Shamrocks recover from nightmare start to saunter into semi-finals

FOR the second game in a row, Shamrocks made a start of nightmare proportions but the difference in opposition was shown on this occasion as they got away with it, turning the screw on Clara and cruising into the semi-finals of the Offaly Senior Football Championship.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Shamrocks 1-19

Clara 1-12

A shocking first half in their last group game against Ferbane left them with too much to do, despite a much improved second half performance. History repeated itself here early on but as you would expect for a team just up out of senior B football and coming out of the weak group, Clara were nowhere near as strong as Ferbane and were very much second best after that sensational start.

Everything Clara touched turned to gold in the first five minutes. They scored six points in a scintilating spell of early pressure, Adam Kelly getting a two pointer. They could very easily have had 2-5 on the board and there may have been no way back for Shamrocks. Josh Fleming blasted over the bar with a great goal chance and Ed Cullen was wide with a clear opening in the fourth minute.

You just couldn't fathom Shamrocks in this period. After the Ferbane first half fiasco, they had ample warning and had to start well but they never laid a hand on Clara in that opening spell.

They got going thanks primarily to the influence of one man, Paddy Dunican. After missing a year through a cruciate, Dunican, the Offaly senior football goalkeeper before his injury, came on as a sub against Ferbane and starting him was a no brainer for the Shamrocks management.

With Sean O'Toole, the Offaly All-Ireland U20 goalkeeper from 2021, in their ranks, Dunican was always going to be used out the field – he played county minor and U20 football as an attacker before finding his senior future between the posts and he had a game winning influence here as he scored 1-12, 0-3 from play.

When doubts were surfacing among team mates, he got them going. He missed an early two point free and was wide with a snap shot on goals, Darragh Bryant just failing to get on the end of it, but he converted a two point free in the 10th minute for their first score and the whole game changed for Shamrocks.

Dunican added a point from play, converted a penalty that he won when fouled by Barry Egan to level it up, 1-3 to 0-6 and the momentum was with Shamrocks. Dunican's free got them in front for the first time in the 21st minute and Clara were gasping for breath. Clara could only manage two points in the first half after that flying start as Dunican got a 28th minute two point free and Sean O'Toole saved well from Ed Cullen to give the winners a 1-8 to 0-8 half time lead.

History repeated itself at the start of the second half. Shamrocks again started in first gear and Clara hit the ground running. Ed Cullen levelled it up with a great 33rd minute goal and Paddy Dunican (free) and Adam Kelly exchanged points to leave it 1-9 each after 36 minutes.

Clara didn't score again until the 53rd minute and by that stage their supporters were more worried about Shane Lowry and his Irish Open victory charge – full credit to Shane Lowry's father, Brendan who was a Clara selector and honoured his commitment to them by patrolling the sidelines here but he must have wondered as Clara were at nothing for most of the second half.

Shamrocks had started their best team on this occasion with Dunican, David O'Toole-Greene and Conor Egan lining out while player – manager Nigel Dunne also started. There had been speculation about this but Dunne had to bite the bullet and he showed his value with three quality points as Shamrocks got a great run of nine points without reply to lead by 1-18 to 1-9. Dunican got another great two point free, Eoghan Neville a two pointer from play and with ten minutes left, Shamrocks had the game won.

Clara got three late points while Shane O'Toole-Greene spurned a late sitter of a goal but it all ended up a very satisfactory afternoon for Shamrocks.

Clara will be disappointed at their display and rightly so as it was very much an anti-climax but it was still a positive year for them as they settled into senior football. They qualified out of the group, were not in relegation trouble and will also be secure next year as they compete in the strong group. That represents a good year's work for them and they can now focus on developing their exciting young talent – one of the most gifted emerging forwards in Offaly, Dylan Dunne will be out of minor ranks next year along with a couple more and the future is bright for Clara.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks): Paddy Dunican was the difference between the teams here. He got Shamrocks going after their horrible start, his free taking was generally immaculate and he got great scores from play. He also did very well in open play, showing great composure on the ball and setting up scores. He had a couple of wides but he was a definite match winner here and an easy choice as man of the match.

Conor Egan was also excellent for Shamrocks and while the finishing touch was lacking at times, his ball carrying and awareness created a lot. Nigel Dunne also deserves a mention. Early in the second half, it was looking like he hadn't the legs for senior football but his experience shone through. He didn't worry when the ball wasn't running for him, he didn't waste energy by making runs out the field, stayed patience and fired over three real poacher's points to turn the screw on Clara.

Conor Doyle carried the ball forward very well for Clara and Ed Cullen did some great work out the field but as a unit, Clara were not good enough.

THE SCORERS

Shamrocks: Paddy Dunican 1-12 (1-0, penalty, 3 x 2pf, 3f), Nigel Dunne 0-3, Eoghan Neville 0-2 (1 x 2p), Conor Egan and Jack Bryant 0-1 each.

Clara: Ed Cullen 1-2, Adam Kelly 0-3 (1 x 2p), Conor Doyle (2p) and Josh Fleming (1f) 0-2 each, Conor Egan, Graham Guilfoyle (f) and Marscas Dalton 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

SHAMROCKS: Sean O'Toole; Donal Dooley, Gary Hutchinson, Padraig Cantwell; Kieran Dolan, Shane O'Toole-Greene, David O'Rourke; Andrew Delaney, Scott Delaney; David O'Toole-Greene, Nigel Dunne, Conor Egan; Darragh Bryant, Jack Bryant, Paddy Dunican. Subs – Eoghan Neville for Darragh Bryant (HT), Alan Heffernan for Jack Bryant (35m), Dara Bates for Egan (58m)

CLARA: Adam Scanlon; Barry Egan, Callum Bracken, Alan Gavin; Conor Doyle, Marcas Dalton, Colm Doyle; Ed Cullen, David Falsey; Ben Loughran, Conor Egan, Adam Kelly; Josh Fleming, Cormac Delaney, Graham Guilfoyle. Subs – Ciaran Doyle for Loughran (35m), Ryan Carroll for Conor Egan (45m), Kevin Minnock for Colm Doyle (56m).

Referee – Kevin Williamson, Tullamore.

REFEREE WATCH

Kevin Williamson refereed it well. Clara complained at a couple of decisions and Marcas Dalton and Colm Doyle picked up yellow cards for this but he was fair and consistent.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Paddy Dunican's 13th minute penalty goal changed the entire dynamic of the game. It levelled it up, quickly negating Clara's excellent start but its impact was more profound than that. It ignited the Shamrocks team, deflated Clara and the result looked inevitable from then on. Apart from a brief Clara spurt at the start of the second half, Shamrocks controlled all aspects of the game from then to the final whistle.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was at its best, though there was a small crowd in with Shane Lowry's charge towards the Irish Open taking some of the Clara support.

WHAT'S NEXT

Shamrocks go into the semi-finals against Ferbane or Rhode.

STATISTICS

Wides: Shamrocks – 9 (5 in first half); Clara – 4 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Clara – 2 (Callum Bracken, Marcas Dalton); Shamrocks - 0

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0