St Rynagh's get the win they need as battling Tullamore go down

THE result was very much the bottom line for St Rynagh's as they got well on top in the second half to pull away for a convincing win over Tullamore in the opening round of the Senior Hurling Championship in O'Connor Park on Friday evening.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 1

St Rynagh's 2-21

Tullamore 0-14

Drawn in group 1 with Kilcormac-Killoughey, Birr, Tullamore and Kinnitty, St Rynagh's looked to be in good health once they found their form in the second half.

Group 1 does not look as competitive on paper as group 2. While St Rynagh's and Kilcormac-Killoughey are powerful championship contenders and Birr have a decent outside chance, Tullamore and Kinnitty are very much outsiders. With three qualifying, none of the top three can afford a slip up against the two weaker sides and St Rynagh's did exactly what they needed to here.

A battling Tullamore gave them plenty of food for thought in the first half and only an excellent St Rynagh's goal from Luke O'Connor separated the sides as the winners led by 1-8 to 0-7 at half time.

In the second half, however, St Rynagh's clicked into top gear as they dominated all over the field. Tullamore could only manage to double their tally to 14 points while St Rynagh's scored 1-13 but it was only late on that they really put the issue to bed.

St Rynagh's look to be hungry for action. Having won three in a row in from 2019 to 2021, they ran out of gas last year and were beaten by eventual champions Shinrone in the quarter-final. That win ignited a fantastic run by Shinrone who went onto win their first title while St Rynagh's hunger just wasn't there after such sustained dominance.

They clearly want to get back on top now, however, and they showed that they are very serious contenders here.

A win over Tullamore doesn't mean a whole lot but they simply couldn't afford to lose this game and needed to win with a few points to spare to show intent.

Tullamore won the senior “B” last year but were without Offaly U-20 star Cormac Egan here. Egan is once again in bother with his troublesome hamstring injury, though the extent of it is not known yet. He was a loss here but St Rynagh's were convincing enough winners to suggest that no one player could have saved Tullamore.

The losers debuted four young players, Niall Furlong, Cillian Martin, Jack Daly, who all started and sub, Diarmuid Egan – not to be mistaken with his namesake, Cormac's older brother, Diarmuid who also returned to the Tullamore lineup here after opting out last year.

The input of four young players like this is very positive for Tullamore – Niall Furlong and Cillian Martin were key players as Offaly reached the All-Ireland minor hurling final in 2022. For Tullamore, the aim is very simple this year – retain senior status and then try and improve for the future.

This defeat suggests that they will have their work cut out but they will have a fighting chance of survival.

Tullamore competed very well early on here and the sides were level at 0-2 each after ten minutes. The sides were level at 0-3 each when Luke O'Connor broke free to score a super 14th minute goal for St Rynagh's. It was nip and tuck from here to the interval with Tullamore outscoring them by 0-4 to 0-3 for that four point interval lead.

There was more bite in the second half and St Rynagh's moved with onimous intent from the restart. Eoin Woods (2) and Matthew Maloney got three quick points and they were 1-12 to 0-9 ahead after 38 minutes.

Just when it was looking bad for Tullamore, they rallied very well and points from Jack Dooley, Dan and Mike Fox and James Houlihan brought them right back into it. Tullamore really needed a goal though but instead, St Rynagh's went up the gears.

Aidan Treacy (3) and Shane Rigney put them 1-18 to 0-13 ahead with time ebbing away and it was all over. They added more in injury time with the goal coming from an Aidan Treacy free.

The Scorers

St Rynagh’s: Aidan Treacy 1-6 (1-2 Frees), Luke O’Connor 1-3, Eoin Woods 0-4 (4f), Matthew Maloney 0-2, Shane Rigney 0-2, Brian Rigney 0-1, Gary Conneely 0-1, Joey O’Connor 0-1, Michael McLoughlin 0-1.

Tullamore: Mike Fox 0-5 (5f), Jack Dooley 0-4, Dan Fox 0-3, James Houlihan 0-2.

The Teams

St Rynagh’s: Gary Kelly; Stephen Wynne, Pat Camon, Simon Óg Lyons; Michael McLoughlin, Matthew Maloney, Conor Hernon; Ben Conneely, Brian Rigney; Joey O’Connor, Jerome Flannery, Gary Conneely; Luke O’Connor, Aidan Treacy. Eoin Woods. Subs: Sean Dolan for Brian Rigney (53 mins), Shane Rigney for Eoin Woods (50 mins), Paul Quirke for Joey O’Connor (53 mins).

Tullamore: Paul Kelly; Dylan Hensey, Niall Houlihan, Kevin Waters; Jack Daly, Cormac Martin, Brian Hogan; Cillian Martin, Jack Dooley; Niall Furlong, Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore senior footballer and brother of Cormac), James Houlihan; Dan Fox, Shane Dooley, Mike Fox. Subs: Diarmuid Egan for Shane Dooley (41 mins), Aaron Leavy for Jack Daly (50 mins), Colm Woodlock for Dan Fox (inj. 63 mins).

Referee: Brian Gavin (Clara).