Shannon Rangers show bottle and potential with victory over Kilcummin

THIS was championship football.

This was two teams playing to the best of their abilities. This was two teams bursting a gut. This was two teams trying to play good football. This was two teams showing desire and passion and will to win.

This was Shannon Rangers shouting stop, determined to be whipping boys no more, determined to prove their worth at this level. A single point victory over Kilcummin doesn’t automatically elevate them to the status of contenders, but it does represent real progress.

It was more the way they went about their business here, the way their heads never once dropped, that should give them hope for the future than anything else. Of course, it’s a monkey off the back that victory. The relief when Denis Sayers finally blew for full-time was palpable.

By the time the third round rolls around they’ll be in a stronger position with their hurlers back in the fold. They’ll feel there’s more to come for them. They’ll feel they’re on an upward trajectory and after what we saw on Sunday afternoon we’re in no mood to digress.

Kilcummin too have plenty to positives to take from this game. The performance of Jamie O’Sullivan for one. Gary O’Leary with his five points from play another. They’ve moved on to another level from where they were last year.

On this occasion it wasn’t enough to see off Shannon Rangers, but genuinely there wasn’t much between these two teams at all. That’s what made it such a thrilling game to watch – even from a neutral’s perspective.

The first ten minutes were a straight shoot-out between O’Sullivan at one end of the pitch and the hugely impressive Paul Kennelly at the other. Three points apiece. Frees from Kennelly. Two from play and a ‘45 from O’Sullivan.

Nice attractive football it was too. When Rangers got the ball into the dangerzone they prospered. Gerard O’Sullivan, Pat Joe Connolly and Kennelly fired them three clear in quick succession before Kilcummin struck back.

Kevin Gorman hit a monsterous effort from close on the halfway line between the sticks at the College Road end of the ground. Not to be outdone his midfield partern Shane McSweeney scored next before Gary O’Leary, with his first of the day, levelled it up again.

With five minutes to go in the half they’d opened out a three point lead over their rivals from the north, but Rangers were in no mood to allow Kilcummin open up a substantial lead before the break. Kennelly and Tom Joy struck back. Kilcummin led by just one at the break.

It could have been more. It could have been less had Kieran Mulvihill’s audacious effort at goal ended up in the back of the net instead of skimming off the crossbar and going wide. To win this game, we felt, a goal was required.

Apparently the north Kerry men were thinking the same. Just seconds into the second half, David Culhane took off on a dazzling run. Bearing down on goal he struck hard, he struck low, he struck the butt of the post. A let off for Kilcummin.

They maintained their slight advantage over Shannon for much of the rest of the half. Sometimes going two clear. By the 55rd minute, however, Shannon Rangers had pegged them back. Eleven each and all to play for.

Rangers were playing ever so slightly better and got their reward with a Barry O’Grady goal. Culhane sent it long from a free. Dropping it right into the dangerzone a scramble ensued. On as a sub O’Grady got the all important final touch.

Not that this game was over. Kilcummin rallied. In time added on they fashioned a goal chance of their own – forcing Dara O’Shea to save from the inrushing McSweeney. Not even a Jamie O’Sullivan free with 63 minutes played could save them now. Time ran out.

Rangers, deservedly, victorious.

SHANNON RANGERS: Dara O’Shea (Ballydonoghue), Mike McEllistrim (Ballylongford), Shane Enright (Tarbert), Colin O’Mahony (Ballydonoghue), Kevin Enright (Tarbert), Jeremy King (Beale), Danny Wren (Tarbert), Kenneth Sheehy (Ballylongford), David Culhane (Ballylongford), Ger O’Gorman (Beale), Pat Joe Connolly (01) (Ballyduff), Kieran Mulvihill (0-1f) (Ballylongford), Tom Joy (0-1) (Beale), Paul Kennelly (0-6, 3f) (Ballydonoghue), Gerard O’Sullivan (0-1) (Tarbert) Subs: Jason Wren (0-1) (Tarbert) for G O’Gorman, Cathal Kearney (Ballyduff) for M McEllistrim, Martin O’Mahony (Ballydonoghue) for PJ Connolly, Barry O’Grady (1-0) (Ballyduff) for K Mulvihill Black Card: Diarmuid Behan (Ballydonoghue) for J Wren KILCUMMIN: Brendan Kealy, Sean Brosnan, Tommy Cooper, Donal Maher, Patrick Buckley, Enda O’Sullivan, Chris O’Leary, Kevin Gorman (0-1), Shane McSweeney (0-1), Ian Devane, Kevin McCarthy, Gary O’Leary (0-5), Noel Duggan, Jamie O’Sullivan (06, 2f, 1 ‘45), Kelvin Teahon Subs: Matthew Keane for N Duggan REFEREE: Denis Sayers (Austin

Stacks)