Sponsored by
Skilful Martin's score a win that will give hope to all would be contenders
John Knox
St Martin’s 0-18 Shamrocks 2-11 (17pts)
Scorers: St Martin’s – John Maher (0-6, five frees); Joe Maher (0-4); Shane Coonan (0-3); Canice Maher (0-2); Eoin McGrath, John Mulhall, Thomas Breen (0-1 each). Shamrocks – Patrick Reid (1-2); Henry Shefflin (1-2, point free); T.J. Reid (0-4, one free); Mark Aylward (0-2); David Hoyne (0-1).
FORTUNE most certainly favoured the brave when gutsy St Martin’s (Ballyfoyle/Coon/Muckalee) went out and had a right go and their reward was a thrilling injury-time win over All-Ireland club champions, Shamrocks (Ballyhale) in the opening round of the senior hurling league at Nowlan Park on Sunday.
The off colour double champions looked to have stolen a draw when the ring rusty Henry Shefflin sneaked a goal from virtually nothing in the 61st minute to tie up the match at 2-11 to 0-17.
However St Martin’s, who were only headed for a few minutes during the entire game, pulled out one last trick and 40 seconds later the sweet finishing Joe Maher got on to a ball that broke from the puck-out and he arrowed over the winning point off his left at the city end.
The All-Ireland champions had one last chance to square the match again, but a well struck sideline cut by the strong finishing T.J. Reid from 25-metres on the right missed the target.
This battling St Martin’s win won’t send the alarm bells ringing down Ballyhale way. What it might do, however, is give renewed hope to all would be contenders for the league and championship titles and it should fortify the Northerners for a season that could turn into something really exciting for them.
Might have scored four goals
Without wanting to take anything from Martin’s fine victory, it must be pointed out that Shamrocks were far from the cold assassins who took the All-Ireland club title from Portumna (Galway) on St Patrick’s Day. They might have scored four goals during the opening 20 minutes, when Patrick Reid was unlucky on three occasions, and five minutes from the end sub James Walsh booted a ground effort wide from no more than five metres.
On top of that, Henry Shefflin, who hasn’t played a competitive game since the All-Ireland success, was off with his free taking. Twice during the second period he saw shots come back into play of an upright, and there were other misses besides.
All the time St Martin’s bared their soul and battled and battled. They battled with even more intensity when the proud champions tried to face them down when they turned up the heat during the closing stages.
Martin’s held their ground, and Joe Maher’s late, late winning score prompted a huge cheer from the good size attendance. Incidentally, this was Shamrocks first defeat on the home front since they fell to Tullaroan in the league on August 17, 2008 (0-13 to 1-9).
The exchanges generally weren’t of cut-throat intensity. Much of the fare was open and free flowing. Tackles weren’t flying in thick and fast, but the hurling technique all round was of the highest order and it just had to be admired.
Followers know well the high level of performance that Shamrocks are capable of reaching. Martin’s matched them for hurling and skill, and beyond that superior hunger made the difference.
Martin’s wanted the win more than their opponents, and they went out intent on making things happen. They achieved thanks to a good team effort, laced with individual brilliance from Shane Cadigan, Ronan Maher, John Maher, Shane Coonan, John Mulhall, goalie Colin McGrath, who brought off a couple of top class saves, but especially Joe Maher, who has a real gift for playing this ancient game.
Meant business
The winners served notice from the off that they meant business when Thomas Breen fielded a quick ball from midfield, rounded his man before shooting a point. Exactly 11 seconds had passed. Joe Maher picked up a stray pass from a Shamrocks defender seconds later before sending the white flying again.
In the second minute Shamrocks might have goaled, but from close quarters Patrick Reid was defied by goalie McGrath. Breeze assisted Martin’s continued to charge forward, and a second score from Joe Maher left them 0-3 to no score clear after a mere three minutes.
Typical of Shamrocks, they turned things around in a jiffy. A point from David Hoyne was followed by one from Mark Aylward, which was the reward after Patrick Reid was prevented from scoring a goal.
On six minutes T.J. Reid worked another opening, and this time his namesake Patrick hit the net (1-2 to 0-3).
Fans could have been forgiven for thinking that the normal, expected service would resume. They didn’t count on St Martin’s irrepressible spirit. Such was the intensity of the focus that the Northerners shrugged off every lucky escape, every missed opportunity and kept hurling, hurling, hurling.
A brace of minor scores from John Maher tied up the match in the 11th minute (1-2 to 0-5). Twice subsequently the scores were tied, and at half-time a fine 29th minute point from Shane Coonan divided the teams (0-8 to 1-4).
Shamrocks registered a not inconsiderable nine wides during that half. Martin’s posted six, which gave us 15 wides against 13 scores. Not unreasonable statistics from an early season game.
If the champions thought they had lived through the worst of things they were mistaken. Before the 36th minute Martin’s stretched their advantage to 0-11 to 1-4 thanks to scores from a flying Joe Maher, with assistance from Johns Maher and Mulhall, and John Maher (free).
Biggest divide
The Shamrocks hit back for a pair of points, which drew replies from Shane Coonan, John Maher (free) and Shane Coonan again after a short puck-out went all wrong on the champions (0-14 to 1-6). This was the biggest divide of the match.
As the contest wore on, more and more urgency crept into the play of the champions. The charge was on, with T.J. Reid the leader, backed up by Michael Fennelly, Eamon Walsh, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, who played an even better first half, Aidan Cummins and Paul Shefflin.
Still, it took Shamrocks until the 61st minute and Shefflin’s goal to reel in the opposition. Martin’s and Joe Maher didn’t allow them steal the story of the game, however.
The challengers’ 18th point ensured they would take the win, the headlines and at the same time throw a little hope to all others.
St Martin’s – C. McGrath, S. Cadigan, P. Nolan, O. Walsh, J. Maher, R. Maher, A. Murphy, E. McGrath (capt), John Maher, Joe Maher, J. Mulhall, P. Maher, S. Coonan, T. Breen, C. Maher. Subs – P. Dowling for P. Maher; B. Mulhall for P. Dowling; B. Byrne for A. Murphy (inj).
Shamrocks – J. Connolly, A. Cuddihy, A. Cummins, T. Coogan, P. Shefflin, E. Walsh, B. Aylward, J. ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick (capt), M. Fennelly, M. Aylward, H. Shefflin, T.J. Reid, E. Reid, P. Reid, D. Hoyne. Subs – B. Costelloe for D. Hoyne; J. Walsh for M. Aylward.
Referee – P. Dunphy (Carrigeen).
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Kilkenny
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
