Flat Belmont snatch victory from jaws of defeat as unlucky Kinnitty endure devastating defeat

A VERY flat and off the boil Belmont used up most of their nine lives as they snatched a very fortunate victory from the jaws of defeat in a teak tough, uncompromising Senior Hurling Championship tie in Birr on Saturday afternoon.

Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Belmont 1-13

Kinnitty 0-14

Kinnitty were on the verge of a shock win over Belmont for the second successive year when they led by 0-14 to 0-12 deep into injury time. A cut over the eye that resulted in lengthy injury treatment for Belmont defender James Nally saw over six minutes of injury time played.

Playing some heart warmingly determined hurling, Kinnitty were still two points to the good with 64 minutes played but Belmont got in for 1-1 to take the win. The goal was scored by a sub introduced in the 59^th minute Brian Carroll, who patiently waited on the wings while the ball was thrown in a couple of times following rucks for the ball. When the ball eventually went Carroll's way, he strode into space and riffled a great shot to the bottom of the net.

A point would still have earned Kinnitty a deserved draw but they couldn't mount an attack and instead David Nally fired over a 66^th minute free from midfield to seal a dramatic win.

Belmont definitely got out of jail. Having drawn with Kilcormac-Killoughey and beaten St Rynagh's in the first two rounds, they were flying high but almost came down to earth with a thud. For whatever reason and it is very possibly down to their dual commitments with Ferbane footballers and the relentless week on week programme of games, they just couldn't hit the high gears here and were sitting ducks from throw in to final whistle.

Kinnitty will harbour huge regrets at not taking them out and they had a golden chance to do so. Kinnitty were a mile off the pace in their first round loss to Shinrone but the impression that Belmont would be much more to their liking proved to be well founded.

Kinnitty took the game to their opponents from the start. They were four points to the good after six minutes and were unlucky to have a clinically taken 8^th minute Danny Flanagan ruled out for a foul in the build up. Belmont were asleep with their intensity and work rate several notches below requirements.

David Nally got them off the mark with an 11^th minute free but three in a row, one of them a great Cathal Robinson point from play, had Kinnitty 0-7 to 0-1 after 15 minutes. They were 0-8 to 0-3 up after 26 minutes but it was down to 0-9 to 0-7 at the break and that was a problem for Kinnitty as it in no way reflected their first half superiority – seven first half wides, some of them poor ones, did not help their cause.

Adam Egan got a great Belmont point at the start of the second half but Kinnitty hit three on the run to lead by 0-12 to 0-8 after 39 minutes. They didn't score again until the 56^th minute as Belmont hit four in a row to level it up. The favourites, however, didn't play with any real momentum in this period and Kinnitty found another gear late on.

Damien Egan kept Belmont alive with a fantastic 55^th minute save from Danny Flanagan but Kinnitty got points from Conor Meaney and Conor Hardiman to lead by two. It looked like this would be enough until those late scores and this was one of those rare games where the better team didn't win but that won't at all bother Belmont who are now bound for the quarter-finals.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Damien Egan (Belmont): Goalkeeper Damien Egan was a huge factor in Belmont's win. He got two huge long range frees, handled difficult ball well and he denied Danny Flanagan a late goal that would almost certainly have broken Belmont. He was their key performer in a collectively below par display.

Shane Kinsella had a great game for Kinnitty at the heart of their defence while Eoghan Callaghan got crucial scores to give them a real chance in attack.

THE SCORERS

Belmont: David Nally 0-6 (4f), Brian Carroll 1-0, Damien Egan (2f) and Adam Egan 0-2 each, James Nally, Aaron McCabe and Ronan McEvoy 0-1 each.

Kinnitty: James Dempsey 0-4 (4f), Danny Flanagan 1-1, Eoghan Callaghan 0-4 (1 sideline),

Cathal Robinson 0-2, Conor Hardiman, Conor Meaney, Odhran Kealey 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BELMONT: Damien Egan; Darragh Flynn, Ciaran Cahill, Conor Butler; Conor Kenny, Jack Clancy, Shane Nally; Colin Egan, Ronan Flynn; David Nally, Darragh Corbett, James Nally; Adam Nugent, Adam Egan, Conor Dunican. Subs – Ronan McEvoy for Corbett (20m), Aaron McCabe for Nugent (39m), Brian Carroll for Dunican (59m), Mark Egan for James Nally (61m),

KINNITTY: Niall Corrigan; Willie Molloy, Paddy Rigney, Paddy Dooley; Conor Meaney, Shane Kinsella, Brian Coughlan; Cathal Robinson, Jason Armstrong; Aodhan Kealey, Eoghan Callaghan, Odhran Kealey; Conor Hardiman, James Dempsey, Danny Flanagan. Subs – Christpher Leonard for Odhran Kealey (50m).

Referee – Declan Cooke, Crinkill.

REFEREE WATCH

The decision to disallow Kinnitty's first half goal was a big call but a Belmont player may have been fouled in the build up. A referee Adam Kinahan was an umpire at that end, Declan Cooke was called immediately and you would presume this was a right call. A David Nally free was signalled as a point at the same end in the second half but ruled out after intervention from linesman Simon Whelahan – from the press box, it did look like the Birr man was correct.

Cooke refereed it reasonably well, allowing play to run but keeping control.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Brian Carroll's winning goal was the big moment while Damien Egan's earlier save was equally pivotal in its own way.

VENUE WATCH

Birr was in great shape and there were no issues.

WHAT'S NEXT

Belmont play Shinrone and Kinnitty have Kilcormac-Killoughey in round 4.

STATISTICS

Wides: Belmont - 9 (3 in first half); Kinnitty - 9 (7 in first half).

Yellow cards: Belmont – 1 (Conor Butler); Kinnitty – 1 (Odhran Kealey).

Red cards: 0.