Kelly on song for Shels

SHELMALIERS 3-13 ST. PATRICK’S 2-11

JOE KELLY has long since established himself as one of the sharpest shooters in the county, and his input proved decisive again when the Shelmaliers second-string defeated a rather lack-lustre St. Patrick’s by 3-13 to 2-11 in Sunday’s Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group A opener in Blackwater.

While only one of Kelly’s ten points came from open play, that only tells half the story. Not alone did he make no mistake from most placed-balls that came his way, he was also the creative hub up front, and capped an influential display with a perfect sideline cut on 39 minutes.

Tomás Morris had opened the scoring for St. Patrick’s when he pounced on some early jitters from Adam Howlin, and to be fair to the Ballyoughter men, they picked off some neat scores in the first quarter.

Kelly had three points for himself by the ninth minute, but Stephen Ryan found the range from the left wing, Daryl Murphy did likewise from further out on the other side, and Michael O’Brien scooped over neatly to make it 0-5 to 0-4 after eleven minutes, while John Doyle arrowed over the game’s first sideline cut on 13 minutes.

However, points from play from the fleet-footed Michael Feeney and Kevin O’Leary supplemented three frees from Kelly as the Over The Water side gradually opened up a 0-10 to 0-6 advantage by half-time.

And Kelly was a central figure to them significantly boosting that lead in the first attack on the re-start when he bustled his way through to force an excellent save out of Stuart Quinn, but O’Leary appeared to get the decisive goaling touch to the scramble that followed.

There was no confusion around his second goal on 37 minutes when he connected baseball-style from close-range after good groundwork from Kyle Roche.

That Kelly sideline cut followed as the gap swelled to 2-11 to 0-8, although substitute Shane Finn gave St. Patrick’s brief hope when he bundled home from Dermot O’Leary’s delivery on 44 minutes (2-12 to 1-9).

However, Shelmaliers responded with their third goal on 52 minutes when Willie O’Shaughnessy made a bee-line towards goal with his head down and his shot had too much venom for Quinn to keep out.

John Doyle goaled from a free late on, but hobbled off immediately afterwards, which must be of concern for the losers.

Shelmaliers: Adam Howlin; Eoghan Fitzgerald, Adam Hearne, Ciarán Walsh; Jody Donohoe, Chris Cowman, Denis Kelly; Tommy Barron (capt.), Liam Rockett; Willie O’Shaughnessy (1-0), Joe Kelly (0-10, 8 frees, 1 line ball), Ryan Hanrahan; Michael Feeney (0-2), Kevin O’Leary (2-1), Kyle Roche.

St. Patrick’s: Stuart Quinn; Joe Cousins, Richie Flood (capt.), James Cousins; Daryl Murphy (0-1), Darren Whelan, John Cousins; Michael O’Brien (0-1), Dermot O’Leary (0-1 free); Tommy Dunne, John Doyle (1-6, 1-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65, 0-1 line ball), Stephen Ryan (0-1); Tomás Morris (0-1), Niall O’Brien, Hughie Doyle. Subs. - Shane Finn (1-0) for H. Doyle (42), Ciarán Murphy for Ryan (42), Conor O’Leary for J. Doyle, inj. (56).

Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).