Shinrone return to final as Belmont endure more semi-final heartbreak

IT certainly won't be remembered as a classic in the way that the Kilcormac-Killoughey v Birr semi-final was on Saturday but in its own way, the shootout between Shinrone and Belmont in Birr on Sunday was every bit as capitivating.

Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

Shinrone 4-18

Belmont 0-22

It was a very different semi-final than Saturday's with less of the free flowing hurling but it was a fiercely fought encounter, full of physicality with every single ball and score hard earned – you just couldn't take your eyes off it for a second.

It all ended with Shinrone returning to the final for the third time in four years and once again their final opponents are Kilcormac-Killoughey – Shinrone won their sole title against Kilcormac-Killoughey in 2022 and were blown out of the water a year later. It is a serious run by a side who never won a title until 2022, an absolute credit to them and they are back in the final very much on merit.

For Belmont, it is another semi-final loss, their sixth since 2017 and they will now be wondering if they will ever see a county final. They were beaten by Shinrone in the 2022 semi-final and that loss remains a huge source of regret as they had one foot in the final when they had the prize whipped from their grasp late on.

This was a very different defeat as they ended up well beaten and they won't be talking about this one four years down the road. At the same time, there was plenty for them to analyse and wish they had done differently. They were way more competitive than the 4-18 to 0-22 scoreline, the eight point winning margin suggests. They were still alive well inside the last ten minutes, powering at Shinrone and asking the most serious of questions as they hunted down a four point deficit.

DJ McLoughlin's second goal in the 59^th minute finally put them to bed and it all ended up messy with a niggle developing and a couple of brief flare ups, mainly in close to the Shinrone goal. When the dust settled, Shinrone were back in another final, entitled to wear a glow of satisfaction at a job well done and a very decent display.

Belmont were back in the familiar territory of licking their wounds and wondering what might have been. They weren't a huge distance off the mark here and the game could have turned in their favour throughout the second half but they were never quite good enough to get there on the day. Belmont scored 22 times, the exact same as Shinrone but their goalkeeper Damien Egan picked the ball out of the net four times and that was the difference.

Belmont had to get a goal but didn't, struggling the break through a resolute defence the whole day. They had one great chance ten minutes into the second half when Oisin Kelly raced through on goals. He was in the range that he normally doesn't miss from but Shinrone's in-form goalkeeper Eamonn Cleary made a stunning save. It should have been a goal really and with Belmont trailing by 2-13 to 0-15 at that stage, it probably would have changed the whole game.

With Shinrone's third goal arriving three minutes later, the momentum swung the other way and Belmont were chasing their tail from here to the final whistle. Shinrone did lose their shape after Donal Morkan's excellent 43^rd minute goal, players dropping back, inviting Belmont on. They almost got back into it but just couldn't close the gap enough and Belmont missed too many chances over the hour to win – they only had one wide in the second half but left a definite 1-2 behind them and couldn't afford that. They were also quite reliant on frees with fourteen of their 22 points coming from placed balls and while Belmont battled with the fortitude and character we taken as a given, they have absolutely no complaints at the final result.

In many aspects, Belmont were chasing the game, trying to force things from an early stage. They were level at 0-2 each after four minutes, and then two David Nally frees pushed them 0-4 to 0-2 ahead. Shinrone answered the challenge with a great run of 1-5 without reply between the 7^th and 15^th minutes.

The goal was worth the trip to Birr, a terrific finish by Killian Sampson after he interchanged with Paul Cleary – Cleary was brilliant as he had the initial chance, got bottled up and did really well to get the ball back to Sampson. That gave Shinrone a 1-7 to 0-4 lead and Belmont were in bother. They did very well to knuckle down, close Shinrone down and hang in there. Ronan McEvoy, Paddy Clancy, Oisin Kelly (2) and Ronan Flynn got nice points from play as Belmont turned the screw and a 1-11 to 0-12 half time deficit left them very much in the hunt.

It was a one point game, 1-12 to 0-14 when Shinrone got their second goal in the 33^rd minute. DJ McLoughlin went for power from can't miss range and was fortunate that he did as Darragh Flynn almost kept it out but the ferocity of the shot saw it find its way across the line.

Paul Cleary added a lovely point and it was 2-13 to 0-16 when Shinrone struck their third goal in the 43^rd minute – Donal Morkan racing onto a breaking ball and hammering it to the net.

A seven point lead was a very big one with just over a quarter to go. There were costly misses by Belmont in the second half and they needed everything to go right. Their 13^th point from Paul Cleary had come just after David Nally missed the type of free he normally points with eyes closed while the goal chance came in that game defining period. Oisin Kelly under hit a fairly straightforward chance later when they had the gap down to five, 3-15 to 0-19 with just over ten minutes remaining.

David Nally got two frees to leave just a goal in it with six minutes left and Belmont had a chance. Shinrone steadied the ship with two great points from subs Declan Cleary and Sean Cleary, both just on the field. That put them 3-17 to 0-21 ahead but Belmont kept going. They won a 21 metre free with Oisin Kelly going for goal in the 58^th minute but driving it over the bar.

That left four in it but was Belmont's final score and Shinrone would have held on without DJ McLoughlin's super 59^th minute goal – James Liffey added an injury time point but all those late scores did was fool the people who will just read the final scoreline, without knowing how tight this was almost the whole way.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

DJ McLoughlin (Shinrone): Shinrone gave a terrific team performance with a handful of really good displays. Killian Sampson was once again immense at the heart of the defence but DJ McLoughlin is the choice. His 2-3 was a very significant contribution and he was excellent in the first half, really taking it on when Shinrone were struggling to find their form. He was much more peripheral in the second half but still scored a crucial goal and got on good ball.

Their spread of scorers with eleven contributing was particularly impressive and is the sign of a very good team.

David Nally did a lot of good work for Belmont apart from his frees and there were times when Oisin Kelly threatened to win the match – he was occasionally fouled deliberately and you could see his frustration growing as it wore on. Belmont gave a really hard working, honest display but ran out of road in the wind up.

THE SCORERS

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

Belmont: David Nally 0-13 (12f), Oisin Kelly 0-3 (1f), Ronan McEvoy and Paddy Clancy 0-2 each, Adam Egan and Ronan Flynn 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE: Eamonn 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 – Ciaran Cleary for Bailey-O'Brien (47m), Sean Cleary for Paul Cleary (53m),Declan Cleary for Doughan (53m), JP Cleary for Adrian Cleary (56m), James Liffey for Morkan (60m),

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; Oisin Kelly, Ronan McEvoy, Aron McCabe. Subs – Patrick Taaffe for Shane Nally (HT), James Nally for McEvoy (39m), Brian Carroll for Dunican (39m), Conor Butler for Mark Egan (45m),

Referee – Brian Gavin, Clara.

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin refereed it very well, getting nearly everything right and getting the balance between letting it flow and punishing indiscretions.

He was a busy man late on as a niggle developed and he had to show a few cards. It threatened to get out of hand and it looked like he was considering showing Belmont's Adam Egan a second yellow for a heavy hit just on the final whistle but decided to let it go.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Belmont had to get a goal to survive and Eamonn Cleary's superb 40^th minute save from Oisin Kelly kept out their best chance.

VENUE WATCH

The Birr pitch held up well after the recent inclement weather. Everything was in order for this double bill and the fixtures were perfectly managed.

Shinrone made two changes from the team in the programme with Darren Crean and Eoin Bailey-O'Brien coming in for Ciaran and Sean Cleary. The team that started was the exact same as the one that beat Coolderry in the quarter-final and you would wonder why teams bother doing that. Birr did the same against Kilcormac-Killoughey on Saturday, and there is certainly nothing to be gained in terms of an opposition being fooled by a correct team not being given as both Belmont and K-K would have prepared in the expectation that both Shinrone and Birr would stick with a winning combination.

Belmont were also guilty, making three late changes. They hadn't played in over a month so their situation is different in that they may have had to submit a team for the programme before it was selected – both Paddy Clancy and Oisin Kelly started their first game of the year. The really unsatisfactory part with this was that the Belmont changes weren't conveyed to the PA announcer and announced before the game. That was a fall down in communication and there was nothing sinister in it but match presentation is important and these things need to be done right.

WHAT'S NEXT

Shinrone go into the final against Kilcormac-Killoughey.

STATISTICS

Wides: Belmont – 8 (7 in first half); Shinrone – 9 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Shinrone – 5 (Donal Morkan, Dan Doughan, Jason Sampson, JP Cleary, Luke Watkins); Belmont – 2 (Adam Egan, Oisin Kelly).

Red cards: 0