Shels shine in see-saw battle
Eleventh title secured after strong extra-time showing
SHELMALIERS BOSSED extra-time after a see-saw game to take the 2019 edition of the Jim Byrne Cup against Horeswood in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Friday.
The Over The Water boys looked to be on their way to a comprehensive win after dominating the first-half.
However, they wasted several good goal chances and it would prove to be a different game altogether in the second period.
Horeswood bossed the next 30 minutes and had referee James Mullally added any more than the four and a half additional he did allow, the New Ross District side may possibly have gone on to snatch victory.
In the end it was the sensational Conor Foley who nabbed the leveller deep into stoppage time (1-14 to 3-8), but his side didn’t respond well to the break at full-time and Shelmaliers re-grouped, scoring 2-5 without reply in extra-time to take the trophy.
For early-season fare, there was no room for anyone to take it easy. It was as attractive a game of football as you are likely to see at this time of year, and credit must go to both sides for delivering such a spectacle.
Aaron Kinsella helped Shelmaliers into a 1-3 to nil lead after eight minutes, but Jason Murphy’s driving run produced a Horeswood major at the other end, and when Matthew Foley pointed in the 19th minute his side had levelled the contest.
Ryan Corrigan slotted home after a great team build-up by Shelmaliers. Paul Hearne added another classy major in the 29th minute, and Corey Lawlor clipped over his second point in injury-time as his side went in 3-5 to 1-5 ahead.
While an inspired Ryan Rowe kept Horeswood in the game in the first-half, he had very little to do in the second. The seasiders came out like a different team, with Conor Foley moving into full-forward and being virtually unmarkable.
Dylan O’Neill did pop over a free in the 33rd minute but Foley clipped over the next five points to make it 3-6 to 1-10.
When he was fouled in the act of shooting in the 44th minute, Horeswood won a penalty but his shot came back off the post and Neil Ennis sliced the rebound wide.
Tiarnan Malone gave his side a little breathing space with his third point, but two from Conor Foley, sandwiching a superb Matthew Foley dead-ball from the right wing, drew Horeswood level with three minutes remaining.
Corey Lawlor looked to have snatched victory for Shelmaliers a minute later but a frantic period of additional time was just around the corner.
Lawlor came close to wrapping it up when he hit the crossbar, only for Jason Murphy to burst into the clear but lose control of the ball at the other end.
Back came Shelmaliers and Dylan O’Neill powered past tired Horeswood legs, only to see Ryan Rowe keep his low shot out.
Horeswood broke back down the other end of the field, and Foley won a late free and kept his nerve to kick his tenth point and level the scores at full-time.
With the wind still howling across the pitch, Shelmaliers regrouped better in the five-minute break before the start of extra-time.
When they came back out, Tiarnan Malone stood up to the plate and followed his fourth point with a deflected shot to the net.
Horeswood badly needed the next score but just a minute later Aaron Kinsella was fouled close to goal and O’Neill stepped up to drill home a clinical penalty.
Malone pointed again before Rowe made two more fantastic saves to keep his side hanging on at the break in overtime (5-10 to 1-14).
This time there was no response from Horeswood. With players visabily wrecked, the lead Shelmaliers had gave them enough comfort to play controlled football. Malone scored all three of his team’s points in the final ten minutes to see them home by eleven in the end.
This was the Hollymount club’s eleventh win in the competition since its inception in 1967, meaning they sit on top of the tree ahead of Horeswood, who have six, including one as half of Dunbrody Gaels.
Shelmaliers: Cian Doyle; Seán Og Flanagan, Adam O’Leary (capt.), Seán Cullen; Conor Roche, Paul Hearne (1-1), David Doyle; Dylan O’Neill (1-1, 1-0 pen., 0-1 free), Aodhán Byrne; Ryan Kielthy, Tiarnan Malone (1-8, 0-6 frees), Corey Lawlor (0-3); Aaron Kinsella (1-0), Darren O’Leary, Oisín Furlong. Subs. (rolling) - Ryan Corrigan (1-0), Mark Scallan, Scott Dempsey, Cathal Hearne, also Barry Cloake, Luke Roche, Robbie Delaney, Daniel Ormonde, Eoin McCarthy.
Horeswood: Ryan Rowe; Alex Molloy, Alan Kehoe, Shane Rowe; Neil Ennis, Ewan Russell, James Murphy; Danny Nolan (1-0), Jason Murphy (capt.); Adam Harris, Conor Foley (0-10, 6 frees), Joe O’Sullivan (0-1); Daryl Walsh-Parker, Matthew Foley (0-2, 1 free), Cathal Parker (0-1). Subs. (rolling) - Ryan Mylett, Dermot Clancy, also Josh Shannon, James Dempsey, William Foley.
Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).