Sensational Shinrone recovery leaves shocked Coolderry reeling in classic game of two halves

SHINRONE took a famous victory, one that will live in their memory for a long time, as they left a shell-shocked Coolderry reeling in a fantastic Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final in Birr on Sunday afternoon.

Molloy Precast Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final

Shinrone 1-25

Coolderry 2-19

In a classic game of two halves, Shinrone were all at sea in the first half, trailing by ten points at half time and staring a disastrous exit in the face.

The pre-match favourites had struggled to cope with Coolderry's intensity in the first half as they closed up on their short passing game, hit hard, forcing turnover after turnover and they trailed by 2-13 to 0-9 at the break. Shinrone had engaged in a real case of self-sabotage in the first half and Coolderry, playing at their optimum, had one foot in the semi-final.

As poor as Shinrone were in the first half, they were brilliant in the second half, outscoring Coolderry by 1-16 to just 0-6. They didn't abandon their game plan, as they still tried to use every ball, but they were way more direct, efficient and way slicker in their passing. Their intensity levels rose all over the field, Coolderry couldn't live with them and within a few minutes of the restart, the momentum had swung and the feeling that Shinrone would survive grew by the minute – even when Coolderry did get crucial scores to keep their noses in front.

Shinrone's reward is a semi-final against Belmont and they deserve to be there after such a brilliant second half display. It was a hard defeat for Coolderry, who were quite excellent in the first half, playing at their optimum but they ran out of legs in the closing quarter and just couldn't arrest the Shinrone flow.

It was a magnificently entertaining game of hurling, as enjoyable as it comes, full of swings and round abouts. There was a wind favouring Coolderry in the first half but even that couldn't explain the huge disparity in the fortunes of both sides in the two halves.

Early on, it looked like Shinrone would win at a canter as they struck three points in the first three minutes while Cooolderry had five poor wides before a ninth minute goal from Eoin Burke changed everything.

Suddenly, there was a huge switch in fortunes. Shinrone began to hit harmless wides and Coolderry's confidence visibly grew. Eoin Burke was flying in their attack, their forwards wonderfully sharp as they led by 1-10 to 0-8 after 26 minutes. A five point deficit would have been okay at the break for Shinrone, a ten point one wasn't and this is what happened as Coolderry struck for 1-3 coming up to half time.

Eoin Burke netted his second goal in the 27^th minute, Shane Ryan and Gearoid McCormack involved in the build up and Coolderry could have been further ahead, Eamon Cleary made a great 23^rd minute save from Eoin Burke while Kevin Connolly missed a great goal chance a couple of minutes before that, firing over the bar when Eoin Burke had peeled free inside.

Still Coolderry would have taken a 10 point half time lead every day of the week and it was hard to envisage Shinrone turning it around. We said at half time that twenty points would win it for Coolderry – it wouldn't have as things turned out but they fell one point short of that and this was a huge problem for them.

Coolderry's problem was that they conceded too many early scores. Shinrone were always going to come flying out of the traps but 1-3 without reply in the first seven minutes gave them the platform they needed. Jason Sampson gave them the start they needed with a 32^nd minute goal, firing in from fifteen metres after DJ McLoughlin initially dropped the ball.

That four point deficit meant that it was back in the melting pot much earlier than Coolderry could afford. They did steady the ship with two crucial points from Kevin Connolly, who was greatly improved in the second half but Shinrone had men standing up all over the park. Killian Samspon, Luke Watkins and DJ McLoughlin were the three main men out the field while goalkeeper Eamon Cleary emerged as a real hero. He got six huge points from frees and his one from his own 21 metre line out near the sideline in the 42^nd minute was the one when we really felt that Shinrone were going to win.

That still left four points in it and Coolderry got the next two from Burke frees to lead by 2-17 to 1-14. A six point lead was a big one but Coolderry were now in the red, gasping for air, Shinrone relentless, ruthlessly efficient all over the field. Their ability to do the right thing was the complete opposite of their first half malfunction and they fired over 11 points in the closing quarter.

That was some going as they got seven points without reply to lead by 1-21 to 2-17 with eight minutes left. Another Kevin Connolly point levelled it up but Eamon Cleary arrowed Shinrone back in front and Killian Sampson put them two clear with an inspirational 56^th minute point.

A big moment came two minutes later when Eoin Burke's shot looked over but the umpire hesitated before signalling that it had went over the top of the left upright. Replacement referee Brian Gavin consulted before waving wide and DJ McLoughlin got the next point to put Shinrone three clear as it drifted into injury time.

Burke's free brought it back to two points but Coolderry never threatened the goal they had to get and an Eamon Cleary '65' two minutes into the injury time was the final score in a truly rip roaring game.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eamon Cleary (Shinrone); Killian Sampson, Luke Watkins and DJ McLoughlin were all contenders for Shinrone and there is a temptation to go with Watkins who did such powerful work in a variety of ways in the second half while also doing okay in the first half.

Eamon Cleary, however, has to be the choice. His free taking was a huge factor in Shinrone's win, he saved a certain goal in the first half and dealt so efficiently with any ball that came near him.

Coolderry had loads of contenders in the first half with Eoin Burke brilliant and so many others at the top of their game. Kevin Connolly really stood up to be counted in the second half but Coolderry ran out of road as a unit and can't complain at their reversal.

THE SCORERS

Shinrone: Eamon Cleary 0-6 (6f), DJ McLoughin 0-5, Jason Sampson 1-1, Killian Sampson 0-3, Luke Watkins, Dan Doughan, Adam Landy (1f), Donal Morkan (2f) and Paul Cleary 0-2 each.

Coolderry: Eoin Burke 2-7 (5f and 1 '65'), Kevin Connolly 0-4, Daniel Miller 0-3, Cian Burke and Eoin Ryan 0-2 each, Eoghan Parlon 0-1.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE: Eamon Cleary; Darren Crean, Michael Cleary, Darragh Landy; Dan Doughan, Killian Sampson, Dara Maher; Adrian Cleary, Adam Landy; Luke Watkins , Donal Morkan, DJ McLoughlin; Paul Cleary, Jason Sampson, Eoin Bailey-O'Brien. Subs – Gearoid Maher for Crean (HT), JP Cleary for Morkan (50m), Declan Cleary for Bailey-O'Brien (57m), Darragh Cleary for Adrian Cleary (61m), Fionn Carney for

COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Marc Ryan, Stephen Burke, Ajay Cleary; Conor Molloy, David King, James Tooher; Cian Burke, Eoin Ryan; Eoghan Parlon, Daniel Miller, Gearoid McCormack; Eoin Burke, Shane Ryan, Kevin Connolly. Subs – Andy Connolly for Ryan (50m), Declan Parlon for McCormack (58m), Shane Connolly for Shane Ryan (60m),

Referee – Brian Gavin, Clara

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin was a late call up due to the unavailability of the appointed referee Shane Guinan. Gavin had been on commentary duty with Clubber at the SHC “B” semi-final between Kilcormac-Killoughey and Lusmagh and did well to get to Birr quickly, resulting in a delay of a mere five minutes. Well aware of the bite between these two neighbours, he kept control well and was on his game. There were a couple of big late umpiring calls with an Eoin Burke shot eventually waved wide while Coolderry felt Kevin Connolly should have got a '65' near the end with the ball waved wide.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The free Eamonn Cleary got from his own 21 metre line in the 42^nd minute was a standout moment. It reduced the gap to four points and while Coolderry got the next two points, that point was a momentum changer.

VENUE WATCH

A large crowd created a very good atmosphere at a well prepared Birr venue.

WHAT'S NEXT

Shinrone go into the semi-final against Belmont.

STATISTICS

Wides: Shinrone - 18 (9 in first half); Coolderry - 14 (7 in first half).
Yellow cards: Coolderry – 1 (Stephen Corcoran); Shinrone – 0.

Red cards: 0