Shinrone grind out win as brave Seir Kieran rue missed opportunity

SHINRONE did what champions need to do by grinding out a win when not at their best as they got on top in the closing quarter to just edge out a very brave Seir Kieran team in the Senior Hurling Championship at Birr on Saturday evening.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 2

Shinrone 1-17
Seir Kieran 2-13

The champions were a nice bit short of their performance levels of last year but winning those type of games is very important in a team's development. With two wins out of two, they are now well on course for the knockout stages and that is their initial aim as they defend the Sean Robbins Cup.

This performance from Shinrone will certainly not win it but credit for this has to also go to Seir Kieran. While Shinrone did not display a full appetite for battle, Seir Kieran certainly did and were not far away from a big win.

Their two goals came in injury time with the second one from Luke Carey the second last puck of the ball so it was not quite as close as the scoreline indicates. Yet over the course of the hour plus Seir Kieran had more than ample chances to have secured at least a draw and perhaps even the win. If that had happened Shinrone would have had to tip their hats to them but the winners did play their best hurling when it counted, in the closing quarter as they just about built up a winning score.

It was a very close run thing and Seir Kieran's tale of woe is reflected by the fact that they finished with fourteen men. Centre back Conor Dooley was sent off for a second yellow in the 51st minute and that had a definite bearing on the outcome – that was a double whammy for Seir Kieran as they had a free in that was within scoring range when Donal Morkan went down and lost that to a throw ball. Shinrone were 1-12 to 0-11 up at that stage but were six clear, 1-16 to 0-13 as it went into injury time.

Joe Bergin blasted wide when going for goal with a 60th 21 metre minute free but Adrian Hynes hit the roof of the net two minutes later from another one to make it a three point game – the first miss will be among the many chances that Seir Kieran will reflect on but Bergin had to go for goal and just got too much height in it, apart from being off target. A 63rd minute Donal Morkan free restored a four point lead for Shinrone and they were fortunate they got that as it meant that Carey's 65th minute goal was immaterial.

Seir Kieran entered this game with a policy of rattling into Shinrone, testing their character and resilience. It meant that they played with an edge and strayed close to the line on a few occasons – they could have picked up a couple more cards but Seir Kieran had to play with this sort of spirit if they were to produce a shock, even if it eventually cost them a man.

Shinrone did not stand back either as an entertaining and ferociously fought game emerged in difficult conditions. Unfortunately for them, Seir Kieran did contribute to their own downfall a bit, through frees conceded and missed chances – Declan Cooke had awarded them a penalty early in the second half but then threw in the ball when a Shinrone player went down in the ensuing play. Midway through the second half, Joe Bergin dropped a long range free short while Adrian Hynes was wide with a more straightforward one and in a tight game, these all counted.

Shinrone were fortunate enough to be 1-7 to 0-9 ahead at half time. Adrian Hynes levelled it up with a free early in the second half and Seir Kieran continued to make life difficult the whole way. Shinrone did knuckle down and responded well. It was level at 1-8 to 0-11 after 38 minutes but Shinrone finally clicked into top gear with a run of four points – the pick of the bunch was the fourth from Killian Sampson as they led by 1-12 to 0-11.

After Dooley saw red, Shinrone got four of the next six points for a six point lead and just about held on.

Seir Kieran's form has added a great, unanticipated dimension to the toughest group. They ran Belmont close in the first half and after shipping some bad beatings in the exact same group last year, they have done very well to turn a corner. They are playing very well and no one will be taking them for granted now.

For Shinrone, the time to fire on all cylinders is the knockout stages but they still have work to do and will have to perform against Belmont and Ballinamere to pick up the other two points they may need to get out. At the moment, however, they have done all that can be asked of them and their performance here was unspectacular but solid.

Seir Kieran were very good for much of the first half and were unlucky to trail by 1-7 to 0-9 at half time – though Shinrone did miss a couple of late chances to extend their lead.

The Clareen men played with great heart and seemed hungrier than Shinrone for much of the first half.

The sides were level three times in the opening eleven minutes, when they were tied at 0-4 each. Then Seir Kieran began to open up. Kevin Dunne and James Mulrooney got points before Paul Cleary replied for Shinrone. Three more from Tom Dooley, Adrian Hynes (free) and Pat Gilligan put them 0-9 to 0-5 ahead after 22 minutes and the underdogs were full value for that lead.

An excellent Sean Cleary goal in the 23rd minute brought Shinrone back into it and they really needed that – a Shinrone player looked like he may have fouled the ball in the build up.

Donal Morkan (free) and Paul Cleary added points for that half time lead and Shinrone were glad to be ahead as they had been on the back foot for a good spell.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran): James Mulrooney had a great game at midfield for Seir Kieran. His five points included four from play and outside of that, he typified Seir Kieran's day with a great work ethic as well as moving on a lot of ball. Paul Cleary was very clinical in the Shinrone attack with four while their half back line of Killian Samspson, Conor Doughan and Dara Maher really rose to the challenge when the pressure was on and Declan Cleary and Luke Watkins put in good shifts at midfield.

THE SCORERS

Shinrone: Donal Morkan 0-7 (7f), Paul Cleary 0-4, Sean Cleary 1-1, Luke Watkins 0-2, Killian Sampson, Declan Cleary, Jason Sampson 0-1 each.

Seir Kieran: Adrian Hynes 1-3 (1-3f), James Mulrooney 0-5 (1f), Luke Carey 1-1, Kevin Dunne, Pat Gilligan, Tom Dooley and Darragh Guinan 0-2 each.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE: Eamonn Cleary; Darren Crean, Darren O'Meara, Darragh Landy; Killian Sampson, Conor Doughan, Dara Maher; Declan Cleary, Luke Watkins; Adrian Cleary, Donal Morkan, DJ McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, Sean Cleary, Jason Sampson. Subs - Dan Doughan for McLoughlin (45m), James Liffey for Crean (52m),

SEIR KIERAN: Joseph Connors; Christopher Connors, Sean Coughlan, Shane Ryan; Kieran Connor, Conor Dooley, Stephen Gilligan; James Mulrooney, John Coughlan; Kevin Dunne, Pat Gilligan, Tom Dooley; Adrian Hynes, Luke Carey, Darragh Guinan. Subs – Joe Bergin for Guinan (35m), Barry Kealey for John Coughlan (62m).

Referee – Declan Cooke (Crinkle).

REFEREE WATCH

Declan Cooke was a busy man and had a lot to keep his eye on. He allowed play to develop and didn't show cards softly, though the hard working Adrian Hynes walked on thin ice for 3 first half minutes – he got a yellow but it could have been two in the space of a couple of seconds while he also tested the referee a couple of minutes later. Conor Dooley did get two later on and he consulted his officials when in doubt – veteran linesman, Martin Walsh drew his attention to Dooley's second yellow card offence. He did allow Joe Bergin and Adrian Hynes take their two injury time frees from the wrong place – they were both 21 metre frees but Bergin and Hynes were in close to 14 metres when striking the ball. There were a few times when he seemed to have allowed a fraction long for advantage but overall, he had a good game and certainly didn't favour either side.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

A lot of potential moments in the match here but we will go with Donal Morkan's 63rd minute free which gave them an absolutely crucial four point lead.

VENUE WATCH

It has been a busy weekend for Birr and this was the third game in St Brendan's Park. A fair bit of rain fell but the pitch still looked good. Birr had plenty of stewards and hosted it well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Seir Kieran play Ballinamere in round 3 while Shinrone meet Belmont.

STATISTICS

Wides: Shinrone - 7 (5 in first half); Seir Kieran - 6 (4 in first game).

Yellow cards: Shinrone – 1 (Declan Cleary); Seir Kieran – 5 (Conor Dooley 2, Sean Coughlan, Christopher Connors and Adrian Hynes).

Red cards: Seir Kieran – 1 (Conor Dooley 2 yellows); Shinrone – 0.