By: John O’Callaghan
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Round 1
ST RYNAGH’S 3-18
BIRR 1-20
A Dominant second quarter was decisive in helping St Rynagh’s to an opening round win over Birr in the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship in sunny Banagher on Sunday afternoon.
The opening quarter had been very even with the sides level on three occasions and St Rynagh’s held a one point lead after 19 minutes. But then they hit 2-5 without reply in a seven minute spell to take complete control and they went in at the interval with an 11 point lead.
There was really no way back for Birr from that but to their credit they made a good stab at it in the second half. They fell 12 points down twice early in the second half but then hit five points in a row to give them hope. They chipped away at the lead but the goal they needed didn’t come until deep in injury time and St Rynagh’s were able to pick off enough points at regular intervals to keep their noses well in front and earn a deserved victory.
It was a good solid team performance from St Rynagh’s. They looked sharper than Birr, picking off some lovely points, while some of their link up play and team work was very good and they created good openings in the Birr defence, particularly in the first half.
They were very strong in defence and their half back line and midfield controlled those areas for much of the game. The Birr attack got very little change out of them and their intelligent use of the ball into the forward line created plenty of openings.
Birr struggled to make an impact in the forward line in the first half. They scored four points from play in the first 12 minutes but didn’t score from play again until the fourth minute of the second half. Their starting forwards only contributed four points from play but after making changes at half time, they got more of a return out of their subs with Ian Kerin impressing with four points and Eoin Hayes adding a goal and a point.
After missing out on the knock out stages last year, St Rynagh’s will be delighted with this start and they they will look to build on that now in the games ahead. They will gain great confidence from this performance and will hope it is the start of a good year for them.
Birr are now under pressure and they can ill afford any other slip ups. It is likely that they will have to win at least two of their remaining three games if they hope to advance to the knock out stages.
For St Rynagh’s Ben Conneely, Joseph O’Connor and Gary Conneely did well in defence, Stephen Quirke and Pat Camon put in a good shift at midfield, while Shane Rigney, Evan Houlihan, Eoin Woods and Darragh Scully did well in attack.
For Birr Adam Fitzgerald made one remarkable save from Shane Rigney late in the game. Ben Miller, Campbell Boyd and Emmet Nolan fought hard in defence, Joe Ryan worked hard in midfield while in attack Ailbe Watkins and sub Ian Kerin were best.
St Rynagh’s were quick off the mark with Evan Houlihan pointing after 38 seconds and Darragh Scully quickly added to that to double the lead. Birr responded well and Darragh Tierney and Ailbe Watkins had them level after four minutes. Shane Rigney and Ailbe Watkins exchanged further scores before a Watkins free put Birr ahead for the first time after nine minutes. Colm Mulrooney’s point from 65m stretched the lead but Eoin Woods (free) and Darragh Scully had the sides level midway through the half.
Another Ailbe Watkins free put Birr back in front as the St Rynagh’s wides tally hit eight but they quickly took a stranglehold on the game. A Birr effort dropped short and Conor Clancy’s long clearance found Eoin Woods free in the left corner. He linked up with Jerome Flannery and his pass across the goals was flicked to the net by Evan Houlihan. Flannery quickly added a point himself and Aaron Molloy and Shane Rigney also raised white flags.
Rynagh’s struck for their third goal in the 27th minute when Birr misjudged the bounce after a long clearance and Eoin Woods found himself free inside. His initial effort was saved but the rebound bounced up for him and he finished to the net. He added two more point from frees before Ailbe Watkins finished the first half scoring with a Birr point from a free, their first score in 12 minutes, but it was the home side which led by 3-10 to 0-8 at half time.
St Rynagh’s stretched the lead back to 12 points twice early in the second half with two Eoin Woods’ frees sandwiching a Morgan Watkins free for Birr. Birr then began to come more into the game and they scored the next five points without reply, Eoin Hayes, Emmet Nolan, Ian Kerin with two and Ailbe Watkins from a free all finding the target.
Ben Conneely broke that streak midway through the half when he burst forward to score a good point from 65m. Morgan Watkins and Evan Houlihan exchanged points before Ailbe Watkins with a free and a ’65’ and Ian Kerin added further points to cut the gap to just five points with eight minutes remaining.
St Rynagh’s steadied the ship with points from Eoin Woods (free), Stephen Quirke and Aaron Molloy but Birr kept fighting and Ian Kerin added another point and Ailbe Watkins pointed a free. Shane Rigney had a chance to wrap it up for Rynagh’s when Darragh Scully put him through but Adam Fitzgerald made a terrific save. The Rynagh’s nerves would have been further jolted when Birr finally found the net when Ailbe Watkins took a quick ’65’ to Ben Miller and he drove into the goalmouth. The ball bounced around and Eoin Hayes appeared to be the one to get the final touch to leave just a goal in it. Birr pressed one final time but Rynagh’s broke up the attack and won a free themselves which Eoin Woods pointed to give them a four point winning margin.
MATCH ANALYSIS
THE TEAMS
ST RYNAGH’S: Conor Clancy; Daire Daly, Ben Conneely, Dominic Healy; Paul Cannon, Joseph O’Connor, Gary Conneely; Stephen Quirke, Pat Camon, Shane Rigney, Evan Houlihan, Eoin Woods; Darragh Scully, Jerome Flannery, Aaron Molloy. Subs. Ciaran Daly (for Paul Cannon, half time), Niall Flannery (for Jerome Flannery, 52 mins), Eric Rigney (for Daire Daly, 58 mins).
BIRR:Adam Fitzgerald; Jimmy Irwin, Campbell Boyd, Ben Miller; Sean Ryan, Emmet Nolan, Brendan Murphy; Joe Ryan, Colm Mulrooney; Barry Harding, Luke Nolan, Ailbe Watkins; Darragh Tierney, Morgan Watkins, Lochlann Quinn. Subs. Cian Nolan (for Sean Ryan), Eoin Hayes (for Lochlann Quinn, half time), Ian Kerin (for Brendan Murphy, half time).
REFEREE: Matthew Farrell
STATISTICS
Wides; St Rynagh’s 17 (8 in first half) Birr 10 (5 in first half)
Yellow Cards: St Rynagh’s 1 (Jerome Flannery) Birr 1 (Campbell Boyd).
Black Cards: None
Red Cards: None
THE SCORERS
St Rynagh’s; Eoin Woods (1-7, 0-7 frees), Evan Houlihan, Shane Rigney (1-2 each), Darragh Scully, Aaron Molloy (0-2 each), Jerome Flannery, Ben Conneely, Stephen Quirke (0-1 each).
Birr; Ailbe Watkins (0-10, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ’65’), Eoin Hayes (1-1), Ian Kerin (0-4), Morgan Watkins (0-2, 0-1 free), Darragh Tierney, Colm Mulrooney, Emmet Nolan (0-1 each)
By Offaly Secretary Sun 12th Jul
