Sensational first half sends Ferbane into the semi-finals as Shamrocks salvage pride in second

A BREATHTAKINGLY brilliant first half was enough for Ferbane as they defeated Shamrocks in Tullamore on Saturday to secure their place in the semi-finals of the Offaly Senior Football Championship.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 1 round 5

Ferbane 1-18

Shamrocks 1-11

Playing unstoppable, fantastic football in the first half, Ferbane had the game won when they led by 1-14 to 0-4 at half time. They never put a foot wrong in the first half and the quality of their play was so admirable.

Shamrocks did make it way too easy for them. They were a country mile off the pace, their intensity levels no where near good enough for senior football. They were ate alive in every facet of play and were really only fighting for their pride in the second half.

They certainly salvaged that with a much more acceptable display. They were a very different team with the introduction of half time subs Paddy Dunican, David O'Toole-Greene and Nigel Dunne. They didn't chance star forward Jack Bryant who had a hamstring strain and Shamrocks will be much stronger in the quarter-final: Bryant, Dunican and O'Toole-Greene should all start and there is also a very big case to be made for Dunne starting, even if he would prefer not to.

Ferbane stumbled badly for a while, showing feet of clay and only managed 0-4 in the second half. Shamrocks scored 1-7 but needed another couple of goals to make it truly interesting and even when they had the gap down to five, a remarkable come from behind win remained very unlikely.

The first half was a big wake up call for Shamrocks and raises questions about them but they are in a quarter-final, they will fancy their chances of making the semi-finals and they still have sufficient about them to suggest that they can ask questions of the big scalp. It didn't look that way in the first half but with knockout football secured, we will be kind and put that down to a malfunction and just not being tuned in properly – the remainder of the season will tell the true tale about them.

Ferbane were sensational in that first half as they stormed into an unassailable 1-14 to 0-4 half time lead. It was nightmare stuff by Shamrocks who just never got up to the pace of the game in the first half, spending most of the thirty minutes chasing shadows.

Ferbane's football was as close to flawless as you will get as they raced into an eight points to no score lead after eight minutes. Paddy Clancy and David Nally got two pointers and Shamrocks' opening point from a Darragh Bryant free was only a brief respite.

Ferbane were 0-13 to 0-3 ahead, the flying David Nally arrowing over a breathtaking two pointer, when Cian Johnson got their goal in the 25th minute – that goal summed up Shamrocks' first half troubles as he had the time to stumble, find his feeting and blast to the roof of the net.

A shocked Shamrocks pressed the emergency button at half time, bringing David O'Toole-Greene, Paddy Dunican and Nigel Dunne at half time. Dunican had been out for over a year with a cruciate injury, O'Toole-Greene had missed most of the campaign with a shoulder injury sustained in the first round draw with Rhode and player manager Dunne had to go on to try and bring some stability to the table.

Shamrocks were still on a damage limitation exercise but a Darragh Bryant two pointer straight after the restart gave them some hope. Shamrocks were better with the three subs on while their overall intensity levels were closer to what is needed but the damage had been done and the game couldn't be won.

They did fight hard with Scott Delaney's 44th minute goal making it 1-16 to 1-8. An excellent Paddy Dunican two point free and a Scott Delaney point left them five behind with eleven minutes left – plus six of injury time.

There was a brief chance for them and Ferbane were in bother as Adam Nugent encountered some kickout problems and they couldn't get their hands on the ball. However, Ferbane settled down and the manner in which they controlled the game from here on was very impressive.

They knuckled down and kept Shamrocks at bay with considerable comfort. The superb David Nally got two lovely points to put them seven up and Shamrocks were gone. They briefly threatened a goal but Leon Fox made a great block to deny them and the closing 15 minutes was a bit of a damp squip with the result done and dusted.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

David Nally (Ferbane): Ferbane's form is very significant considering the absence of their star forward Cathal Flynn and they are serious contenders for the Dowling Cup. They are playing very well as a unit and they have several individuals at or close to peak form.

David Nally, Paddy Clancy and Cian Johnson are very much in this category. Clancy has oozed quality and is playing such good football while Johnson's finishing, his ability to make and take scores out of nothing, often takes the breath away, though he did have a couple of uncharacteristic wides in the second half. Leon Fox also showed his value at the back, making some terrific blocks when the pressure did come on to keep Shamrocks from getting too close.

David Nally is the X factor for Ferbane and he is controlling games to an extent for them, carrying ball forward, almost always doing the right thing in possession and spraying quality passes around. He got five first half points, two of them two pointers and was a huge influence for Ferbane, kicking two very important second half points when they needed them.

It was a bleak afternoon for Shamrocks, though they will take a lot of heart from their second half display. They were infinitely better in that half but you just can't produce performances like their first half one and get away with it.

THE SCORERS

Ferbane: Cian Johnson 1-4, David Nally 0-7 (2 x 2p), Paddy Clancy 0-3 (1 x 2p), Patrick Taaffe, Jake Maher, Ciaran Cahill (mark) and Eoghan Grennan 0-1 each.Shamrocks: Scott Delaney 1-1, Darragh Bryant 0-3 (1 x 2p, 1 f), Andrew Delaney and Paddy Dunican (2pf) 0-2 each, Conor Egan, David O'Toole-Greene and Johnny O'Toole-Greene 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

FERBANE: Adam Nugent; Patrick Taaffe, Leon Fox, James Wren; David Nally, Aaron McCabe, Jake Maher; Ciaran Cahill, Kyle Higgins; Paddy Ckancy, Eoghan Grennan, Brian Carroll; Cian Johnson, Joe Maher, Jack Clancy. Subs – Darragh Flynn for Jack Clancy (39m), Oisin Kelly for Grennan (39m), Conor Grennan for Higgins (44m), Kevin Nugent for Wren, inj. (50m),

SHAMROCKS: Sean O'Toole; Adam Keyes, Gary Hutchinson, Padraig Cantwel; Kieran Dolan, Shane O'Toole-Greene, David O'Rourke; Andrew Delaney; Dara Bates,, Scott Delaney, Dan Heffernan; Darragh Bryant, Eoghan Neville, Conor Egan. Subs – David O'Toole-Greene for Keyes (HT), Paddy Dunican for Heffernan (HT), Nigel Dunne for Johnny O'Toole-Greene (HT), Michael Lambe for Darragh Bryant (56m),

Referee – Kevin Williamson, Tullamore.

REFEREE WATCH

Kevin Williamson had an excellent game. There was no rough play or big calls to test him but he controlled it well and got the vast majority of things right.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The two points David Nally kicked on the 50 minute mark were crucial. Shamrocks had got the deficit down to five points and Ferbane were floundering but they put them seven up and more or less settled the issue.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch is back at its best and the game was well hosted.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ferbane go into the semi-finals while Shamrocks are in the quarter-finals.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ferbane - (2 in first half); Shamrocks - (1 in first half).

Yellow card:s: Shamrocks – 3 (Dara Bates, Eoghan Neville 2); Ferbane – 1 (Conor Grennan).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: Shamrocks – 1 (Eoghan Neville 2 yellows); Ferbane - 0