Fired up Shamrocks snatch deserved shock win in championship opener
IT may have took a sensational winning point from the unlikely source of corner back Luke Molloy to secure it but there was no disputing the merit of Shamrocks' shock win over Ferbane in an entertaining Senior Football Championship opener at Mucklagh on Thursday evening.
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2
Shamrocks 1-11
Ferbane 1-10
Trailing by 1-10 to 0-9 as the game entered injury time, a subdued looking Ferbane seemed to be heading for a deserved defeat when they came back from the dead. Firstly Shamrocks had blew a great chance of extending their lead in the 61st minute with both Scott Delaney and Darragh Bryant turning down the opportunity of a simple fisted point. The outstanding Delaney passed to Bryant who went for goal only for it to be blocked and while it should have been buried, it looked like Shamrocks would pay a cruel price as Ferbane rallied powerfully.
They were handed a lifeline a minute later when they were awarded a questionable penalty after Darragh Flynn hit the crossbar. Referee Eamon O'Connor ruled that Flynn had been fouled in the process of shooting, sub, Joe Maher buried the penalty and in the 63rd minute Cian Johnson floated over a beautiful equalising point for the favourites. Shamrocks' worse nightmare was unfolding when Ferbane raided again and Darragh Flynn had a great chance of a lead point but dropped just short.
With four minutes of injury time gone, Shamrocks would have settled for a draw at this stage but another minute was played and somehow, with a number of players out on their feet, they conjured up the winner. Space opened in front of Luke Molloy as he tore up field and with defenders sticking with their men, he took the shot on himself, curling over a great point worthy of winning any game.
It was a frantic end to a game of football where Shamrocks were the better team apart from the opening ten minutes.
With every team from the group qualifying for the quarter-finals, the championship format has been much maligned but this was the start it required. A closely contested game watched by an enthusiastic crowd and a result that means a lot to the winners.
It did look like Shamrocks were much more wound up for this game and that tells its own tale about the format but it still showed that championship matches will be keenly contested. Both sides took to the field without marquee forwards with Shamrocks missing the injured Nigel Dunne and Ferbane down the injured Cathal Flynn while Joe Maher only came on as a late sub.
Dunne's loss was sorely felt by Shamrocks as it meant that most of their eggs were placed in Jack Bryant's basket but he certainly rose to the challenge with a match winning contribution. His excellence along with a tour de force from three very physical players in their midfield diamond, David O'Rourke, Scott Delaney and David O'Toole-Greene were the reasons Shamrocks won.
Shamrocks were in serious bother early on. Ferbane had four points from their first four attacks in the opening five minutes while Shamrocks had four wides in the same period. It looked like it could be a bleak day for them but then Jack Bryant got going, hauling them back into it and forcing everyone else to respond positively to him. He levelled it up with four points, three frees, by the 25th minute and it was a different game.
A Cian Johnson free edged Ferbane back in front and Jason Minnock and Darragh Flynn exchanged points to give the losers a 0-6 to 0-5 interval lead.
Shamrocks were clearly the better side for much of the second half. Their dominance in the wider midfield area became more pronounced at it went on and after Cian Johnson extended Ferbane's lead to two, Shamrocks made inroads. Jack Byrant had a goal shot blocked but stroked over the '45' and his first cousin, Darragh Bryant equalised from a free.
The hard working Leon Fox got Ferbane back in front but fine points from sub Gary Merriman and Dara Bates, who improved as the half wore on, gave Shamrocks the lead for the first time by the 42nd minute. A Johnson free levelled it but the next two scores were crucial. Darragh Bryant tapped over a free in the 49th minute and three minutes later, Shamrocks got their all important goal – it may have been a fortunate one with Jack Bryant perhaps trying for a point but his dipping shot found the roof of the net and suddenly it was Shamrocks' to lose with a 1-10 to 0-9 lead.
Shamrocks controlled the next few minutes very impressively and the next score was Joe Maher's 62nd minute penalty goal, setting up that grandstand finish.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jack Bryant (Shamrocks): It is a measure of the merit of Shamrocks win that the four main contenders for man of the match wore their colours.
Centre back David O'Rourke, midfielder Scott Delaney and centre forward David O'Toole-Greene were instrumental as their power and composure on the ball gave them a powerful foothold around midfield. You had to admire O'Rourke who cramped up badly late on but still kept looking for the ball and driving while the vastly experienced Delaney was a serious contender with a great midfield performance.
My choice is Jack Bryant. He almost single handedly hauled Shamrocks back into it when they started so badly, showing for and demanding the ball. He missed a couple of frees and had a couple of goal chances while his goal may have been a bit lucky but he was the single biggest reason Shamrocks' won – with Nigel Dunne absent, a lot was placed on his shoulders and he carried the load very impressively, doing what Shamrocks needed from their main county man. He was fouled for many of their frees as a huge volume of ball was directed to him.
Gary Hutchinson, Dara Bates and the hard working Dan Heffernan also impressed for Shamrocks at different stages.
It was a poor display by Ferbane. Darragh Flynn and Cian Johnson went well at times in their attack while Kyle Higgins started very well at midfield before drifting out of it and Leon Fox was solid there. Their defence didn't do much wrong, though Ciaran Cahill and Patrick Taaffe were asked searching questions by Jack Bryant.
THE SCORERS
Shamrocks: Jack Bryant 1-5 (3f and 1 '45'), Darragh Bryant 0-2 (2f), Luke Molloy, Dara Bates, Jason Minnock and Gary Merriman 0-1 each.
Ferbane: Cian Johnson 0-6 (3f), Joe Maher 1-0 (penalty), Darragh Flynn 0-3 (1 mark and 1f), Leon Fox 0-1.
THE TEAMS
SHAMROCKS: Sean O'Toole; Sean Mooney, Gary Hutchinson, Luke Molloy; Neil Minnock, David O'Rourke, Eoghan Neville; Scott Delaney, Dara Bates; Dan Heffernan, David O'Toole-Greene, Jason Minnock; Darragh Bryant, Jack Bryant, Dara Daly. Subs – Gary Merriman for Daly (40m), Jack Bates for Jason Minnock (57m).
FERBANE: David Dunican; Patrick Taaffe, Ciaran Cahill, Conor Butler; John Dunican, Jack Egan, Shane Nally; Leon Fox, David Kelly; Brian Carroll, Kyle Higgins, Conor Dunican; Cian Johnson, Ronan McGuire, Darragh Flynn. Subs – Jack Clancy for Kelly (39m), Joe Maher for McGuire (48m).
Referee – Eamon O'Connor (Ballycommon).
REFEREE WATCH
Eamon O'Connor had a very good game overall and contributed to a physical, competitive, enjoyable game. He got most things right and kept control well, showing seven yellow cards – none of those players had any complaints though Ferbane wing back John Dunican was fortunate not to pick up a second one for a second half sliding tackle. He did award Darragh Flynn one second half mark, though the ball looked to have been kicked into him from inside the 40 metre line, which doesn't count as a mark if that was the case – Flynn screwed the mark across the goal and it was cleared. The penalty looked questionable but would have to be viewed again for a definite opinion.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Luke Molloy's winning point was the big moment here.
VENUE WATCH
One of the redeeming features of the championship format is the home and away arrangement for the first two rounds. Hosting a senior football game for their own club is a special occasion for most and Shamrocks clearly went to great lengths to look after the Mucklagh venue. They had loads of stewards, managing the traffic efficiently – they had stewards on traffic duty at pitch side down the Brocca Road and equally importantly, they had ones on the busy main road through the village on the final whistle. The midweek fixture also worked well – supporters certainly have an appetite for these midweek fixtures.
WHAT'S NECT
Shamrocks travel to Edenderry on Friday, August 9 while Ferbane host Durrow the following evening.
STATISTICS
Wides: Ferbane – 4 (3 in first half); Shamrocks – 8 (7 in first half).
Yellow cards: Shamrocks – 3 (Gary Hutchinson, Dara Bates and Darragh Bryant); Ferbane – 4 (David Dunican, Conor Butler, John Dunican, Jack Clancy).
Black cards: 0.
Red cards: 0.