SBK take full advantage of second chance to evict St Rynagh's in thriller

A TERRIFICALLY entertaining game, played with great physicality, producing top quality hurling and scores, ended with Shinrone/Ballyskenach-Killavilla (SBK) celebrating as they took full advantage of their second chance to advance to an Offaly U20 Hurling Championship final with seven in a row seeking Kilcormac-Killoughey.

Molloy Environmental Systems U20 Hurling Championship semi-final replay

Shinrone/Ballyskenach-Killavilla 4-19

St Rynagh's 2-18

It was a real old fashioned, bone rattler of a game with a large passionate crowd creating a real championship atmosphere at a floodlit Coolderry on Thursday evening.

SBK came back from the dead to snatch a very fortunate draw in the drawn encounter in Banagher a couple of weeks ago and as so often happens in these cases, St Rynagh's paid the price for not winning when they should have.

They played a great part in a fiercely fought encounter, were clearly the better team for the opening 25 minutes or so but were chasing their tail once SBK got on top before half time and opened a decisive gap in the second half.

It was a very well spent evening at a game that had a bit of everything, including two red cards with St Rynagh's Niall Flannery walking for a heavy hit on James Morkan in midfield in the 55th minute – it was a second yellow.. He was followed four minutes later by SBK sub Jason Dockery who piled in on St Rynagh's goalkeeper Riley Dolan after he made a terrific double save to deny Liam O'Riordan and Dockery a fifth goal.

SBK were 4-17 to 2-17 ahead when Dockery saw red and with over five minutes of injury time played, two goals could have been snatched by St Rynagh's. SBK had salvaged a replay in the drawn game with two dramatic late goals but St Rynagh's were gone into the red and the horse had bolted for them. Instead the excellent Liam O'Riordan fired over two injury time frees to ease SBK across the finish line.

SBK won this corresponding grade at U15 and minor and will now be hopeful of ending Kilcormac-Killoughey's long winning streak. They certainly have the heart and hurling to do so and they really stood up to be counted to win this.

An SBK win did not look likely in the opening twenty minute as a flying St Rynagh's pulled them asunder. They were 0-10 to 0-4 up after 26 minutes and worth every point of that lead. Ivan and Harry Grant had caused SBK real problems with their power and physicality. Ivan scored three quality first half points, Harry regularly broke tackles and SBK were in all sorts of bother.

They had put centre half back Gearoid Maher into full back to counter the scoring threat of Aaron Molloy and Darragh Scully in there. Maher was diligent but the damage was done further out the field and St Rynagh's did almost all the hurling until the last few minutes of the half.

Yet by half time, it had all unravelled for them as SBK scored 2-3 without reply for an unlikely 2-7 to 0-10 half time lead. Scoring machine, Seamie Cleare, pivotal to SBK surviving the first day, tapped home the rebound after Gearoid Maher went for goal from a 21 metre free. He also converted a great sideline and Liam O'Riordan got the second goal after Maher's free fell short.

It was still neatly poised with SBK leading by 2-10 to 0-12 when Seamie Cleare netted their decisive third goal in the 34th minute, brilliantly fielding a long ball in. Fortunes swung wildly from here to the final whistle.

Darragh Scully gave St Rynagh's a lifeline with a great goal in the 35th minute but Fionn Carney settled SBK with the next point. Gearoid Maher moved out to the half back line and came to his milk with a super second half. He scored two huge, inspirational points from distance as SBK led by 3-13 to 1-14 after 40 minutes.

Referee Adam Kinahan's intelligent use of the advantage rule led to 2-1 for St Rynagh's in the second half. Scully's first goal came when the Clodiagh Gaels man had his hands up for the free and it was the same when sub Gareth Butler got in for a 42nd minute goal.

Scully and Aaron Molloy scored lovely points and suddenly St Rynagh's were back in front, 2-17 to 3-13 with 47 minutes played.

Somehow, SBK found another gear and you just had to admire the way they won ball all over the field. Seamie Cleare and O'Riordan (free) edged them back in front and then O'Riordan broke through for a sensational 49th minute goal. Gearoid Maher made a great break forward, off loading to O'Riordan and he charged like a bull down St Rynagh's throats, blasting to the net for a 4-15 to 2-17 lead.

He also brilliantly converted late frees and that fourth goal was the one that really broke St Rynagh's, even though they fought to the very end.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Liam O'Riordan (SBK): There were plenty of quality performances on both sides. Darragh Scully was brilliant for St Rynagh's and almost brought them to a famous win while Ivan and Harry Grant really put it up to SBK, though Ivan went out of the game in the second half and was replaced.

Paul Simpson, Darragh Phelan, Gearoid Maher, James O'Sullivan, Seamie Cleare and Fionn Carney were very good for SBK but Liam O'Riordan has to get the nod. He led from the front the whole evening, taking great scores, taking on his man at every opportunity and inspiring his colleagues with his ball winning ability, drive and leadership.

THE SCORERS

SBK: Liam O'Riordan 2-10 (9f), Seamie Cleare 2-3 (one sideline), Gearoid Maher and Fionn Carney 0-2 each, Darragh Phelan, James Sampson 0-1 each.

St Rynagh's: Darragh Scully 1-8 (5f), Ivan Grant 0-3, Gareth Butler 1-0, Mikey Boylan and Aaron Molloy 0-2 each, Niall Flannery, Eanna Mulhare and Harry Grant 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

SHINRONE/BALLYSKENACH-KILLAVILLA: Matt Watkins; Gearoid Maher, Paul Simpson, Leon Reams; Ben Younge, Darragh Phelan, Sam Younge; James O'Sullivan, James Sampson; James Morkan, Liam O'Riordan, Killian Fitzpatrick; Fionn Carney, Brian Oakley, Seamie Cleare. Subs – Aaron O'Toole for Oakley (HT), Jason Dockery for Reams (44m), Killian Meagher for Simpson, inj. (58m).

ST RYNAGH'S: Riley Dolan; Callum Moore, Sean Lyons, Kian Costello; Dan Healy, Paul Cannon, Adam Daly; Sam McGuckin, Niall Flannery; Mikey Boylan, Ivan Grant, Harry Grant; Darragh Scully, Eanna Mulhare, Aaron Molloy. Subs – Gareth Butler for Mulhare (39m), Liam Mulhare for Ivan Grant (50m).

Referee – Adam Kinahan, Clodiagh Gaels.

REFEREE WATCH

Adam Kinahan had an excellent game and the way he refereed it contributed greatly to the entertainment. He let it flow, rucks developed and allowed physicality but he was quick to show cards for slaps with the hurl that can hurt. He had no qualms about showing late red cards and he allowed the advantage rule consistently – St Rynagh's yielded a big benefit from that with 2-1 in the second half but he very much applied it both ways.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

SBK's fourth goal in the 49th minute showed all that was good about them with Gearoid Maher doing the donkey work out the field and Liam O'Riordan charging forward to score. It gave SBK a 4-15 to 2-17 lead and you could almost feel St Rynagh's spirits droop after it.

VENUE WATCH

Coolderry did Offaly hurling a great service when providing full floodlights. They are one of the few hurling clubs in the south to undertake this, hurling under floodlights is not ideal but it is useful to have this option and Coolderry's lights are good. It was all about getting this replay fixed, this grade finished and the Thursday evening fixture worked well. As usual, Coolderry's facilities were excellent and they managed the fixture very well – there was a great atmosphere there with the crowd close to the action and local action in their second pitch adding to the buzz.

WHAT'S NEXT

SBK go to face Kilcormac-Killoughey in the final.

STATISTICS

Wides: St Rynagh's - 6 (4 in first half); SBK – 7 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: St Rynagh's – 4 (Paul Cannon, Aaron Molloy and Niall Flannery 2); SBK – 3 (Matt Watkins, James Sampson, James O'Sullivan).

Red cards: St Rynagh's – 1 (Niall Flannery, 2 yellows); SBK – 1 (Jason Dockery).