Shamrocks suffer late heartbreak as Conahy snatch victory with late scores

AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

CONAHY SHAMROCKS 1-21

SHAMROCKS 1-19

OFFALY intermediate champions Shamrocks put in a huge effort but ultimately came up just short against Kilkenny''s Conahy Shamrocks in a hugely entertaining Leinster Junior Hurling quarter final at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Sunday.

The Offaly side led for much of the game but they couldn't quite shake off their opponents and over the last 10 minutes were outscored by 1-6 to 0-2 as Conahy claimed their place in the semi-finals where they will face Turin on Westmeath.

The game started very brightly and maintained a good pace throughout. The sides were level five times in the first 10 minutes before Shamrocks began to get on top and five points in a row gave them a four point lead early in the second quarter. Conahy kept in touch but the gap was still four points at the break, 0-12 to 0-8 in favour of Shamrocks.

The home side moved six points clear in the third quarter but five unanswered points had Conahy back within one as the game entered the final quarter. Shamrocks hit back with a goal and a point to lead by five again with 10 minutes left but Conahy upped the ante over those remaining minutes, responding almost immediately with a goal of their own and they edged clear in the final minutes, withstanding a final Shamrocks rally which included a save from a 20m free deep in injury time.

Shamrocks can be proud of their efforts but will also feel it was a chance of a famous victory being missed. They fought to the final seconds but just couldn't get over the line. They probably needed to get more return from their starting attack as they just contributed 0-5 from play, a tally which was matched by sub David Dooley with 1-2, but only four players contributed to their scoring return.

In contrast five of the six Conahy forwards scored from play and with top scorer Edmond Delaney also adding three more from play, it gave them an edge which was to prove crucial in the end.

Kilkenny sides have dominated this championship over the years and Conahy will certainly be among the favourites again but they will know they were in a real contest in this game. However they never panicked, even when six points down, and worked their way back into the game by picking off their points.

Shamrocks had put themselves back in the driving seat with their goal which put them five clear late in the game, but they never got to consolidate that lead as Conahy hit back immediately with a goal themselves and that gave them the momentum to drive on over the last 10 minutes.

Philip Cass, Darragh Hennessy and captain Ciaran Rice were prominent in the Conahy defence, Edmond Delaney stood out in the middle of the field while Tom Phelan and James Bergin were best in attack.

Sean Mooney, Stephen Malone and Padraig Cantwell put in a big effort in the Shamrocks defence, David O'Rourke worked hard in the middle of the field, and Eoghan Neville, Conor Egan and David O'Toole-Greene worked hard in the forward line.

The game had a lively start and Conahy Shamrocks went in front after just 40 seconds when Edmond Delaney cut a beautiful line ball over the bar from about 40m on the right. Shamrocks were quickly level when Conor Egan scored a good point and they went in front after three minutes when David O'Toole-Greene pointed.

James Bergin quickly levelled things up again and Tom Phelan's point from 60m had Conahy back in front. Eoghan Neville and Edmond Delaney exchanged points from frees before Conor Egan levelled matters for the fourth time. Tom Phelan restored the Conahy lead after nine minutes but Shamrocks hit the next five points in a row, all from Eoghan Neville, four from frees and the other from play.

An Edmond Delaney free and a nice point fom Thomas Rice halved the lead but Eoghan Neville replied with two more, one from play and one from a free. Tom Phelan scored a fine point from 65m and Conahy thought they had levelled when Mark Gunner finished to the net on the stroke on half time but James Bergin was pulled for a throw in the build up. To rub salt in the wound, the free was moved forward for dissent and Eoghan Neville pointed that to give Shamrocks a 0-12 to 0-8 interval lead.

Eoghan Neville stretched the lead to five inside the first minute of the second half but Edmond Delaney immediately replied with a fine point from the left. They came close to a goal when Jack Rhatigan and Tom Phelan combined to set up James Bergin but his low shot was a fraction outside the post. Sub David Dooley then pointed for Shamrocks and when Eoghan Neville added a free the gap was out to six four minutes into the second half.

Patrick Kennedy drilled a shot just over the crossbar but Eoghan Neville responded from a free. Conahy then hit a purple spell with five points in six minutes, four from Edmond Delaney frees and the other from James Bergin to leave just a point in it with 13 minutes left.

Shamrocks needed a response and they got it when David Dooley hit his second point and a minute later when Conor Egan's shot came off the butt of the post, Dooley was quickest to react to shoot to the net and Shamrocks were five clear entering the final 10 minutes.

Just over a minute later Conahy got the lifeline they needed when Edmond Delaney's long free bounced in thegoalmouth and Mark Gunner whipped the ball to the net. Edmond Delaney added a point and the gap was down to the minimum again. Edmond Delaney levelled with four minutes left and two minutes later put Conahy ahead from play.

Eoghan Neville levelled from a free but Edmond Delaney restored Conahy's lead from a long range free. Johnny O'Toole-Greene's effort at a leveller hit the post and was cleared and James Bergin stretched the Conahy lead to two. Eoghan Neville and Edmond Delaney exchanged points from frees and then six minutes into injury time Shamrocks were awarded a 20m free. Padraig Cantwell's low effort for goal was deflected out for a '65'. There was still time to take that and Stephen Malone lobbed it into the packed goalmouth but Conahy stood firm and the final whistle sounded to send them into the Leinster semi-final.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

CONAHY SHAMROCKS:Padraic Delaney; Padraig Gunner, Philip Cass, Liam Cass; Darren Cuddihy, Darragh Hennessy, Ciaran Rice; Jack Rhatigan, Edmond Delaney; Karl Downey, Patrick Kennedy, Tom Phelan; Mark Gunner, James Bergin, Thomas Rice. Subs. Harry O'Mahony (for Karl Downey, 40 mins), Bill Murphy (for Mark Gunner, 59 mins).

SHAMROCKS: Darragh Minnock; Sean Cantwell, Conor Condron, Sean Mooney; Padraig Cantwell, Stephen Malone, Mark Malone; David O'Rourke, Conor Moran; Eoghan Neville, Neil Minnock, Shane O'Toole-Greene; David O'Toole-Greene, Conor Egan, Alan Foster. Subs. David Dooley (for Alan Foster, half time), Jack Molloy (for Conor Moran, 44 mins), Johnny O'Toole-Greene, 53 mins), Shane Heffernan (for Mark Malone, 59 mins).

REFEREE: Ciaran Flynn (Meath).

MAN OF THE MATCH

There were some strong contenders on both sides. The scoring was dominated by Eoghan Neville and Edmond Delaney and I've gone with the latter. He finished with 0-13, with three of those from play. He was unerring in his accuracy but he was also centrally involved in a lot of their play around the middle of the field and his scores guided them to victory.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Conahy's goal was a huge moment in the game. Shamrocks had responded to Conahy cutting a six point to a single point with a goal and a point to go back five clear and put them into a strong position going into the last 10 minutes but within a couple of minutes Conahy had responded with their own goal and they grabbed the momentum in the final 10 minutes to move on to victory.

REFEREE WATCH

Ciaran Flynn followed the rules to the letter. His decisions may have frustrated some of the players but on the whole he was correct. He was particularly hot on thrown passes, penalising both sides. Conahy throught they had a goal just before half time but James Bergin was correctly pulled for a throw in the build up. The referee also consistently penalised dissent and quite a number of frees were moved forward into scoring range on both sides.

WHAT’S NEXT

It's the end of the year for Shamrocks and they can look forward to returning to the Offaly Senior B championship next year while Conahy Shamrocks move forward to the Leinster semi-finals where they will meet Turin from Westmeath.

VENUE WATCH

For the second Sunday in November the O'Connor Park pitch was in good condition for this contest. There was a nice sized crowd with a vocal element supporting the visiting side. As usual all the arrangements were in good order for the game.

STATISTICS

Wides; Conahy Shamrocks 8 (3 in first half) Shamrocks 6 (5 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Conahy Shamrocks 1 (Darragh Hennessy) Shamrocks 2 (Conor Egan, David O'Toole-Greene)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Conahy Shamrocks; Edmond Delaney (0-13, 0-9 frees, 0-1 sideline cut), James Bergin, Tom Phelan (0-3 each), Mark Gunner (1-0), Thomas Rice, Patrick Kennedy (0-1 each).

Shamrocks; Eoghan Neville (0-14, 0-12 frees), David Dooley (1-2), Conor Egan (0-2), David O'Toole-Greene (0-1).