Offaly SHC Quarter-final
St. Rynagh’s 0-17 ...... Ballyskenach 1-10
By John Horan
A spirited late showing by St. Rynagh’s saw them withstand a determined effort by Ballyskenach in this Offaly SHC quarter-final at Rath on Sunday evening. In doing so St. Rynagh’s advanced to the semi-finals and now meet reigning County Champions Birr in a repeat of last year’s County final.
This was a close fought contest with the sides level on three occasions before Rynagh’s pulled clear in the last quarter of the match with clinching efforts all coming from half forward Eunan Martin, two frees and a ‘65’.St. Rynagh’s had to battle hard to see off a determined late challenge by Ballyskenach and it made for an exciting last ten minutes as last year’s county finalists held onto a lead of a goal.
Ballyskenach didn’t give up and launched a series of late attacks which the Rynagh’s defence and goalkeeper Damien McDermott had to clear away.In the last minute of the match it was the turn of deadball specialist Eunan Martin who pointed an insurance free to carry them through.It was a much improved performance by Rynagh’s in the second half after Ballyskenach led by two points at the interval.
Ballyskeanch were helped on their way in the first half with a speculative goal scored from out the field by Aidan Franks in the 11th minute. Ballyskenach’s ability to pick off scores from play and frees by Brendan Murphy and John Dooley was not matched in the second period when they only hit 0-3. Ballyskenach will probably rue a series of missed chances in both halves and in the closing stages of the contest when they badly needed scores.
One telling difference came in the early stages of the second half when in the space of eight minutes, St. Rynagh’s put six points on the board while Ballyskenach only scored a point.While Ballyskenach ran low on scoring opportunities in the second half. A few chances came their way in the closing minutes of the match but they were unable to take them.St. Rynagh’s hit a tally of 0-17 on the day though the majority of these came from frees. Four of Rynagh’s six forwards scored, though there tended to be an over reliance on one player in particular, Eunan Martin contributing the majority of their share of the points. If St. Rynagh’s are to overcome Birr they will need to spread their scores more evenly among their forwardline which they struggled to do against Ballyskenach.
St. Rynagh’s are into another semi-final and on the day they had useful displays from goalkeeper Damien McDermott, who came under considerable pressure in the dying minutes, and the full back line of Adrian Clancy, Martin Hanamy and the battling Declan Tanner. Shane Horan and Hubert Rigney had some useful moments over the hour. Nigel Woods combined well with John Malone at midfield. In the forwards Eunan Martin, Ger Rafferty, who made a return for this game, John Ryan at full forward, who hit 0-3, and Kevin Kelly put in some useful displays.
Ballyskenach hurled determinedly up to the finish and they had good displays from captain Mark Kirwan, Brendan Franks, Mick O’Hara at centre back and Barry Keeshan. Both midfielders David Franks and Aidan Franks got on the scoresheet. In the forwardline Brendan Murphy, John Dooley who moved from full to half forward, Noel Murphy and Bill Lalor impressed.
Ballyskenach were first off the mark after six minutes when half forward John Dooley sent over a free. The lead was shortlived and St. Rynagh’s got back on level terms a minute later when Eunan Martin steered a free over the bar. Ballyskenach moved in front again when Brendan Murphy pointed.Ballyskeach then got in for the only goal of the game in the 11th minute when Aidan Franks sent a high dropping ball into the Rynagh’s danger area and as it dropped in it soared over the keeper straight into the net.
The sides exchanged scores again when Eunan Martin hit a ‘65’ and Brendan Murphy a point. St. Rynagh’s hit a brace of efforts in two minutes, the first when John Malone linked wth Eunan Martin who passed into John Ryan who sent it over as two points separated the teams at the end of the first quarter, Ballyskenach 1-3, St. Rynagh’s 0-4. St. Rynagh’s upped the tempo again Eunan Martin (free) and Gary O’Connor levelled the match for only the second time.
The contest tilted back in Ballyskenach’s favour again when John Dooley hit a free and Kenny Franks pointed. Six minutes before half time St. Rynagh’s put just a point in it again when Eunan Martin sent over his fifth point of the first half. The Ballyskenach men finished the stronger in the last three minutes of the half and efforts by John Dooley (free) and Brendan Murphy, who escaped the clutches of his marker to score. Eunan Martin dispatched a free on the blow of half time and at the interval Ballyskenach led by 1-7 to 0-8.
A minute into the second half a ball was sent into the Rynagh’s forwards where it fell for Ger Rafferty, who had the chance of a goal but had to settle for a point. Seconds later John Ryan was on hand to shoot a point making it two points in a minute. St. Rynagh’s then took the lead for only the second time in the match when a foul was committed and from the free Eunan Martin sent it over.St. Rynagh’s were a purple patch and strung together three unanswered points in two minutes, John Ryan, Eunan Martin and Ger Rafferty finding the range.
Ballyskenach struck with their first score of the second half eight minutes when Kenny Franks passed across to Brendan Murphy to score as the scoreline read 0-14 to 1-8. Near the end of the third quarter Brendan Murphy put two in it when he was able to find the range again.
The lead was a goal and at the end of the third quarter and Rynagh’s came close to putting some daylight between the teams when Eunan Martin sent in a fine sideline cut it broke for John Ryan who turned and whipped in a dangerous drive which keeper Alan Franks had to turn aside for a ‘65’ from which Eunan Martin pointed as Rynagh’s led by 0-16 to 1-9.The match upped considerably in pace and tempo and swung from end to end.
Ballyskenach had a couple of opportunities to cut back the gap but saw a few efforts tail out wide. Second half substitute for St. Rynagh’s Noel Hogan caused problems for the Ballyskenach defence in the closing stages when he went on a surging solo run and was just thwarted in his tracks nearing goal. The last five minutes of the match were nerve jangling ones for both teams. Ballyskenach put just a goal in it in the 57th minute when midfielder David Franks pointed a free.
On full time Eunan Martin reassured St. Rynagh’s when he found the range with a superb free from about 75 metres and St. Rynagh’s had booked a semi-final date in the County Championship.
ST. RYNAGH’S: Damien McDermott; Adrian Clancy, Martin Hanamy, Declan Tanner;
Shane Horan, Hubert Rigney, Pat McIntyre; Nigel Woods, John Malone; Gary O’Connor
(0-1), Ger Rafferty (0-2), Eunan Martin (0-11, 0-7 frees, 0-2 ‘65’s); Michael
Rigney, John Ryan (0-3), Kevin Kelly.
Subs: Noel Hogan (for Gary O’Connor); Paudie Mulhare (for John Malone).
BALLYSKENACH: Alan Franks; Mark Kirwan (Capt), Eoin Maher, Brendan Franks;
Derek Middleton, Mick O’Hara, Barry Keeshan; David Franks (0-1, a free), Aidan
Franks (1-0); Noel Murphy, Bill Lalor, John Dooley (0-3, 0-3 frees); Vinnie
Franks; Brendan Murphy (0-5), Kenny Franks (0-1).
Subs: Eoin Franks (for Vinnie Franks); Tomas O’Toole (for John Dooley).
REFEREE: Brian Gavin (Clara).