Donohill FC faced Killenaule in a thrilling league encounter at the home ground of the latter on 3rd November 2024, with the match kicking off at 2:30pm. The visitors emerged victorious with a commanding 5-2 scoreline, showcasing their attacking prowess and resilience throughout the contest.
Donohill FC lined up in a classic 4-4-2 formation, which featured a solid defensive unit and a dynamic midfield. Paul Delvin occupied the goalkeeping position, shielded by a back four comprising Edmund Lowry on the right, Micheal Bradshaw on the left, and the central defensive pairing of Micheal Buckley and Patrick Barry. The midfield was anchored by Denis Cross and David Buckley in central roles, while Colm O'Dwyer and Aidan Griffin operated as right and left midfielders, respectively. Up front, William Barry and Kevin Fox were tasked with leading the line as forwards, expected to exploit any gaps in the opposition's defence.
The substitutes for Donohill FC included Gearoid Lennon, Jamie Tierney, and Alan Shanahan, providing tactical options for the manager as the match progressed.
The scoring opened early in the match, with Aidan Griffin finding the net in the 9th minute, capitalising on a well-worked move inside the box to give Donohill FC an early lead. This was quickly followed by a stunning long-range strike from Micheal Buckley in the 25th minute, doubling the advantage and sending the visiting supporters into raptures.
As the first half approached its conclusion, William Barry added a third goal in the 36th minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack that left Killenaule's defence reeling. The first half ended with Donohill FC firmly in control, leading 3-0.
The second half commenced with Donohill FC continuing their attacking intent, and Aidan Griffin struck again just two minutes after the restart, scoring his second and the team's fourth goal in the 47th minute. However, Killenaule responded in the 54th minute, taking advantage of a defensive mistake to pull one back, igniting hopes of a comeback.
The match took a more contentious turn in the 60th minute when Micheal Bradshaw received a yellow card, leading to his substitution for Gearoid Lennon. Shortly after, Killenaule capitalised on another opportunity, scoring from a direct free-kick in the 68th minute, narrowing the score to 4-2 and putting pressure on the visitors.
In the 70th minute, Donohill FC made another change, with Jamie Tierney coming on for Colm O'Dwyer, while Micheal Buckley also received a yellow card, adding to the tension on the pitch. A further substitution saw Alan Shanahan replace William Barry in the 72nd minute, as Donohill FC sought to maintain their lead.
As the match drew to a close, Kevin Fox sealed the victory for Donohill FC with a goal in the 88th minute, taking advantage of another defensive error from Killenaule. This final strike ensured a comprehensive 5-2 victory for the visitors, leaving them to celebrate a well-deserved win in a match filled with action and excitement.
