Durrow end Shamrocks 100% record with emphatic eight point victory

Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly Senior Football Championship Group 2

DURROW 2-12

SHAMROCKS 1-7

DURROW recorded their first win in this year's Offaly Senior Football Championship with an emphatic eight point victory over previously unbeaten Shamrocks in their final group game played in Clara on Sunday.

The winners took control of the game in the first 20 minutes when they outscored their opponents by 1-5 to 0-0 and they maintained their advantage throughout with Shamrocks never getting closer than five points to them after that.

Because of the results in the previous rounds Shamrocks already knew they were guaranteed top spot in the group while Durrow were destined to finish bottom no matter what the outcome of this game. Following the results of the other games on Sunday they now know their quarter final opponents with Shamrocks facing Ballycommon and Durrow taking on champions Tullamore.

However following this game it might be Durrow who take greater momentum into the quarter finals than table toppers Shamrocks. They lost their first game heavily to Edenderry but ran Ferbane to a single point and then recorded this fine victory which will leave them in good fettle for the quarter finals.

Shamrocks had recorded two single point victories in their previous two games but they never looked like following up on that in this game and will have to pick themselves up before facing last year's Senior B champions Ballycommon in the quarter final.

Conditions were difficult for this game with a crossfield wind and underfoot conditions slippy after overnight and early morning rain. Durrow were the quicker to settle and helped by a 10th minute goal were 1-5 to 0-0 in front after 19 minutes. It took Shamrocks 23 mintues to get off the mark but they added two more to give themselves hope at half time, trailing by 1-5 to 0-3.

Five minutes after the restart Durrow goaled for a second time and that gave them a comfortable position again. They pushed their lead out to ten points at one stage but a late goal cut the defiicit but they still had eight points to spare at full time.

Durrow controlled the game well. They were very strong at midfield with Brian Geraghty and Jack Fogarty controlling matters and that ensured they enjoyed plenty of possession. With Ross Ravenhill and Ciaran Burke strong down the middle of their defence they snuffed out a lot of the Shamrocks threat. In attack Kevin McDermott and Dan Bourke were always lively and Mark Troy grabbed their two goals with good finishes.

Shamrocks struggled to get a foothold in the game. They found the wind difficult to deal with and dropped far too many shots short into the Durrow goalkeeper. They kept battling and were rewarded with a late goal but after the slow start they were unable to really threaten the Durrow lead. Gary Hutchinson, Luke Molloy and Scott Delaney battled hard in their defence, Dara Bates had good moments around the middle and Nigel Dunne and Jack Bryant tried hard in attack without getting the rewards on the scoreboard.

Durrow got off to a flying start and from the throw in Brian Geraghty won the ball, transferred to Jack Fogarty and he kicked the opening point after just 10 seconds of play. Shamrocks created a goal chance themselves still inside the first minute when Dara Bates put Nigel Dunne through but his effort was blocked by Dermot Colbert's foot. Kevin McDermott pointed a free after five minutes and when Mark Troy's shot came off the post, Dan Wyer gathered but his shot was well save by Sean O'Toole.

However Durrow did strike for their first goal in the 10th minute. Dan Bourke won the ball around midfield and made a great run before transferring to Ciaran Burke and he passed to Mark Troy, who stepped around the goalkeeper before shooting to the net. Kevin McDermott added another free to leave them 1-3 to 0-0 ahead at the end of the first quarter.

Durrow strung another good move together and Ciaran Burke saw his effort well saved but the ball came back out and Gavin Hand added another point. Jack Fogarty kicked his second after 19 minutes and the gap was out to eight points.

Shamrocks needed something to happen and they eventually came more into it and good pressure resulted in a 13m free which Nigel Dunne pointed for their opening score after 23 minutes. From the kick out Durrow were dispossessed and Darragh Bryant kicked another point. Nigel Dunne then added a third and suddenly Shamrocks were back in the contest only five points down, 1-5 to 0-3 and it remained that way until half time.

The first five minutes of the second half failed to provide a score but then Durrow struck for their second goal. Kevin McDermott's free dropped in the goalmouth and when it broke Mark Troy finished it to the net. Kevin McDermott added a free to push them nine clear. Shamrocks fought hard to stay in touch and Dara Bates kicked a good point and Nigel Dunne added a free to leave seven between the sides 10 minutes into the half.

The next 14 minutes only provided a pointed free for each side from Kevin McDermott and Nigel Dunne, before Kevin McDermott kicked a good point from play and straight from the kick out Billy Fogarty lofted over another. Luke Molloy came forward to point for Shamrocks but two Brian Duignan points stretched the lead to 10 points in injury time.

Shamrocks kept plugging away and three minutes into added time, Dara Bates collected a ball across the goalmouth and jinked inside and picked his spot in the net. There was still time for Billy Fogarty to kick another for Durrow and leave them eight points clear at the final whistle.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

DURROW: Dermot Colbert; Jack O'Brien, Ross Ravenhill, Mark Hughes; Gavin Hand, Ciaran Burke, Mike McDermott; Brian Geraghty, Jack Fogarty; Dan Bourke, Kevin McDermott, Dan Wyer; David Magner, Mark Troy, Stephen Doran. Subs. Colin Waters (for Mike McDermott, 33 mins), Niall Geraghty (for Dan Wyer, 45 mins), Billy Fogarty (for Mark Troy, 50 mins), Brian Duignan (for Dan Bourke, 51 mins), Sean Hughes (for Jack O'Brien, 60 mins).

SHAMROCKS: Sean O'Toole; Eoghan Neville, Gary Hutchinson, Neil Minnock; Luke Molloy, David O'Rourke, Dan Heffernan; Padraig Cantwell, Dara Bates; Jason Minnock, David O'Toole Greene, Sean Mooney; Darragh Bryant, Nigel Dunne, Jack Bryant. Subs. Gary Merriman (for Sean Mooney, half time), Andrew Delaney (for Padraig Cantwell, half time), Jack Bates (for David O'Toole Greene, 51 mins), Alan Heffernan (for Darragh Bryant, 56 mins), Darra Daly.

REFEREE: Marius Stones (Clara).

MAN OF THE MATCH

The main contenders were all on the Durrow side with midfielders Brian Geraghty and Jack Fogarty and forward Kevin McDermott all making major contributions. In the end I've gone with Brian Geraghty for a huge shift around the middle. He won a lot of ball around the middle and linked well with the attack and was constantly in the thick of the action.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Durrow's second goal five minutes into the second half was an important score. They hadn't scored since the 19th minute and Shamrocks had come back into the game and were threatening to close the gap further but once the second half went in, it never looked like Durrow were seriously threatened again.

REFEREE WATCH

Marius Stones was in control throughout. On a number of occasions he overturned frees and threw up the ball as a result of retaliation after the free was awarded. He handed out cards when necessary and was firm and decisive in his decision making.

WHAT’S NEXT

Durrow will take on reigning champions Tullamore in the quarter finals while Shamrocks will meet Ballycommon in their last eight clash.

VENUE WATCH

The game was played on the new pitch in Clara. After the rain it was a little slippy in places and there were a few uneven bounces. The club had plenty of stewards on duty looking after parking and directing people and guiding motorists back onto the road afterwards.

STATISTICS

Wides; Durrow 3 (2 in first half) Shamrocks 5 (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Durrow 2 (David Magner, Gavin Hand) Shamrocks 3 (Sean Mooney, David O'Toole Greene, Darra Daly).

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Durrow; Mark Troy (2-0), Kevin McDermott (0-5, 0-4 frees), Jack Fogarty, Billy Fogarty, Brian Duignan (0-2 each), Gavin Hand (0-1).

Shamrocks; Dara Bates (1-1), Nigel Dunne (0-4, 0-2 frees), Darragh Bryant, Luke Molloy (0-1 each).