Impressive Shinrone show title intent with convincing win

THEY may have more in the tank and certainly need to sharpen up on their shooting but there was something quietly impressive about the way Shinrone collected their second brace of points in the Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday evening against a very honest but outclassed Kinnitty side.

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

Shinrone 4-21

Kinnitty 3-9

With four points on the board from two games, Shinrone are heading towards the knockout stages and are moving with real intent. Considering their 4-21 final tally, criticism of their shooting may seem unnecessary but they had fifteen wides, nine in the first half with the wind on their back and they won't be able to afford that in the tough tests that lie ahead later in the year.

They have now emerged as serious title contenders and are not far off the form that saw them capture a historic first title in 2022. Shinrone won't be making any big pronouncements on the basis of this very facile win but the way they used and tried to use the ball, the composure they showed in tight corners commanded complete respect.

With former county player Paddy Delaney in Australia and having shipped a heavy enough defeat from Tullamore in the Division 1 Hurling League relegation play off, we suspected that Kinnitty would not be able to compete with Shinrone. They played with the battling qualities that you would expect but their defeat and the margin of Shinrone's victory was not a surprise to anyone.

Playing with a stiff wind on their back in the first half, it took Shinrone a while to settle. A seventh minute Jason Sampson goal after a super build up with Eoin Bailey-O'Brien and Paul Cleary gave them a 1-2 to 0-2 lead but Kinnitty remained on their heels for a few minutes. Shinrone hit five poor wides in one spell but a 19^th minute Adam Landy goal gave them a 2-5 to 0-3 lead. That goal was a disaster for Kinnitty as goalkeeper Niall Corrigan was hooked while preparing to clear the ball and Landy tapped to the net from a few metres out.

Shinrone led by 2-9 to 0-4 with the interval approaching and we had three goals then in a crazy three minutes of injury time. Danny Flanagan struck first for Kinnitty but this was cancelled out immediately by Eoin Bailey-O'Brien at the other end. A 33^rd minute penalty goal from James Demspsey after he was fouled left Kinnitty trailing by 3-9 to 2-4 at the break.

That second goal should have given Kinnitty a lifeline and with the wind to come, an eight point deficit was retrievable but everyone knew that Shinrone would be able to hit a winning mark in the second half.

Kinnitty needed early scores to have any chance but missed costly frees – James Dempsey underhit one, Niall Corrigan was short with a long range shot, Dempsey dropped a '65' short and Odhran Kealey was off target with a '65'. Even had those went over, Shinrone would have won but it would have given Kinnitty hope and they would have really went at it. Danny Flanagan got in for a 47^th minute goal for Kinnitty to make it 3-14 to 3-6 after 45 minutes but those misses meant that it generated no excitement.

Kinnitty could very easily have been five points closer and it would have been interesting then but instead there was an air of inevitability about the way Shinrone responded and pulled clear. Points from Adrian Cleary and Ciaran Cleary put ten points in it and the closing ten minutes was a non event. Shinrone were good in this period, adding five points and Sean Cleary put the icing on the cake with an injury time goal.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dara Maher (Shinrone): Shinrone had a handful of contenders and Kinnitty had one in centre half back, Shane Kinsella who did his utmost to halt the tide with a powerful first half display at centre half back.

Shinrone had a lot of players who performed at a high level with Luke Watkins, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher and Jason Sampson all vying for man of the match. Jason Sampson was tremendous in the attack, showing great leadership from start to finish while DJ McLoughlin and Paul Cleary also had excellent spells for the winners.

My choice is Dara Maher, who just edges the wonderfully sharp and intuitive Watkins. He was immense in the first quarter when Kinnitty were competitive and his reading of the game and distribution was of a high order. He made himself available and while not every pass hit the mark, you could see that he was always trying to do the right thing and eager to impress.

THE SCORERS

Shinrone: Jason Sampson 1-4, Sean Cleary 1-2, Adam Landy 1-1, DJ McLoughlin, Donal Morkan (2 '65' and 1f) and Paul Cleary 0-3 each, Eoin Bailey-O'Brien 1-0, Adrian Cleary 0-2, Eamon Cleary (f), Ciaran Cleary and Declan Cleary 0-1 each.

Kinnitty: James Dempsey 1-3 (goal from a penalty and 3f), Danny Flanagan 2-0, Jason Armstrong and Conor Hardiman 0-2 each, Cathal Robinson and Eoghan Callaghan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE: Eamon Cleary; Luke Watkins, Michael Cleary, Darragh Landy; Dan Doughan, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher; Adrian Cleary, Adam Landy; Sean Cleary, Donal Morkan, DJ McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, Jason Sampson, Eoin Bailey-O'Brien. Subs – Ciaran Cleary for Bailey-O'Brien (39m), Declan Cleary for Adam Landy (48m), Gearoid Maher for Adrian Cleary (54m),

KINNITTY: Niall Corrigan; Willie Molloy, Paddy Rigney, Paddy Dooley; Conor Meaney, Shane Kinsella, Brian Coughlan; Christopher Leonard, Jason Armstrong; Conor Hardiman, Cathal Robinson, Aodhan Kealey; Eamon Callaghan, James Dempsey, Danny Flanagan. Subs – Odhran Kealey for Callaghan (HT), Paddy Byrne for Aodhan Kealey (57m),

Referee – Adam Kinahan (Clodiagh Gaels).

REFEREE WATCH

Adam Kinahan let play run but was fair and consistent with this. Kinnitty's injury time penalty looked to be a bit of six of one and half a dozen of the other though Michael Cleary did have his arms wrapped around James Dempsey and the referee may have been right. He penalised Shinrone a few times in the second half for over-carrying, he was right each time and the winners will be conscious of their own guilt here.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Shinrone's second goal from Adam Landy in the 19^th minute was very unfortunate from a Kinnitty perspective but was one they could ill afford. It gave Shinrone a 2-5 to 0-3 lead and even though Kinnitty had some sort of a chance at half time, they were swimming against the tide from then on.

VENUE WATCH

The home and away arrangement is working really well in the opening rounds of the hurling and football championships. It has prompted several clubs to do work on their facilities and they have really embraced it. Kinnitty are exemplary hosts for all their fixtures but they pushed the boat out even further as they hosted their senior hurlers for the first time in a championship fixture. They went out of their way to ensure the needs of everyone were met, including the media, they had plenty of stewards and their pitch was in good order. Like Tullamore GAA on Thursday night, the provision of a piper for the National Anthem was an added very nice touch.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kinnitty play Belmont in Birr in round 3 while Shinrone have their bye and also meet Belmont next.

STATISTICS

Wides: Kinnitty - 11 (6 in first half); Shinrone – 15 (9 in first half).

Yellow cards: Kinnitty – 1 (Jason Armstrong); Shinrone – 2 (Michael Cleary, Darragh Landy and Jason Sampson).

Red cards: 0