St Rynagh's book semi-final slot with powerful finish

St Rynagh's finished strongly to book their place in the Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals in Birr on Sunday, just edging out a battling Shamrocks.

Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final

St Rynagh's 1-19

Shamrocks 1-12

1-8 to 0-7 ahead at half time, St Rynagh's got seven clear five minutes into the second half and Shamrocks did very well to get back on level terms by the 44^th minute, Dara Bates getting the goal.

St Rynagh's, however, finished powerfully from here and were full value for their win. They were the better side over the hour plus, playing the sweeter hurling whereas an understrength Shamrocks relied more on guts and determination to stay alive.

Shamrocks were down the injured Conor Condron and David O'Toole and could not afford these losses. O'Toole's absence will be a big concern for their senior footballers ahead of their quarter-final against Ballycommon next weekend.

One of the replacements was an Offaly senior hurling panelist in Padraig Cantwell and while he did a lot of quality hurling, he also had his hands full when on Evan Houlihan in the first half.

St Rynagh's had a better balanced team and while Shamrocks gave it everything, the south Offaly stronghold always looked like they would win.

St Rynagh's were marginally the better side in the first half and their half time lead of 1-8 to 0-7 was a fair reflection of the way it went. Shamrocks competed very well for everything but St Rynagh's were a small bit slicker and passed the ball better.

It didn't always work out but it did mean that they created better chances. St Rynagh's grabbed the initiative with a great fourth minute goal from Damien McLoughlin, as he pulled hard on a Mike McLoughlin delivery to find the net.

Michael Boylan's point made it 1-1 to 0-1 and Shamrocks found form after this. Points from Wayne Mooney, Dara Bates and Eoghan Neville (free) levelled it up after nine minutes. St Rynagh's got three runs of two points without reply after this and this allowed them to open a bit of a gap. Shamrocks hung in well but were fortunate that St Rynagh's didn't get a second goal before the interval – Shamrocks' keeper John Kinahan made a good save from Jacob Mahon in the 25^th minute, though Mahon's strike was not as clean as he would have wished.

Donie Moran sent the '65' wide and St Rynagh's had two more wides in the next minute to leave Shamrocks closer than they might have been. Eoghan Neville and Moran exchanged frees to leave Rynagh's with that four point interval lead.

St Rynagh's opened up a seven point gap with the first three points of the second half but Shamrocks did very well to get back into it from here. They got four points in a row, playing some of their best hurling before Evan Houlihan got his fourth point for Rynagh's. It was a one point game in the 44^th minute when Dara Bates got a Shamrocks' goal, batting home to rebound after his first attempt hit the crossbar.

A Neville free levelled it up but St Rynagh's finished powerfully, getting on top all over the field and scoring the last seven points for an ultimately convincing win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Evan Houlihan (St Rynagh's): Evan Houlihan had a great game for St Rynagh's, scoring four points and setting up other scores. David Rigney, Michael Boylan and Donie Moran also excelled for them while Dara Bates was Shamrocks' best player and Eoghan Neville took his frees well and Sean Mooney did some great defensive work.

THE SCORERS

St Rynagh's; Donie Moran 0-11 (9f), Evan Houlihan 0-4, Damien McLoughlin 1-0, Michael Boylan 0-3, Jacob Mahon 0-1.

Shamrocks: Eoghan Neville 0-7 (7f), Dara Bates 1-2, Wayne Mooney 0-Darragh Neville 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

ST RYNAGH'S: Ciaran Flannery; Dominic Healy, Mike Harrington, Daire Daly; Erin Rigney, David Rigney, Mike McLoughlin; Paul Cannon, Niall Flannery; Jacob Mahon, Evan Houlihan, Jerome Flannery; Michael Boylan, Damien McLoughlin, Donie Moran. Subs – Paul Quirke for Jerome Flannery (49m), Dan Healy for Moran (60m),

SHAMROCKS: John Kinahan; Mark Malone, Mark Buckley, Sean Mooney; Cathal Healion, Padraig Cantwell, David O'Rourke; Dara Bates, Neil Minnock; Eoin Meacle, Wayne Mooney, Eoghan Neville; Shane Kearney, Darragh Neville, David Molloy. Subs – Alan Foster for Darragh Meacle (39m), Brian Kearney for David Molloy (53m), Sam Foster for Eoghan Meacle (53m).

Referee – Matthew Farrell (Tullamore).

REFEREE WATCH

Matthew Farrell has had a busy schedule of games in recent weeks and he gave another efficient display. The only quibble was that he hasn't quite got the advantage rule right yet, allowing marginally too long a couple of times before giving the frees. The application of the advantage rule is a tough one for referees, very much a judgement call, but if the time is up and the ball goes wide, the free should not be called back.

Unusually, there wasn't neutral linesmen and that was a pity for an important game like this.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

St Rynagh's response after Shamrocks got level at the three quarter way stage was very impressive and they took over completely.

VENUE WATCH

It was a busy day for Birr GAA Club with their seniors playing Kinnitty in nearby Crinkle at 4pm. This tied up a lot of people but they still had most of their hardy regulars present to look after this fixture. The pitch was in very good condition and there were no issues.

WHAT'S NEXT

St Rynagh's go into the semi-finals where they meet Drumcullen or Coolderry.

STATISTICS

Wides: Shamrocks - 7 6 in first half); St Rynagh's - 7 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: St Rynagh's – 1 (Niall Flannery); Shamrocks – 0.

Red cards: 0.