Edenderry do just enough to make quarter-finals as Shamrocks fight hard

HAVING blown fairly cold in their earlier games, Edenderry reached a luke warm, tepid temperature as they did just enough, and very little more, to see off Shamrocks in a must win game in Geashill on Saturday evening.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 3

Edenderry 0-15

Shamrocks 0-13

The win earns Edenderry a quarter-final berth against Durrow and they will now be aiming for a considerable lift in intensity and form now that they are in knockout football. Their form so far has given no indication that they can win the Dowling Cup but they have a quality of player that commands respect and the capacity to make definite improvement – they will also fancy their chances of making the semi-finals with a quarter-final against Durrow.

Whether they can suddenly turn it on having played well below par to date remains to be seen but nobody will be taking anything for granted against them and they are where they want to be. Shamrocks go into the relegation play off against Clara with their heads high and after a bad mauling by Rhode in their last outing, this will have restored their confidence.

While the two point winning margin may suggest otherwise, and it is true that they will reflect with regret on some missed chances, it would be stretching things to suggest that this was a wasted opportunity for Shamrocks. It wasn't really and there was never any stage of the game where you actually thought Edenderry were going to lose but a two point winning margin is a very fragile one – and it takes very little to be sucker punched with it.

Missing several players through emigration and injury, Shamrocks welcomed back Jack Bryant from the USA for this one. Bryant and Nigel Dunne had the beating of their men all evening, even if one point from Bryant was less than they needed, and they were the main reason they were so close. When the ball didn't go through their hands, Shamrocks struggled to break the line and create chances. A novice team some times took the wrong option, not slipping the ball to players advancing into dangerous territory but as a unit, they gave a very whole hearted effort, fighting for everything. New players, David O'Rourke and Eoghan Neville showed the Shamrocks spirit with their work rate as well as using the ball well and they will take positives out of this ahead of the relegation showdown with Clara.

The Edenderry attack was not much better but Cian Farrell was on fire for them, causing problems for Shamrocks every time the ball went near him. Jordan Hayes gave them an important foothold at midfield where Andrew Delaney did move well at times for the losers and Dylan Hutchinson did some good things. A sweeper, Colin Byrne did attack well from deep for Edenderry while Mark Abbott had a very productive game, tearing up the wing and defending well.

Shamrocks had first use of a slight wind and were in trouble when they trailed by 0-9 to 0-7 at the break. They worked hard and were level at 0-2 each after seven minutes. They trailed by 0-5 to 0-4 after 18 but Edenderry then played some of their best football. They got three of the next four point with Cian Farrell's super fisted score putting them 0-9 to 0-5 clear. Dara Daly and Nigel Dunne got the closing points for Shamrocks to keep them in with a chance at the break.

The second half was a strange sort of one for Edenderry. They always looked like they had enough to win but the killer instinct was absent and they never put them away. When Colm Byrne, Jordan Hayes and Cian Farrell kicked the opening three points of the second half in six minutes to put them 0-12 to 0-7 ahead, Shamrocks were on the ropes and Edenderry really should have pushed for home from here.

Their failure to do so raises questions and Shamrocks bringing it down to the wire was down to a mixture of them digging dig and Edenderry not going for the jugular. It was clear, however, that Shamrocks would need a goal to save their championship bacon but they didn't take their one clear chance with new goalkeeper, the very experienced Mark Young doing very well to save from the very hard working Dan Heffernan, who got on a lot of ball. Shamrocks also had a couple of wides that they just couldn't afford but they still managed to get back into it.

Nigel Dunne's lovely point made it a three point game, 0-10 to 0-13 with twelve minutes left. Cian Farrell's beautifully struck '45' put Edenderry four up with eight left. Again, they didn't finish it off. Dunne got two points, the second one a super score from play, to make it a two point game in injury time. A goal would have put Edenderry out and they shouldn't have been in that situation. Cillian Lowry shot wide when he should have passed inside to the unmarked Mark Abbott and while Shamrocks never got in close enough to threaten a salvage act, they were within touching distance at the final whistle – Edenderry finished with fourteen when Bobby Reynolds got a straight red in injury time.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Mark Abbott (Edenderry): Cian Farrell and Nigel Dunne inflicted similar damge at opposite end of the field. Jordan Hayes is close to finding his best form for Edenderry and games will bring him on while Mark Abbott is the choice. He defended solidly, did the simple thing well and attacked very efficiently. He got a point, had a wide, set up chances and it was not his fault that team mates didn't feed him when he drifted into dangerous positions up the field.

THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Cian Farrell 0-7 (3 f and 1 '45'), Sean Doyle 0-4 (3f), Colm Byrne 0-2, Mark Abbott and Jordan Hayes 0-1 each.

Shamrocks: Nigel Dunne 0-9 (2f, 1 '45' and 1 mark), Dylan Hutchinson, Eoghan Neville, Jack Bryant and Dara Daly 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

EDENDERRY:: Mark Young; Daithi Brady, Sean Pender, Lee Pearson; Mark Abbott, David Hanlon, Adam Mahon; Oran Lawton, Jordan Hayes; Darragh Farrell, Bobby Reynolds, Ciaran Farrell; Sean Doyle, Cian Farrell, Colm Byrne. Subs – Dylan Byrne for Darragh Farrell (38m), Cillian Lowry for Ciaran Farrell (55m).

SHAMROCLS: Mark O'Rourke; Jack Watkins, Gary Hutchinson, Adam Keyes; David O'Rourke, Shane O'Toole-Greene, Eoghan Neville; Andrew Delaney, Dylan Hutchinson; Dan Heffernan, Jack Bryant, Gary Merriman; Darragh Bryant, Nigel Dunne, Dara Daly. Subs – Padraig Cantwell for Merriman (36m).

Referee – Eamon O'Connor (Ballycommon).

REFEREE WATCH

Eamon O'Connor had a good game. He was in control and exuded efficiency. Bobby Reynolds protested his innocence when getting a red card after getting into a tussle with Andew Delaney near the end but O'Connor was adamant it was a sending off.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Mark Young's 41st minute save from Dan Heffernan was crucial. Shamrocks had to get a goal to win and that was their only chance.

VENUE WATCH

Raheen GAA Club were excellent hosts in Geashill. Their pitch looked good and they had plenty of efficient stewards.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edenderry play Durrow in the quarter-finals while Shamrocks face Clara in the relegation showdown.

STATISTICS

Wides: Edenderry – 6 (2 in first half); Shamrocks – 7 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Edenderry – 2 (Cian Farrell and David Hanlon); Shamrocks – 1 (Gary Hutchinson).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: Edenderry – 1 (Bobby Reynolds); Shamrocks – 0.