By: Mary Dunne
Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 4
Shinrone: 1-23
Belmont: 1-21
Needing to win after a though start to their campaign, Shinrone finally got off the ground when they came from behind with a very strong second half performance to see off a fancied Belmont side on Sunday last in Shinrone.
When it comes to championship there is nothing predictable and no matter what we all think when it comes to games once a team crosses that white line, anything is possible and Shinrone who many had written off did what they needed to do and they now have given themselves a fighting chance.
They still will need Ballinamere to do them a favour in the last round, but they have done their own job as they came into their own in the second half and they now while being on tender hooks going into the last round, they still have something to fight for.
This was always going be an interesting affair and especially when it was being played in Shinrone’s home patch. It was tough and tight from the off and while Belmont certainly will look back in it and wonder who they let it slip, a very keenly contested affair with a real championship drive.
The group is still far from decided and it will come right down to the final day in two week’s time. Shinrone need Ballinamere to beat Belmont even if Shinrone beat Lumsagh in their last game, so there is nothing like leaving it until the final showdown.
Belmont can still get the semi final spot, if they beat Ballinamere and for them to get the semi final spot with so many dual players like their counterparts Ballinamere is a must.
Shinrone had a flying start to this game and with a mere twenty four seconds on the clock Paul Cleary rebounded the shot off the underside of the crossbar, but with advantage being played and the play was brought back for a penalty and with the two number ones facing off against each other Eamonn Cleary planted it to the net, 1-0 to no score after sixty seconds.
David Nally and Adam Landy traded frees by the 7th minute, but that is when Belmont started to get moving and with the next five scores on the trot thanks to Shane Nally, Conor Grennan, Jack Clancy, David Nally with a ’65 and the extremely impressive Paddy Clancy, they were in front 0-6 to 1-1 twelve minutes in.
Donal Morkan was superb for Shinrone and he hit over what was his first of six from play as he broke the Belmont momentum.
David Nally and Adam Landy were on the mark, as were Ronan Flynn with a free after a very hefty tackle on David Nally by Donal Morkan, but it wasn’t long until Donal Morkan had more to come and with another fine score, he brought it back to a one point game 0-8 to 1-4 with twenty two played.
Oisin Kelly landed Belmont’s ninth, but with two scores in quick succession from Adam Lancy and Jason Sampson, the sides were deadlocked at 1-6 to 0-9 despite Belmont lording a lot of the possession.
It was Belmont who had more to come however. David Nally was one the mark twice with one from a free and one from play, but it was the next score that right out of the top drawer.
Jack Clancy too the puck out well and delivering a brilliant ball into this brother Paddy, who with a very impressive flick of the wrist moved the ball over the head of his marker and with a cracking shot, he rattled the net. Belmont 1-11 to 1-6 clear with twenty eight on the clock.
David Nally hit over another score, but with two late points from Donal Morkan and Adam Landy, they gap was down to four and certainly a lot more manageable for Shinrone. The half time scores reading 1-12 to 1-8.
It was only inevitable that Shinrone were going to come all guns blazing for the second half and on the resumption two early scores from Adam Landy and James O’Sullivan had it back to a two point game, 1-12 to 1-10.
David Nally and Adam Landy hit over one each end, before Paddy Clancy pointed, but there was feeling in the air that Shinrone had more to come and it wasn’t too long until it came.
Ciaran Cleary and David Nally swapped scores by the 37th minute, and then with a brace thanks to Donal Morkan and Adam Landy, we had a one point game, 1-15 to 1-14.
David Nally and Paddy Clancy were causing all sorts of havoc for Shinrone and they were keeping Belmont ticking over recording the next four of Belmont’s score, but Shinrone did respond extremely well thanks to James O’Sullivan, Adam Landy, Adrian Cleary and Sean Cleary leaving Belmont with their noses in front by one, 1-19 to 1-8 with forty nine played.
Shinrone were winning absolutely everything in the middle of the field and with their defence not giving Belmont an inch, it wasn’t too long until they got their just rewards on the board.
Adam Landy drew the side’s level on the 50th and with the next four scores on the trot from Killian Sampson, Donal Morkan with two and Jason Sampson, they were suddenly four clear 1-23 to 1-19 with fifty six played.
Belmont still had time and they did keep coming. David Nally pointed another free and then with sixty two on the clock David Nally broke through.
Sometimes in a game there is a good free to give away and Shinrone had to foul rather than letting him in on the goalmouth. The free was awarded and David Nally hit over.
Leon Fox did have one last ditch effort as he launched a high ball in but it went to the left and wide and it was Shinrone who took the much needed and deserved win. The full time scores reading 1-23 to 1-21.
The Scorers
Shinrone: Adam Landy 0-9 (0-5 Frees), Donal Morkan 0-6, Eamonn Cleary 1-0 (Penalty), James O’Sullivan 0-2, Jason Sampson 0-2, Adrian Cleary 0-1, Killian Sampson 0-1, Ciaran Cleary 0-1, Sean Cleary 0-1.
Belmont: David Nally 0-11 (0-7 Frees, 0-1 ‘6), Paddy Clancy 1-5, Conor Grennan 0-1, Jack Clancy 0-1, Ronan Flynn 0-1 (Free), Shane Nally 0-1, Oisin Kelly 0-1.
The Teams
Shinrone: Eamonn Cleary; Gearoid Maher, Darragh Landy, Luke Watkins; Daniel Doughan, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher; Adrian Cleary, James O’Sullivan; Adam Landy, Jason Sampson, Donal Morkan; Paul Cleary, Ciaran Cleary, Sean Cleary.
Subs: JP Cleary for Ciaran Cleary (38 mins).
Belmont: Damien Egan; Aron McCabe, Ciaran Cahill, Darragh Flynn; Conor Grennan, Leon Fox, Jack Clancy; Patrick Taaffe, Ronan Flynn; David Kelly, Oisin Kelly, Shane Nally; Adam Nugent, David Nally, Paddy Clancy.
Subs: Brian Carroll for Adam Nugent (Half Time), Colin Egan for Shane Nally (44 mins), Adam Egan for Conor Grennan (49 mins).
Referee: Sean Michael Maher (Seir Kieran).
By Offaly Secretary Sun 23rd Aug
