The club’s adult hurlers kicked off their Championship summer with a six point win over a dogged Kildalkey side in Rathmolyon on Friday evening.

In warm conditions on a perfect pitch, debuts were given to JJ McManus and Stuart Broderick, while Shane Rea also started having spent two seasons travelling.

The sides traded scores early on with three frees and a 65 from Michael O’Sullivan keeping the Moors in touch.

His first point from play gave Don/Ash the lead for the first time with 16 on the clock before they raised the first green flag of the game two minutes later.

A short puck out from Ben Mather went to Dylan Morrissey, who delivered down the line to O’Sullivan. He turned his man and outpaced another Kildalkey defender before firing to the net, with another free five minutes later moving the Moors into a four-point lead.

Kildalkey responded well to narrow that gap to two points at half time.

HT: Domhnach Mór Cill Dhéagláín 1-7 0-10 Cill Dhealga

It was a better start to the second half for Don/Ash as Seán Doyle (x2) and Davin Jones got in on the scoring action sandwiched around a Kildalkey effort.

‘The Village’ then hit a purple patch with four unanswered scores to level it once more as the heat started to take a toll on both sides.

The benches came into it then, with another adult debut given to Daniel Doherty.

He followed up another O’Sullivan 65 with a score of his own before Darragh O’Sullivan sent over two points to cancel out two more Kildalkey efforts with three minutes to go.

Just as the clock went into injury time, the Moors struck a crucial second goal.

As Kildalkey tried to run the ball out, a huge hit from Colm Ó Méalóid knocked the sliotair loose and after good pressure, Killian Hogan flicked it into the path of Doherty, who advanced and finished brilliantly into the far corner.

That was topped off with another score apiece from the O’Sullivan brothers, but to their credit, Kildalkey didn’t give in, hitting the base of the post with a strike.

However, they wouldn’t score again as the Moors defence snuffed out any further opportunities to hold on for the six-point win.

FT: Domhnach Mór Cill Dhéagláín 2-16 0-16 Cill Dhealga

Team: Ben Mather, Cian Field, James McKeown, Fionnán Hogan, Patrick Moran, Stuart Broderick, Dylan Morrissey, Tom Ryan, Shane Rea, Davin Jones, Seán Doyle, Luke Andrews, JJ McManus, Darragh O’Sullivan, Michael O’Sullivan

Subs used: Killian Hogan for McManus, Colm Ó Méalóid for Rea, Daniel Doherty for Andrews, Sam Benville for Ryan

Scorers: Michael O’Sullivan (1-9), Daniel Doherty (1-1), Darragh O’Sullivan (0-3), Seán Doyle (0-2), Davin Jones (0-1)