Relieved Shinrone survive by the skin of their teeth as brave Birr lose thrilling extra time shootout

CHAMPIONS Shinrone survived an epic Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final, living on their wits and hanging on by their finger tips in a thrilling extra time shootout in O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday evening.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

Shinrone 1-30

Birr 3-22

After a magnificently entertaining game of hurling, so breathtaking that you couldn't take your eye off it for a second, full of twists and turns, Shinrone scraped into the semi-final with a devastated Birr agoninisingly close.

It was a tremendously brave performance by Birr, arguably their best in several years as they displayed incredible heart and will power. Over the entirety of the eighty minutes plus, Shinrone were the better team and deserved to advance but had the result gone the other way, they would have had to take their hats off and congratulate Birr.

A fluke goal that will be regretted by Birr goalkeeper Sean Thomspon for a long time had helped Shinrone to a 1-19 to 1-12 lead after 45 minutes and the champions were playing terrifically well at this stage. It was impossible to envisage anything other than them coasting to the finish line but the underdogs staged a magnificent rally to pull it out of the fire with a fantastic equalising goal from Morgan Watkins forcing extra time, 2-19 to 1-22.

That goal from Watkins and Shinrone's one from a long range free by Eamon Cleary were two defining moments in this game. Cleary's one came in the 43rd minute and it was one of those deeply unfortunate ones that can destroy a team and player. It was bizarre and extremely lucky – The Shinrone goalkeeper was inside his own fifty metre line when he struck the free and Thompson saw it the whole way. He thought he was sheperding it over the line but misread it and it dropped harmlessly into the bottom left corner of the net.

In contrast, Watkins one oozed quality. Three points down and with the three minutes of injury time over, Birr had to get a goal and Watkins hammered a magnificent shot to the roof of the net after Eoghan Cahill's free found its way to him.

Morgan Watkins got in for a second goal two minutes into extra time, another excellent finish, though he perhaps should have been penalised for taking too many steps. That gave Birr a 3-19 to 1-23 lead and when Eoghan Cahill added a point from play three minutes later, they had a three point lead and were within touching distance of a sensational win.

Shinrone's response to that deserves the absolute highest of praise as they showed their quality all over the field. They grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and Birr could do nothing as they fired over five points to lead by 1-28 to 3-20 at half time in extra time.

Birr found another gear, somehow, and points from Sean Ryan and Lochlann Quinn levelled it up with four minutes left – Quinn was magnificent when introduced, scoring three points and playing with tremendous spirit and verve. By now Eoghan Cahill had been replaced after emptying the tank – playing his first game of the campaign, Cahill was a prime reason in Birr going so close but he seized up in extra time and was called ashore after missing a free he would normally convert.

Once again, Shinrone showed why they are champions. Sub Dan Doughan floated over a beaut with his first touch and then Donal Morkan converted a free to leave Birr needing a goal. They had a couple of 65s that they floated in but Shinrone defended desperately, surviving purely on adrenalin. Colm Mulrooney had the ball in his hands when the very efficient referee Adam Kinahan blew the final whistle but the time was up and the referee was right.

It was a fantastic end to a fantastic game. Birr made a lightening start with the veteran Sean Ryan superb early on. Ryan did brilliantly to feed Emmet Nolan for a seventh minute goal, showing his experience by resisting the temptation to take it on himself and passing to the deadlier finisher inside him. The former county dual star also set up Eoghan Cahill for a point.

Birr led by 1-4 to 0-1 after nine minutes and a shellshocked Shinrone were dazed. They showed their calibre all afternoon with the way they played when questions were asked, the screw turned. They went on a rampage after this, taking control in all sectors and putting Birr under serious pressure. They got five points in a row and a 0-12 to 1-7 half time lead was a very accurate reflection of the way the half went.

They continued to dominate into the second half and looked very impressive as they got into a winning position. They began to pick points off from all over, they had men standing up in every area and they were 0-18 to 1-12 ahead when Eamonn Cleary got that very fortutious goal. Even without that goal, Shinrone looked comfortably in control and Adrian Cleary added a super point in the 45th minute to make it 1-19 to 1-12.

Shinrone manager, Trevor Fletcher won't be happy at all with the fourth quarter. While Birr deserve praise for their battling spirits, Shinrone assisted them greatly, becoming very ragged and sloppy as their error count crept worryingly high. While Birr did work hard, some of the ball Shinrone spillled or didn't collect was simply down to them losing a bit of focus.

Gradually Birr crept back into it. Three Eoghan Cahill frees brought the gap down to four with seven minutes left but even then the alarm bells weren't ringing for Shinrone. A Cahill point from play left a goal in it but a super Adrian Cleary point put four in it with four left. By now, the excitement was at heart attack level as Birr suddenly scented blood. Lochlann Quinn and Luke Nolan got points and Killian Sampson made it a three point game with two minutes left. Then Jason Sampson, who was immense when Shinrone began to unravel, put four in it as it went into injury time.

Birr came again.The superb Lochlann Quinn got a point and Watkins goal resulted in extra time and more entertainment for the spell bound attendance.

Interestingly, Shinrone didn't introduce Ciaran Cleary who came back from Australia late last week – Cleary's performances at full forward were pivotal to last year's history making win and he will be a great asset for the semi-final against Ballinamere or Kilcormac-Killoughey.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Killian Samspon (Shinrone): It was a strange sort of game in that Birr were so close to the win and almost took it but most of the man of the match contenders were in the red of Shinrone. Eoghan Cahill showed his value to Birr while Lochlann Quinn was super off the bench and Morgan Watkins kept them alive with a great 2-2 haul. At different stages, different Shinrone players were marked down for man of the match – Conor Doughan in the first quarter, Paul Cleary who displayed tremendous opportunism with four points, having one of his best ever games in the Shinrone colours. Dara Maher, Michael Cleary and Darren O'Meara were on top of their game in their defence, Adrian Cleary was wonderfully sharp at times in the attack and Jason Sampson showed great leadership qualitities every time Birr threatened a win. Killian Samspon gets my vote this time. He was excellent in the attack, scoring four points and then did trojan work when he went back to a more familiar defensive role late on and in extra time. The unseen work he did, his work rate, was also immense.

THE SCORERS

Shinrone: Donal Morkan 0-8 (7f), Adrian Cleary 0-5, Killian Samspon and Paul Cleary 0-4 each, Declan Cleary, Sean Cleary, Jason Samspon 0-2 each, Dara Maher (f), Luke Watkins and Dan Doughan 0-1 each.

Birr: Eoghan Cahill 0-13 (9f), Morgan Watkins 2-2, Lochlann Quinn 0-3, Emmet Nolan 1-0, Joe Ryan 0-2, Luke Nolan and Sean Ryan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE: Eamonn Cleary; Darren Crean, Darren O'Meara, Darragh Landy; Michael Cleary, Conor Doughan, Dara Maher; Declan Cleary, Luke Watkins; Adrian Cleary, Donal Morkan, Killian Sampson; Sean Cleary, Jason Sampson, Paul Cleary. Subs – DJ McLoughlin for Doughan (55m), David Murray for Watkins (60 + 1m), Luke Watkins for Declan Cleary (68m), Conor Doughan for Adrian Cleary,inj. (73m), Dan Doughan for Sean Cleary (77m),

BIRR: Sean Thompson; Campbell Boyd, Oisin Murphy, Eoin Hayes; Brian Watkins, Barry Harding, Padraic Watkins; Rory Carthy, Joe Ryan; Ailbe Watkins, Eoghan Cahill, Emmet Nolan; Sean Ryan, Morgan Watkins, Colm Mulrooney. Subs - Luke Nolan for Ailbe Watkins (HT), Lochlann Quinn for Sean Ryan (44m), Jimmy Irwin for Carthy (49m), Ben Miller for Boyd (HT Extra time), Ailbe Watkins for Joe Ryan (HT Extra time), Sean Ryan for Cahill,inj. (72m),

Referee – Adam Kinahan, Clodiagh Gaels.

REFEREE WATCH

Adam Kinahan refereed it with the efficiency and competence we have come to take for granted. He dealt with everything quickly and there were no significant issues. He did penalise Conor Doughan dubiously for a second half pick up that resulted in an Eoghan Cahill pointed free while Morgan Watkins went very close to over carrying for his second goal but there will be calls like that in every game, they balanced out and he was very fair. He did allow well over the announced one minute of injury time at the end of extra time as Birr hunted a winning goal – though it is understood that he had indicated two minutes to be played and this would have been about right as there had been a couple of hold ups.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Morgan Watkins equalising goal right at the end of normal time is hard to rival for drama and importance. Birr didn't take advantage but it was as good a goal as you will see.

VENUE WATCH

This was the last game in a very busy weekend in O'Connor Park and it all went off like clockwork, with the pitch showing very few scars.

WHAT'S NEXT

Shinrone play Kilcormac-Killoughey or Ballinamere in the semi-final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Shinrone – 13 (5 in first half, 6 in 2nd half, 1 in 1st period extra time, 1 in 2nd period); Birr - 14 (5 in first half, 4 in 2nd half, 3 in 2nd period extra time, 2 in 2nd period).

Yellow cards: Shinrone – 2 (Darren O'Meara and Adrian Cleary); Birr – 2 (Oisin Murphy and Eoin Hayes).

Red cards: 0.