St Rynagh's flirt with disaster before ending sensational Coolderry rally

IN many ways, the game was reflective of St Rynagh's form so far this year. They looked very good at times in Saturday's Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final against Coolderry, playing very efficient steady hurling, and controlling proceedings. Then they had spells where they took their eye off the ball, fell half asleep and slipped into a comfort zone that only rarely ignited into life.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final

St Rynagh's 3-13

Coolderry 1-16

It means that the jury is still out on them but they are very much alive and very much dangerous after eventually seeing off typically ferocious resistance from Coolderry in O'Connor Park. St Rynagh's looked very good for spells in each half but ended up stumbling rather than marching into the semi-finals, where neither Kilcormac-Killoughey or Ballinamere will relish playing them.

It ended up another unconvincing display by St Rynagh's but the closing ten minutes should not disguise how much they were in control for much of the game. They flirted with disaster late on as a sensational Coolderry rally brought them back onto level terms with four minutes left before a 58th minute Aaron Kenny goal steadied the ship and they were able to scrape across the line.

St Rynagh's should have been home and hosed before Coolderry threw the kitchen sink at them in the closing minutes. They were 2-12 to 0-12 ahead inside the last ten minutes and no danger whatsoever appeared imminent but it all changed in the blink of an eye. A 52nd minute Stephen Corcoran pointed free barely raised a murmur from the Coolderry support but they were on their feet a minute later when a brilliant move involving Brian Carroll and Kevin Connolly ended with Andy Connolly scoring a goal.

Suddenly there was only two points in it and St Rynagh's composure flew straight out the window. Sean Dolan and Eoin Woods had bad wides and Shane Rigney dropped another good chance short as St Rynagh's became increasingly vulnerable.Carroll and Kevin Connolly slotted over opportunist points to level it up with four minutes left and an upset loomed into view.

Instead St Rynagh's got the break they needed as Aaron Kenny's first shot in the 58th minute lacked the required power but the rebound fell to him to score a crucial third goal. Sub Jerome Flannery added a point and that gave them the cushion they required as Andy Connolly's injury time point didn't have any bearing.

While St Rynagh's did deserve to win, played the more consistent and sustained hurling and were the better side, lady luck smiled on them with their three goals and Coolderry will look back on this as a missed opportunity. The first goal from Kenny in the 17th minute came after Joey O'Connor opted against taking the simple point and didn't catch his shot but the ball fell kindly for the forward. The second in the 37th minute was the luckiest of the three as Coolderry had a couple of chances to clear and corner back Stephen Connolly was advancing out with the ball and threw it up in the air when Eoin Woods nipped in to bat it to the net.

Coolderry missed a great goal chance of their own in the 47th minute. Once again, the veteran Brian Carroll made his presence felt when introduced early in the second half and you would have put your car on him when the ball fell to him in front of the goals. He had a fresh air swipe before shooting high from the rebound - a point was initially signalled before being waved wide after the referee Shane Guinan consulted with his umpires.

It all ended up a very close run thing but ultimately Coolderry paid the price for a very poor second quarter. They had scraped out of their group and hadn't been going well but once again showed terrific character and how difficult they are to beat.

They were very competitive early on, matching St Rynagh's in every facet and they deserved to lead by 0-6 to 0-5 after seventeen minutes. Then they fell apart as St Rynagh's upped the ante, playing their best hurling. Kenny's goal gave them a 1-5 to 0-6 lead and they scored 1-5 without reply to lead by 1-10 to 0-6 at half time – it could have been more as Stephen Corcoran made a great save to deny Luke O'Connor a goal with Eoin Woods pointing the '65'.

Woods' goal put St Rynagh's 2-11 to 0-8 ahead seven minutes into the second half and a nine point lead looked like it was much more than they would need. They didn't put them away and almost paid for it as Coolderry got four on the trot to make it 0-12 to 2-11 after 45 minutes. A Shane Rigney point put six in it again but Coolderry's rally almost pulled it out of the fire and they had other misses they will regret.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Matthew Maloney (St Rynagh's): Most of St Rynagh's best performers were in defence with Simon Og Lyons and Ben Conneely excellent. Matthew Maloney gets the nod on this occasion as he had a huge game, winning a lot of ball, doing the simple thing effectively and using it well, as well as getting two points. Aaron Kenny got a decisive 2-1 up front while Joey O'Connor motored very well for periods and Shane Rigney did well.

THE SCORERS

St Rynagh's: Eoin Woods 1-4 (3 '65'and 1f), Aaron Kenny 2-1, Shane Rigney, Joey O'Connor and Matthew Maloney 0-2 each, Jerome Flannery and Luke O'Connor 0-1.

Coolderry: Daniel Miller 0-7 (5f), Andy Connolly 1-1, Kevin Connolly 0-3, Gearoid McCormack 0-2, Stephen Corcoran (f) and Brian Carroll 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

ST RYNAGH'S: Conor Clancy; Conor Hernon, Pat Camon, Simon Og Lyons; Brian Rigney, Ben Conneely Matthew Maloney; Shane Rigney, Aidan Treacy; Sean Dolan, Joey O'Connor, Gary Conneely; Luke O'Connor, Aaron Kenny, Eoin Woods. Subs – Stephen Quirke for Luke O'Connor (52m), Jerome Flannery for Treacy (56m), Paul Quirke for Gary Conneely (60m), Evan Houlihan for Kenny (62m).

COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Stephen Connolly, Stephen Burke, Paddy Maher; Cathal Burke, Billy Burke, David King; Cian Burke, Conor Molloy; Eoghan Parlon, Gearoid McCormack, Daniel Miller; Eoin Ryan, Kevin Connolly, William Malone. Subs – Brian Catrroll for Ryan (37m), Andy Connolly for Parlon (39m), Cian O'Connor for Cian Burke (56m), Eoin Burke for Miller (60m).

Referee – Shane Guinan (Drumcullen)

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Guinan refereed it well, though Coolderry will complain a bit. They were penalised for over carrying on three occasions in the first half while two points were ruled out after he consulted with umpires – it was impossible to know with Brian Carroll's one from the stand as he hit it so quick, high and hard but Daniel Miller's 38th minute free was the correct call as it clearly hit the post and went wide off it – Miller got seven points, two from play, but also had a handful of misses.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Aaron Kenny's late goal was the match winner.

VENUE WATCH

A bracing wind helped dry the pitch out after recent rainfall and a heavy schedule of games and it held up well for this.

WHAT'S NEXT

St Rynagh's play Kilcormac-Killoughey or Ballinamere in the semi-finals.

STATISTICS

Wides: St Rynagh's – 12 (5 in first half); Coolderry – 14 (7 in first half).

Yellow cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.