​Conahy finish strong to see off Shamrocks in Leinster junior opener

Kilkenny junior champions Conahy Shamrocks advanced to the next round of the Leinster Championship but only after surviving a huge scare against Shamrocks of Offaly in Tullamore on Sunday afternoon.

The Offaly side led for much of the game but they couldn't quite shake off their opponents and over the last 10 minutes were outscored by 1-6 to 0-2 as Conahy claimed their place in the semi-finals where they will face Turin on Westmeath.

The home side moved six points clear in the third quarter but five unanswered points had Conahy back within one as the game entered the final quarter. Shamrocks hit back with a goal and a point to lead by five again with 10 minutes left but Conahy upped the ante over those remaining minutes, responding almost immediately with a goal of their own and they edged clear in the final minutes, withstanding a final Shamrocks rally which included a save from a 20m free deep in injury time.

Five of the six Conahy forwards scored from play and with top scorer Edmond Delaney also adding three more from play, it gave them an edge which was to prove crucial in the end.

Shamrocks had put themselves back in the driving seat with their goal which put them five clear late in the game, but they never got to consolidate that lead as Conahy hit back immediately with a goal themselves and that gave them the momentum to drive on over the last 10 minutes.

The game had a lively start and Conahy Shamrocks went in front after just 40 seconds when Edmond Delaney cut a beautiful line ball over the bar from about 40m on the right. Shamrocks were quickly level when Conor Egan scored a good point and they went in front after three minutes when David O'Toole-Greene pointed.

James Bergin quickly levelled things up again and Tom Phelan's point from 60m had Conahy back in front. Eoghan Neville and Edmond Delaney exchanged points from frees before Conor Egan levelled matters for the fourth time. Tom Phelan restored the Conahy lead after nine minutes but Shamrocks hit the next five points in a row, all from Eoghan Neville, four from frees and the other from play.

An Edmond Delaney free and a nice point from Thomas Rice halved the lead but Eoghan Neville replied with two more, one from play and one from a free. Tom Phelan scored a fine point from 65m and Conahy thought they had levelled when Mark Gunner finished to the net on the stroke on half time but James Bergin was pulled for a throw in the build up. To rub salt in the wound, the free was moved forward for dissent and Eoghan Neville pointed that to give Shamrocks a 0-12 to 0-8 interval lead.

Eoghan Neville stretched the lead to five inside the first minute of the second half but Edmond Delaney immediately replied with a fine point from the left. Sub David Dooley then pointed for Shamrocks and when Eoghan Neville added a free the gap was out to six four minutes into the second half.

Patrick Kennedy drilled a shot just over the crossbar but Eoghan Neville responded from a free. Conahy then hit a purple spell with five points in six minutes, four from Edmond Delaney frees and the other from James Bergin to leave just a point in it with 13 minutes left.

Shamrocks needed a response and they got it when David Dooley hit his second point and a minute later when Conor Egan's shot came off the butt of the post, Dooley was quickest to react to shoot to the net and Shamrocks were five clear entering the final 10 minutes.

Just over a minute later Conahy got the lifeline they needed when Edmond Delaney's long free bounced in the goalmouth and Mark Gunner whipped the ball to the net. Edmond Delaney added a point and the gap was down to the minimum again and Delaney then levelled with four minutes left and two minutes later put Conahy ahead from play.

Eoghan Neville levelled from a free but Edmond Delaney restored Conahy's lead from a long range free. Johnny O'Toole-Greene's effort at a leveller hit the post and was cleared and James Bergin stretched the Conahy lead to two. Eoghan Neville and Edmond Delaney exchanged points from frees as the winners stood firm to win out by two points in the end.

Teams and Scorers

Conahy Shamrocks: Edmond Delaney (0-13, 0-9 frees, 0-1 sideline cut), James Bergin, Tom Phelan (0-3 each), Mark Gunner (1-0), Thomas Rice, Patrick Kennedy (0-1 each).

Shamrocks: Eoghan Neville (0-14, 0-12 frees), David Dooley (1-2), Conor Egan (0-2), David O'Toole-Greene (0-1).

Conahy Shamrocks: Padraic Delaney; Padraig Gunner, Philip Cass, Liam Cass; Darren Cuddihy, Darragh Hennessy, Ciaran Rice; Jack Rhatigan, Edmond Delaney; Karl Downey, Patrick Kennedy, Tom Phelan; Mark Gunner, James Bergin, Thomas Rice.

Subs. Harry O'Mahony for Karl Downey, 40 mins, Bill Murphy for Mark Gunner, 59 mins.

Shamrocks: Darragh Minnock; Sean Cantwell, Conor Condron, Sean Mooney; Padraig Cantwell, Stephen Malone, Mark Malone; David O'Rourke, Conor Moran; Eoghan Neville, Neil Minnock, Shane O'Toole-Greene; David O'Toole-Greene, Conor Egan, Alan Foster.

Subs. David Dooley for Alan Foster, half time, Jack Molloy for Conor Moran, 44 mins, Johnny O'Toole-Greene, 53 mins, Shane Heffernan for Mark Malone, 59 mins.

Referee: Ciaran Flynn (Meath).