Three red cards sours otherwise brilliant decider as Silvermines win extra time North final

Watch Centre North Junior B Hurling Championship Final

Silvermines 0-26

Knockshegowna 1-21

After extra time

By James Hayden

A superb Silvermines side repelled a gutsy extra-time effort from 13-man Knockshegowna to secure back-to-back North Junior ‘B’ hurling titles following a thrilling decider in Toomevara on Sunday afternoon.

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In what proved a teak-tough clash from start to finish, Sean Quirke’s charges were pushed all the way by a Knockshegowna side who just refused to give in despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for the vast majority of the second half and extra time.

Both sides were reduced to 14 men following an unsavoury altercation as the teams headed to the dressing rooms at half-time, locked at 0-10 apiece, with referee Tommy Hogan brandishing red cards to Knockshe’s Paul Lake and Silvermines’ Cathal Gleeson before Michael Cleary saw red also early in the second half following a late tackle on Silvermines midfielder Patrick Steed.

Silvermines went into the game as worthwhile favourites off the back of a convincing 2-15 to 1-10 win over Moneygall in the semi-final, while Knockshegowna edged out a fancied Ballina side by 1-11 to 0-13 thanks to an injury-time Paul Kennedy strike to book their spot in this year’s North final.

Having easily accounted for Knockshe in the group stages, many fancied the ‘Mines to record a facile victory, but what transpired couldn’t have been further from the expected as a battle-hardened Knockshegowna team fought tooth and nail right to the bitter end.

Even when trailing by four deep into the second period of extra time, Jim Williams’ charges refused to capitulate and were handed a late lifeline when Aaron King followed up on a well-struck Michael Egan free to rattle the ‘Mines net and reduce the deficit to the bare minimum. Silvermines dug deep once more, though, and it fell to their ace marksman Ronan Cunneen to eventually put Knockshe to the sword with a sublime point right on the cusp of full-time in extra time; his fourth point from play and his thirteenth in total on the day.

The first half proved a nip-and-tuck affair with Silvermines midfielder Orrie Quirke opening his side’s account with his first of six from play on the day before Anthony Whelan arrowed over from close range for Knockshe’s opening score.

Both sides had clear-cut goal chances swatted away in the opening stages, with Davy Shanahan denying the hugely impressive Michael Egan from close range before Diarmuid Brennan saw his low drive parried off the butt of the upright. Richard King in the Knockshe goal was also forced to put his body on the line to deny Eamonn Corcoran as both sides sought an early major.

Successive Michael Egan frees edged Knockshegowna into a 13th-minute wind-assisted lead before Ronan Cunneen (free) and Graham Gohery exchanged points in what was becoming a testy enough encounter. Silvermines had the sliotar in the back of the net on eighteen minutes, but Niall Curran was pinged for overcarrying before a sublime Orrie Quirke effort restored parity to proceedings once more, 0-6 apiece.

Silvermines corner-back Seán Ryan-Prendiville was fortunate not to see red following an unfortunate mistimed challenge on Michael Egan on 25 minutes before Niall Curran edged the ‘Mines back into the lead with a well-struck 26th-minute effort. Ronan Cunneen quickly doubled his side’s advantage before Silvermines introduced Seán Murphy at corner-back and Knockshegowna drafted in Eamon Murphy into their attack.

Daniel Keogh put two between the sides as the interval approached, before efforts from Michael Cleary and Paul Kennedy ensured the men from Lower Ormond went in all square at the break.

With both sides down to fourteen following the half-time altercation, Knockshegowna were dealt another blow when Michael Cleary was surprisingly straight red-carded following a late challenge on Patrick Steed after Tommy Hogan consulted with his linesman, Ciarán O'Donovan. 

Both sides had earlier arrowed over two points apiece after the break before a close-range Ronan Cunneen free was stopped dead on the Knockshe goal line before being cleared to safety.

Knockshegowna forged a two-point advantage midway through the half thanks to efforts from Michael Egan (free) and Paul Kennedy before a sublime Michael Egan point from range put three between the sides. Brian Leamy and Michael Egan (free) exchanged points before efforts from Orrie Quirke and Daniel Keogh narrowed the gap to a solitary point with ten minutes of normal time remaining.

Silvermines missed two chances from frees to edge ahead before Ronan Cunneen got on the end of a searching Davy Shanahan puck-out to bring the ‘Mines upsides. Orrie Quirke edged the ‘Mines back in front before Michael Egan drew Knockshe level once more. With the game now in time added on, the 'Mines squandered chance after chance to seize the initiative before Michael Egan flighted over a 64th-minute free with what many thought was the winning point. 

Knockshegowna coughed up a soft free though on the puck-out, with Ronan Cunneen displaying nerves of steel to fire over a long-range point from a placed ball and send the tie to extra time, much to the relief of the large Silvermines support.

Silvermines quickly built up a four-point advantage in the first period of extra time with three points from Ronan Cunneen (two from play and one from a free), Brian Leamy, and goalkeeper Davy Shanahan (free), while Michael Egan (free) bisected the uprights for Knockshegowna, 0-23 to 0-19 at the break.

Knockshegowna are North Tipperary hurling's version of the Japanese knotweed plant; they just kept on persevering and refusing to go away. Silvermines had thrown everything at them, and yet they somehow managed to fight their way back into contention. 

A pointed free from Michael Egan, who was forced off with an injured knee in the first period and reappeared for the second period of extra time, narrowed the gap to three before Ronan Cunneen put four between the sides again. Aaron King responded for Knockshe before King followed up on Michael Egan’s close-range free to put the bare minimum between the sides.

Silvermines went to the well once more though, with captain Eddie Ryan arrowing a searching cross-field ball to the unmarked Ronan Cunneen, and he ensured Silvermines are one step closer to atoning for last year’s county final heartbreak with a sublime point from close to the bank sideline, a point that finally served to break Knockshegowna's impressive resolve.

Silvermines were impressive throughout, with Eddie Ryan, Micheál Hogan, and Ben Claffey excelling in defence, while Orrie Quirke was outstanding at midfield. In attack, their half-forward line of Daniel Keogh, Niall Curran, and Ciaran Timmons all registered from play, while Ronan Cunneen was their main threat in the inside forward line. 

For a resilient Knockshegowna side, Richard King, Adrian Browne, Graham Gohery, Colin Browne, Michael Gohery, and Paul Kennedy all impressed, while Michael Egan was outstanding throughout with a personal tally of fourteen points on the day.

Scorers: Silvermines: Ronan Cunneen (0-13, 0-9f), Orrie Quirke 0-6, Danny Keogh, Brian Leamy 0-2 each, Niall Curran, Ciarán Timmons 0-1 each, David Shanahan 0-1f.

Knockshegowna: Michael Egan (0-15, 0-11f, 0-1 65), Aaron King 1-0, Paul Kennedy 0-2, Graham Gohery, Michael Gohery, Michael Cleary, Anthony Whelan all 0-1 each.

Silvermines: David Shanahan; Ben Claffey, Eddie Ryan, Seán Ryan Prendiville; Micheál Hogan, Cathal Gleeson, Eoin Seymour; Patrick Steed, Orrie Quirke; Daniel Keogh, Niall Curran, Ciaran Timmons; Ronan Cunneen, Eamonn Corcoran, Daniel Ryan.

Subs used: Seán Murphy for Ryan Prendiville (28); Brian Leamy for Ryan (HT); Cathal McGrath for Seymour (40); Gerard Leamy for Corcoran (49); William Keogh for Timmons (58); Seán Spillane for D. Keogh (ET); Tiarnan Flynn for Steed (ET).

Knockshegowna: Richard King; Matthew Costello, Adrian Browne, Darren Browne; Colin Brown, Graham Gohery, Jack Bond; Michael Gohery, Paul Lake; Michael Cleary, Paul Kennedy, Diarmuid Brennan; Michael Egan, Adam Stanley, Anthony Whelan.

Subs used: Eamon Murphy for Stanley (29); Dan Smith for Murphy (51); Aaron King for Bond (56); Padraig Brennan for Egan (ET); Michael Egan for Whelan (ET).

Referee: Tommy Hogan (Toomevara)

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