Late scores secure important win for Shinrone as both sides struggle with strong wind on backs

IT sort of smelled of a draw almost the whole way and St Rynagh's will regret that they didn't at least share the spoils as Shinrone found a way to win an engrossing Senior Hurling Championship tussle in Shinrone on Sunday evening.

Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 1

Shinrone 0-19

St Rynagh's 0-17

In a fiercely fought, no holds barred, physical battle, Shinrone sort of fell across the line with excellent late scores from DJ McLoughlin and Paul Cleary giving them a three point lead and leaving St Rynagh's needing a goal to salvage a draw. Three minutes of injury time were played but St Rynagh's attempts were kept at two unlikely free attempts – Aidan Treacy's 21 metre free was deflected out for a '65' that Matthew Maloney pointed when he intended dropping in around the house.

It was an important win for Shinrone against one of their main contenders in a tough group and it sets them up nicely. Interestingly, it was the only home win in seven senior and senior “B” games this weekend and this was one that could very easily have maintained that record. There was nick or nothing in it the whole way, it could have swung any way and no result would have been unjust.

A strong wind blowing straight down the field dictated the game and both sides struggled to make it count when they had it on their backs. It was nearly too strong as they seemed uncertain about the best puckout strategy to operate. Shinrone goalkeeper Eamon Cleary went short with a couple of early ones, took the return and sent the ball wide and both sides had way too many wides when they played with it.

Shinrone looked like they would be in trouble for much of the first half. With Aaron Kenny flying early on and getting two points, St Rytnagh's deservedly led by 0-4 to 0-3 after 12 minutes.

Shinrone finally began to find the range and led by 0-8 to 0-5 after 18 minutes. It was 0-8 each, however, after Shane Rigney equalised in the 24^th minute and St Rynagh's were looking very good. Shinrone hit way too many wides in the first half, 13 in all and many of those were very scoreable with the wind. However, their shooting sharpened up coming to half time as points from Donal Morkan, Eoin Bailey-O'Brien and Adam Landy gave them a 0-13 to 0-9 half time lead.

It looked to be more than a four point wind but it was that type of game that we knew it was more or less 50-50 at the break. Having given a master class in attacking efficiency in the first half with a 100% return from their shots and no wide, St Rynagh's were inflicted with the same malaise from the restart. They had three poor wides in 72 seconds before Shane Rigney found the range. Joey O'Connor and Stephen Quirke brought it back to a point but Shinrone's ability to respond every time St Rynagh's came at them was the reason they won.

Eamon Cleary (free) and DJ McLoughlin got the next two points and even against the wind, a three point lead after 40 minutes was a nice one in such a tight encounter.

Significantly St Rynagh's couldn't manage a run of more than two points in a row. Matthew Maloney and Quirke (free) brought it down to a point, 0-17 to 0-16 with seven minutes of normal time left and it was set up for a draw. Both sides seemed to be doing their best to lose it. St Rynagh's hit some poor wides and couldn't get level while their goalkeeper Conor Clancy raced out to brilliantly deny Paul Cleary what looked a certain match winning goal in the 58^th minute - uncharacteristically Donal Morkan mishit a free from thirty metres, not getting the height into it as it went wide.

St Rynagh's tale of woe included losing a free in shooting range when a player barged into DJ McLoughlin and Shinrone did really well to find an extra gear late on. For a few minutes, they couldn't get their hands on the ball up front but when they did, McLoughlin and Paul Cleary arrowed over the decisive match winning points for a very good win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Killian Sampson (Shinrone): There were plenty of very good individual displays on both sides and the selection is Shinrone's Killian Sampson. Given a new role at centre half back this year, he is growing into it and he ran the game to an extent here, though he did have a quiet third quarter when St Rynagh's got on top. He was brilliant in the first half, scoring two points, he finished powerfully and his distribution and reading of the game was top notch.

Darragh Landy, Dara Maher, DJ McLoughlin and Paul Cleary all played pivotal roles for Shinrone while Matthew Maloney had a very good game for St Rynagh's with Aidan Treacy also excelling on the half back line and Ben Conneely showing his vast experience to cut out crucial ball. Shinrone were well focused on denying Shane Rigney possession but he was sharp, scoring three points, Aaron Molloy had good moments after taking a while to settle into the game and Darragh Scully injected pace and life off the bench.

THE SCORERS

Shinrone: DJ McLoughlin and Donal Morkan (3f) 0-4 each, Paul Cleary 0-3, Eamon Cleary (2f), Killian Sampson and Eoin Bailey-O'Brien 0-2 each, Adam Landy and Sean Cleary 0-1 each.

St Rynagh's: Stephen Quirke 0-5 (4f), Aidan Treacy (3f) and Shane Rigney 0-3 each, Matthew Maloney (1 '65') and Aaron Kenny 0-2 each, Joey O'Connor and Aaron Molloy 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE: Eamonn Cleary; Luke Watkins, Michael Cleary, Darragh Landy; Daniel Doughan, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher; Adrian Cleary, Adam Landy; DJ McLoughlin, Donal Morkan, Ciaran Cleary; Paul Cleary, Jason Sampson, Eoin Bailey-O'Brien. Subs – Sean Cleary for Ciaran Cleary (42m), Gearoid Maher for Doughan (52m).

ST RYNAGH'S: Conor Clancy; Keelan Rigney, Simon Og Lyons, Dominic Healy; Matthew Maloney, Ben Conneely, Aidan Treacy; Daniel Healy, Paul Camon; Shane Rigney, Joey O'Connor, Ciaran Daly; Aaron Molloy, Stephen Quirke, Aaron Kenny. Subs – Darragh Scully for Kenny (46m), Niall Flannery for Daly (51m).

Referee – Adam Kinahan, Clodiagh Gaels.

REFEREE WATCH

Adam Kinahan had a let it run policy, allowing hard tackles and not giving soft frees. He applied it both ways – as usual with this, both sides complained about decisions not given but there were no big issues and he was very fair. He should have thrown in the ball alright coming up to half time when DJ McLoughlin pushed an opponent after Shinrone were given a placed ball. Eoin Bailey-O'Brien got a point from the resultant delivery, but it really should have been a goal. He did throw in a ball late on when a St Rynagh's player pushed DJ McLoughlin who was booked – that free was within scoring range and the referee was 100% right there.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

DJ McLoughlin's 59^th minute point was a game defining one. It was a super score from out on the left and it also gave Shinrone a two point lead at a stage when they were gasping for air and staring a loss in the face.

VENUE WATCH

Like all clubs hosting games this weekend, Shinrone had their pitch in excellent condition and had all hands on deck to ensure the fixture ran like clockwork. They had ample car parking at their grounds and everything went well. Their pitch is small compared to some and with a wind blowing straight down, this was a factor in the game but that was there for both teams.

WHAT'S NEXT

St Rynagh's host Belmont while Shinrone are away to Kinnitty.

STATISTICS

Wides: Shinrone – 15 (13 in first half); St Rynagh's – 9 (0 in first half).

Yellow cards: Shinrone – 3 (Darragh Landy, DJ McLoughlin and Sean Cleary); St Rynagh's – 2 (Ben Conneely and Simon Og Lyons).

Red cards: 0.