Champions Shinrone lay down big marker with first round win

FIRST round games don't matter much in the broader scheme of things and certainly don't signify anything big but Shinrone's win over Coolderry in Birr on Friday evening was hugely important for them.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Shinrone 0-16

Coolderry 0-15

It was their first time to defend the Sean Robbins Cup and they really needed the win. It doesn't mean they will retain the Senior Hurling Championship but it does suggest that they are genuine contenders, that last year was no flash in the pan and that once again, anything is possible for them.

They had to show character to get the win against a typically battling Coolderry and they just barely held on for it but it was a great game for them to win. While Shinrone had a big group win over them last year, also by a point, they have long suffered at the hands of Coolderry and back to back championship wins for them does suggest a sort of changing of the guard.

There is a lot of hurling to be done yet in this very tough group but Shinrone will be delighted with the way they grinded, leading by 0-11 to 0-10 at half time and holding that point margin in a teak tough second half.

Their confidence will grow from this and they have some players in very good early form. Killian Sampson and Conor Doughan were brilliant in their defence, Adrian Cleary very sharp in attack and it was a real workmanlike display by the winners.

Coolderry could yet have a big say in things but this raises questions about them. Brian Carroll only came on as a sub early in the second half, having got a hand operation some time ago, and they will need to get him back at full fitness to feature but they have the capacity to improve and a first round defeat is definitely not fatal.

Playing against the wind, Shinrone moved well from the throw in while Coolderry were not helped by a couple of poor early wides.

Coolderry definitely missed the presence of Brian Carroll in the first half. Daniel Miller missed a couple of frees before getting his eye in while the game was 20 minutes old when Coolderry registered their first point from play.

Shinrone's forwards were much sharper for much of the first half. They had nine first half scorers and all bar two were from play as they led by 0-11 to 0-10 at half time – their first eight points were all from different scorers. Six of Coolderry's first half points came from play and they had just three scorers.

Ironically one of the Shinrone players not to score in the first half was last year's player of the year, Jason Sampson. Having played a new role at centre half back for Offaly all year, it took him a while to settle back into his more familiar attacking role but he did begin to move better coming up to half time.

Shinrone missed very little in the opening twenty minutes. They were four points to no score up after eight minutes and 0-7 to 0-3 up after 14 minutes. Coolderry did improve as the as the half wore on. Their first point from play, a Shane Ryan strike made it 0-5 to 0-7 in the 20th minute. Daniel Miller, Ryan again and William Malone added points from play as they grabbed a 0-9 to 0-8 lead after 25 minutes.

Shinrone responded superblhy. Points from Donal Morkan, Killian Sampson and Adrian Cleary got them two clear and Daniel Miller's late free left Coolderry trailing by one at half time. Shinrone had goal chances to be further ahead at the break – Adrian Cleary hit the post with an early snap shot and Paul Cleary didn't get a really good strike on one much later in the half.

Coolderry made a blistering start to the second half, firing over the first three points to lead by 0-13 to 0-11 after 33 minutes. Again, Shinrone found the rigt answers, getting the next four to take their own two point lead, 0-15 to 0-13 after 44 minutes. Kevin Connolly reduced it to the minimum in the 45th minute as it remained very tighly poised going into the closing quarter.

Unsurprisingly Brian Carroll was now on the field and he was unlucky not to goal in the 46th minute when his shot flew just wide across the goal. Andy Connolly also missed a half goal chance moments later.

Scores were at a premium in the last fifteen minutes as both sides only got one more point each. Donal Morkan's 53rd minute free put Shinrone back two in front but Coolderry had some crucial misses at the most important stage. Brian Carroll, Daniel Miller from a free and Kevin Connolly all had wides that Coolderry just couldn't afford. Carroll eventually found the range two minutes into injury time but Coolderry couldn't manufacture another chance and Shinrone held on.

MATCH AN ALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Conor Doughan (Shinrone): A choice between Conor Doughan and Killian Sampson. Doughan just gets the nod. He was imperious in the heart of defence and sprayed in some very good ball into the forwards. He was rock solid.

THE SCORERS

Shinrone: Donal Moran 0-4 (3f), Adrian Cleary 0-3 each, Jason Sampson Eamonn Cleary (f), Killian Sampson, Dara Maher (f), Declan Cleary, Luke Watkins, Sean Cleary, Paul Cleary, DJ McLoughlin 0-1 each.

Coolderry: Daniel Miller 0-7 (6f), Stephen Corcoran (2f), Shane Ryan and Kevin Connolly 0-2 each, William Malone and Brian Carroll 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE: Eamonn Cleary; Darragh Landy, Darren O'Meara, Darren Crean; Killian Sampson, C, Dara Maher; Luke Watkins, Declan Cleary; Adrian Cleary, Donal Morkan, DJ McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, Conor Doughan, Sean Cleary, Jason Sampson. Subs – James Liffey for Paul Cleary (HT), Dan Doughan for McLoughlin (39m), Joe Cleary for Conor Doughan (60m),

COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Stephen Connolly, Stephen Burke, Conor Molloy; Cian Burke, Gearoid McCormack, David King; Billy Burke, Eoghan Parlon; Kevin Connolly, Shane Ryan, William Malone; Andy Connolly, Eoin Burke, Daniel Miller. Subs – James Tooher for Cian Burke (HT), Brian Carroll for Malone (36m), Cathal Burke for Miller (60m),

Referee – Shane Guinan (Drumcullen).

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Guinan refereed the match well. He did particularly well with the advantage rule – implementing it fully but not allowing too long apart from one second half one as Shinrone bore down on goal. Some referees allow play to run for a questionably long time before giving the free while he was consistent in his application. He missed a couple of throw balls but that happens in every hurling match and he had a good game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Coolderry's late misses were crucial. They missed point chances, also had goal opportunities and will look back on it as a missed opportunity.

VENUE WATCH

Birr was in fine condition and the club once again hosted the fixture to perfection. They deserve particular credit for this as their seniors were playing Kinnitty at the same time and they had to ask supporters to stay back to steward this fixture. They had plenty of hands on deck and one of the stewards, former Birr and Offaly star Rory Hanniffy stepped in to make sure there were two neutral linesmen.

WHAT'S NEXT

Coolderry play Ballinamere and Shinrone have Seir Kieran.

STATISTICS

Wides: Coolderry - (6 in first half); Shinrone - (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Coolderry – 1 (James Tooher); Shinrone – 1 (Jason Sampson).

Red cards: 0