Belmont show greater sharpness to claim vital win over Shinrone

Molloy Precast And Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 4

BELMONT 0-23

SHINRONE 1-17

BELMONT completed their group games in the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship with an unbeaten record after an impressive victory over Shinrone in an entertaining game at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr on Saturday evening.

With their four games played Belmont currently sit on top of the table with seven points but still aren't guaranteed a place in the semi-finals as Kilcormac/Killoughey have two games to play and if they win them they will join Belmont on seven points and it will come down to score difference to see who claims a place in the semi-finals and who has to play a quarter final and that would favour Kilcormac/Killoughey.

Shinrone were also unbeaten going into this game and despite this defeat are also be sure of a place in the quarter finals with one more group game to play against Kilcormac/Killoughey. A win there would see them finish runners up in the group but even if they lose, Kinnitty could match them on four points but Shinrone would go through then on the head to head.

Over the 60 minutes Belmont were marginally the better team and deserved their victory. They conceded a goal to a penalty in the second minute but quickly settled and had taken the lead by the 12^th minute. It ebbed and flowed in that first half and the sides were level at the interval, 0-10 to 1-7.

The second half continued in a similar vein with little to separate them. The sides were level eight times over the hour and when Belmont went four points up in injury time, it was the first time that more than three points had separated them at any time in the game.

It was a good lively game but both sides were let down by their accuracy in the first half. They equally shared 18 wides in that first half alone and on a fine balmy evening, they couldn't blame any wind for all those misses, some of which were very poor. Fortunately their shooting did improve in the second half with Belmont adding four more wides and Shinrone just two.

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Belmont played a nice brand of hurling and they moved the ball around well, picking out their men and creating good opportunities. Their build up play was sharp but like their opponents their finishing let them down a bit in the first half. They were much sharper in the second half with David Nally really coming to the fore and Jack Clancy and sub Oisin Kelly also contributed important points.

Shinrone never gave up and they were still level with four minutes left and still very much in the contest. However they were stymied by a fine Belmont defence who prevented a couple of dangerous goal situations. D.J. McLoughlin stood out in attack for them with six points from play but he probably lacked a bit of support in the scoring stakes from the rest of the forward line with just three more points from play coming from the rest of the starting attack.

Darragh Flynn, Mark Egan and Jack Clancy impressed in the Belmont defence with Colin Egan doing well at midfield in the first half and Adam Egan making an impact when he moved out. David Nally starred in attack where Paddy Clancy, Conor Dunican and sub Oisin Kelly also did well.

Eamon Cleary was solid between the posts for Shinrone with Luke Watkins and Darragh Landy also working hard in defence. Adrian Cleary put in a good shift around the middle of the field and D.J. McLoughlin was best in attack with strongest support from Ciaran Cleary and Jason Sampson.

Shinrone got the perfect start when Paul Cleary won the ball and headed for goals but was fouled and they were awarded a penalty with barely a minute on the clock. Goalkeeper Eamon Cleary came forward and fired the penalty low to the net for an early goal. David Nally responded with a free but D.J. McLoughlin sent over his first point after four minutes to restore the one goal lead.

Belmont settled into the game and they scored the next five points without reply over an eight minute spell. Ronan McEvoy got the first of those before David Nally levelled with two frees. Conor Dunican put Belmont ahead for the first time and David Nally followed with a point from play to leave Belmont 0-6 to 1-1 ahead.

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Jason Sampson popped over Shinrone's first score in 10 minutes but David Nally replied with a free to leave Belmont two ahead at the midway point of the half. D.J. McLoughlin drilled in a shot which Damien Egan looked to get just a touch on as it flew over the bar and McLoughlin then brought the sides level again after 19 minutes.

David Nally (free), Paddy Clancy and Colin Egan pushed Belmont three points clear again by the 22^nd minute but Shinrone hit back with three points of their own through Dan Doughan and two Donal Morkan frees and that left the score level at the break, 0-10 to 1-7.

Dan Doughan put Shinrone back in front with a good point just 19 seconds after the restart and Belmont then had a goal chance when Conor Dunican fielded a high delivery from Paddy Clancy but his half blocked spinning shot was deflected out for a '65' by Eamon Cleary with David Nally pointing that effort. Adam Egan and David Nally added quick points from play, both coming after Shinrone had been dispossessed in attack, but Eoin Bailey O'Brien pulled one back for Shinrone in a lightning start to the half with five points in three minutes.

David Nally fired over two great points from play in quick succession to go three clear but Shinrone hauled them in again with Donal Morkan and Eamon Cleary both pointing frees and Adam Landy scoring a fine point as he went to his knees. Paddy Clancy scored two in a row for Belmont around the midway point of the half but Shinrone wouldn't go away and Eoin Bailey O'Brien (free) and D.J. McLoughlin levelled matters again.

David Nally then lofted over a great point from his own 65m line but Jason Sampson caught the puck out and levelled the game again. Eoin Bailey O'Brien then set up D.J. McLoughlin to put Shinrone back in front but David Nally picked out Oisin Kelly from a sideline cut and he slotted over to level the game for the final time with seven minutes left.

Belmont pushed for home and David Nally pointed a free and then added another from play before Oisin Kelly pushed the lead out to three again. A minute into injury time Oisin Kelly made a fine catch and passed to Ronan Flynn who slotted over the insurance score. D.J. McLoughlin did have time to notch his sixth point of the game and in the final play Shinrone had a sniff of a goal but Paul Cleary's shot was saved by Damien Egan and Belmont held on for victory.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

BELMONT: Damien Egan; Darragh Flynn, Ciaran Cahill, Conor Kenny; Mark Egan, Jack Clancy, Shane Nally; Colin Egan, Ronan Flynn; David Nally, Adam Egan, Paddy Clancy; Conor Dunican, Ronan McEvoy, Aron McCabe. Subs. Oisin Kelly (for Ronan McEvoy, 42 mins), Brian Carroll (for Aron McCabe, 42 mins), Darragh Corbett (for Colin Egan, 53 mins).

SHINRONE: Eamon Cleary; Luke Watkins, Michael Cleary, Darragh Landy; Dan Doughan, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher; Adrian Cleary, Adam Landy; Donal Morkan, Ciaran Cleary, D.J. McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, Jason Sampson, Eoin Bailey O'Brien. Subs. Gearoid Maher (for Donal Morkan, 39 mins), Declan Cleary (for Dan Doughan, 51 mins), James Liffey (for Adam Landy, 53 mins).

REFEREE: Brian Gavin (Clara).

MAN OF THE MATCH

David Nally contributed 0-13 of Belmont's 0-23 with six of those coming from play and that was significant in a tight game. He really came to the fore in the second half and was lively and always making himself available for the ball and caused plenty of problems for the Shinrone defence and was a worthy man of the match. Shinrone's D.J. McLoughlin deserves honourable mention for scoring six points from play for his side.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

David Nally was the dominant figure in the second half of this game and his point in the seventh minute of the half was a delight. Damien Egan picked him out from a free on the right sideline about 50m out and despite being under pressure from a couple of opponents, he steered over a wonderful point from the sideline to put his side three up.

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin was the man in the middle for this game and he handled it well. He issued a yellow card after just a minute and didn't have to hand out another until the game was in injury time. He applied the advantage well and kept control of things at all times.

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WHAT’S NEXT

Belmont are through to the knock out stages but have to wait to see whether that will be a quarter final or a semi-final. Shinrone play Kilcormac/Killoughey in their final group game in two weeks time but are also through to the quarter final stages.

VENUE WATCH

St Brendan's Park was in fine condition for this game, which served as a double header with the Senior B clash between Carrig & Riverstown and Clara. There were plenty of stewards on duty to cater for the sizeable crowd and all other arrangements were in good order.

STATISTICS

Wides; Belmont 13 (9 in first half) Shinrone 11 (9 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Belmont 1 (Conor Kenny) Shinrone 1 (Gearoid Maher)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Belmont; David Nally (0-13, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '45'), Paddy Clancy (0-3), Oisin Kelly (0-2), Ronan McEvoy, Conor Dunican, Colin Egan, Adam Egan, Ronan Flynn (0-1 each).

Shinrone; D.J. McLoughlin (0-6), Eamon Cleary (1-1, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Donal Morkan (0-3, frees), Jason Sampson, Dan Doughan (0-2 each), Eoin Bailey O'Brien (0-2, 0-1 free), Adam Landy (0-1).

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