Belmont edge dramatic opener as brave Seir Kieran bid fails

A WINNING start for Belmont in this year's Offaly senior hurling championship but a victory which nonetheless leaves its own question marks.

Offaly SHC Group 2 first round

Belmont 1-18

Seir Kieran 1-16

Last year's relegation survivors Seir Kieran went desperately close to upsetting the 2022 semi-finalists on a Rath pitch where the wind was a factor.

It was a stirring encounter which certainly whetted the appetite of hurling fans for the championship season to come, with some stunning scores, superior team play, excellent heart and match altering goals.

Seir Kieran may have arrived for this Friday evening challenge as outsiders but once they settled they did all they could to belie that tag, showing fierce determination which only dogged perseverance from Belmont could hold off.

The breeze blew towards the road end in the opening half hour and Seir Kieran had the advantage of it.

Cue impressive long diagonal passes and point taking of a standard sometimes not seen this early in a championship campaign.

But critically, Belmont were never overrun even if they were 0-8 to 0-5 in the 20th minute following the first quarter sparring.

James Mulrooney started for Seir Kieran and team captain Kevin Dunne was accuracy personified, hitting three points from play in that first half.

The tall, slender figure of Tom Dooley delivered pinpoint arrows too but for all of it, the question was would it be enough once the sides changed ends.

With the interval whistle looming, Belmont were just a point down thanks partly to some expertly guided missiles against that wind from Mark Egan.

Then Seir Kieran made the breakthrough which must have given them belief they could go all the way.

Tom Dooley launched a long range point effort which dropped just short of the crossbar and was claimed by opposing goalkeeper Barry Egan.

He then appeared to drop it and a short scramble ensued, concluding with Darragh Guinan sweeping the sliotar to the net. That made it 1-9 to 0-8 but Belmont responded strongly, pressing the hardworking Seir Kieran defence and opting to pass when perhaps a launch at the posts would have yielded more.

When Leon Fox opted for that course from near halfway he raised a white flag and the west Offaly boys were a goal down with the second half to come, 1-9 to 0-9.

Seir Kieran lost Barry Kealey early in the second half and Mark Egan and Tom Dooley swapped points to make it 1-10 to 0-10.

Then Seir Kieran unfurled their not so secret weapon from the bench, Joseph Bergin, and he was soon in the thick of it, seeing a refereeing decision go against him which so incensed manager Barry Whelehan that he remonstrated with the match official and was shown a yellow.

Belmont assaulted the Seir Kieran rearguard again and Jack Clancy released Paddy Clancy for a shot on goal but Sean Coughlan made a monster block close in to force a '65'. Mark Egan knocked it over.

But the Seir Kieran lead was four points by the 43rd minute when Adrian Hynes scored a free and Carey added a point.

The thriller continued as Paddy Clancy scored for Belmont and then Belmont were denied a goal again, this time by a remarkable save from keeper Joseph Connors.

Seir Kieran may have felt it was going to be their day when James Mulrooney made it 1-13 to 0-12 but then the alert Cathal Flynn thieved a puckout driven towards David Kelly on the right wing and embarked on a trademark surging run through the middle which concluded with a shot to the net into the far corner.

Points followed from Ronan McEvoy and James Nally though the latter was questioned by Seir Kieran. In the absence of Hawkeye, the umpire's decision stood.

Then, with about 12 minutes of normal time left, Seir Kieran levelled from an Adrian Hynes free.

There followed two pairs of opposing players testing each other's antlers in the Seir Kieran defensive half and when the rutting had subsided, referee Adam Kinahan waved yellows at Cathal Flynn and Luke Carey as they walked away.

Further scores were traded as the match moved into its last 10 minutes and when Joseph Bergin caught a puckout and swung it over, it was all square 1-15 to 1-15.

In the time that remained Paddy Clancy scored three points and Adrian Hynes got one. Bergin was off target with a good chance and the final whistle was heard at last.

As Wellington reputedly said after his defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo: “It was a close run thing.” But for Belmont, and indeed Seir Kieran, there are bigger battles to come.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

On an evening where it could be argued there were no single outstanding figures in a match where teamwork was the name of the game, the best case can be made for Cathal Flynn. Obviously his goal was critical but nearly as important were those bursts through the middle at times when Seir Kieran looked capable of wresting control.

THE SCORERS

Belmont: Mark Egan 0-7 (frees), Paddy Clancy 0-4 (2 frees), Cathal Flynn 1-0, Leon Fox 0-2, Damien Egan, Jack Clancy, Conor Dunican, Ronan McEvoy and James Nally 0-1 each.

Seir Kieran: Tom Dooley 0-4 (2 frees), Adrian Hynes 0-4 (frees), Kevin Dunne 0-3, Darragh Guinan 1-0, Luke Carey and James Mulrooney 0-2 each, Joseph Bergin 0-1.

THE TEAMS

Belmont: Barry Egan; Conor Kenny, Shane Nally, Jack Egan; Jack Clancy, Mark Egan, Liam Browne; Leon Fox, David Kelly; Paddy Clancy, Ronan McEvoy, James Nally; Conor Dunican, Cathal Flynn, Damien Egan. Subs - Mark Cahill for Damien Egan, David Cox for Conor Dunican, Alan Egan for David Kelly.

Seir Kieran: Joseph Connors; Christopher Connors, Sean Coughlan, Shane Ryan; Kieran Connor, Michael Gilligan, Barry Egan; James Mulrooney, John Coughlan; Kevin Dunne, Pat Gilligan, Tom Dooley; Darragh Guinan, Luke Carey, Adrian Hynes. Subs – Stephen Gilligan for Barry Kealy, Joseph Bergin for Michael Gilligan.

Referee: Adam Kinahan.

REFEREE WATCH

A busy evening for Adam Kinahan. There were plenty of decisions to make and some were contested but one could hardly make an argument that they swung the outcome either way. He certainly couldn't be accused of not being up with the play – a ball destined for the up reaching hand of James Mulrooney resulted in the player not being able to gather because he claimed he was being impeded by the official.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ruthless opportunism from Cathal Flynn in the 47th minute as he darted across and stole a puckout aimed at David Kelly and ran in for the goal which put Belmont within a point of Seir Kieran.

VENUE WATCH

A super ground for a championship opener. The fans came in their droves. Some parked outside, others drove in. The scanning worked for some.  It failed for others.  Some sat in the stand. Others stood along the sideline fence. The electronic scoreboard kept them well informed.

WHAT'S NEXT

The bid to get out of the group will continue for these sides with significant tests against Shinrone, Ballinamere and Coolderry to come.

STATISTICS

Wides: Belmont – 5 (1 in first half); Seir Kieran – 5 (2 in second half).

Yellow cards: Belmont 1 (Cathal Flynn); Seir Kieran 2 (Barry Whelehan and Luke Carey).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.