrowly wide. Sean O’Mahony then had a great chance when put through by Lewis but even though he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper his effort also cleared the crossbar. Jonathan Hennessy then had another one on one when he was played through the Ballyvolne defense but his low effort also went just wide. Donoughmore dominated possession in the first half but as the half went on Ballyvolane came into it more without ever troubling the Donoughmore defense unduly. The second half was a very scrappy affair as Ballyvolane seemed determined to keep the play broken up and were happy to settle for the draw. Sean O’Mahony had a further chance but his effort with the keeper to beat from six yards was again wide. Jamie Lewis then had a 20 yarder also go wide and with minutes to go   Jonathan Hennessy had a header from six yards that was well off target. This was a game where Donoughmore dominated possession, were very comfortable in defense but could not take any of the numerous chances that they created. Rob O’Sullivan, Jamie Lewis and Cathal O’Hanlon did best for Donoughmore in what was a vrey disappointing afternoon .
Team: N. O’Connell, P.Murphy, C. Buckley, R. O’Sullivan, C’ O’Hanlon, P. Foley,
C. O’Sullivan, J. Lewis, T. Looney, S. O’Mahony, J. Hennessy.
Subs: D. McSweeney for T. Looney and R. O’Regan for P. Foley.

 
Next Fixture 02/21/2010
 

Donoughmore are at home to Ballyvolane next Saturday the 27th February in Ddivision 1A, kick-off at 2.30pm.