AFTER a thought provokingly poor display in their defeat by county champions, Tullamore in the last round, Shamrocks got things back on track with a convincing, solid win over a disappointing Bracknagh in Geashill on Saturday evening.
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2
Shamrocks 4-18
Bracknagh 2-11
Having rang the changes after their Tullamore malfunction, the Shamrocks team had a much more balanced look and they did what they needed to do with their win never in real peril. They now face Ferbane in the quarter-finals and they will be honest enough to know that this display won’t take out one of the big contenders.
Watching Ferbane manager Ger Rafferty certainly won’t have seen anything to frighten him here but he will also know that they will have to perform to beat Shamrocks in a couple of weeks time as their opponents have some very solid, strong players down their spine and two marquee forwards in Jack Bryant and Nigel Dunne, both of whom performed very well here.
With both sides already through, it was a meaningless game in many respects, though it will have done harm to Bracknagh who now face Rhode with damaged confidence and self doubts swimming around their heads. They needed to be much more competitive here but were very mediocre for a lot of this against opponents who are decent but no world beaters.
It was particularly important for Shamrocks to win it and give a performance and they did both. Their performance was a bit of a mixed bag at times and their managers John Monaghan and Brian Kinnarney will have to pick holes in some aspects of it when they analyse it but overall, it was a satisfactory evening for them, if all a bit superficial.
They will be concerned at an early injury to centre half back Kieran Dolan. Back this season after a horrendous knee injury, it looked very worrying when he went down in the 9th minute with the Shamrocks’ physio, Aoife Lawlor seeming to focus on the knee area. Dolan, however, confirmed at half time that it was an ankle injury and seemed happy that it is not too bad – though the problem with injuries at this time of year is that games come thick and fast, recovery time is short and he is now a doubt for the Ferbane game,
After the Tullamore defeat, Shamrocks had to use this opportunity to shake things up and they did this, pushing David O’Rourke and Shane O’Toole-Greene up from defence to the half forward line and starting Andrew Delaney there. An injury to David O’Toole-Greene in the Tullamore game created one vacancy here while Alan Heffernan went back to defence with Dan Heffernan left off.
These changes had the desired effect as O’Toole-Greene and Delaney scored 3-2 between them, both performing extremely well while David O’Rourke was very efficient as a link man between defence and attack – he wasn’t brilliant but he was so solid, he is a very capable footballer, with considerable potential and he will get better in this role.
Another positive spin off from the changes was that Alan Heffernan was much more influential back in defence. He had been off the boil in attack but his work rate shot up at the back and he moved a lot of ball forward in a very productive way. The increased work rate in their half forward line also created a lot more space for their full forward line of first cousins Jack and Darragh Bryant, and Nigel Dunne, as they amassed a combined 1-13, in a very good evening’s work.
Bracknagh can’t be happy with their display on a dispiriting day for them and their parish neighbours Clonbullogue who were walloped by Tullamore. It wasn’t as bad a defeat as Clonbullogue’s but considering they have qualified, have a quarter-final to look forward to and have been, or should be, training at full intensity, it was every bit as poor in some respects. They certainly have a big job to turn things around in two weeks and on this display, Rhode are red hot favourites for that quarter-final.
The first half was a strange, roller coaster of an affair. Shamrocks had a strong swirling wind on their back and were very efficient as they led by 3-4 to no score after 18 minutes. The goals, scored by Andrew Delaney, Shane O’Toole-Greene and Darragh Bryant in the 14th, 16th and 18th minutes, all had quality build ups as Shamrocks linked very well together.
They fell asleep after Bryant’s goal, standing off Peter Cunningham who raced down the neck of their defeat and hammered in a sensational, individual goal in the 19th minute. Straight from the kickout, Bracknagh attacked and Colm Cunningham got in for a goal to bring the Bracknagh supporters to life. They almost got in for a third goal as Gary Hutchinson did very well to sweep the ball off the finger tips of Conor Melia who was waiting to pounce.
Fortunately for Shamrocks, they found another gear before the interval as Jack Bryant floated over his second two pointer and Nigel Dunne got a two point free deep in injury time to make it 3-10 to 2-1 at the break.
It was a huge lead but we were still not 100% certain that it was all over. Shamrocks, however, quickly shut the door on the resumption. The wind died down and Shamrocks struck for 1-3 without reply in the first four minutes after the start, Shane O’Toole-Greene punching home his second goal after Jack Bryant set him up in the 31st minute.
There was absolutely no way Bracknagh were going to pull back in a 4-13 to 2-1 deficit and they were on a damage limitation exercise. They managed to do that as they outscored Shamrocks by 0-10 to 0-5 in the closing 25 minutes. It was all, however, very cosmetic as eight of those were two pointers with Shamrocks visibly tired in the closing quarter as well as sitting back in the knowledge that they had the game won.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Andrew Delaney (Shamrocks): All the contenders were on the Shamrocks team. Jack Bryant was excellent up front, showing his importance to Shamrocks when he does perform while Johnny O’Toole-Greene put in a great shift at midfield, working very hard and using the ball very effectively.
It is a choice between Shane O’Toole-Greene and Andrew Delaney. O’Toole-Greene did a mountain of very good work but Andrew Delaney is my selection. He was immense in the first half as he fielded some great ball, used it very well and put them on the road to victory with the first goal, after a flying move that he initiated and finished. His influence diminished in the second half as he went into the red and missed a couple of fetches but he still drifted across the field to win ball and his reading of the game was a particular positive.
Nigel Dunne also showed his value to Shamrocks and his finishing ability will give them a chance against a lot of teams.
For Bracknagh, Peter Cunningham led a lone charge at times but Shamrocks knew that if they could stop him running at them, they wouldn’t be beaten and they generally managed to close him down. Apart from that, it was a forgettable day for them.
THE SCORERS
Shamrocks: Nigel Dunne 0-7 (1 x 2pf, 1f), Shane O’Toole-Greene 2-1, Jack Bryant 0-5 (2 x 2p), Andrew Delaney and Darragh Bryant 1-1 each, Johnny O’Toole-Greene 0-3.
Bracknagh: Peter Cunningham 1-7 (2 x 2pf, 1 x 2p, 1f), Mikey Cunningham 0-3 (1 x 2pf, 1f), Colm Cunningham 1-0, Eoghan Geoghegan 0-1.
THE TEAMS
SHAMROCKS: Sean O’Toole; Sean Mooney, Padraig Cantwell, Gary Hutchinson; Adam Keyes, Kieran Dolan, Alan Heffernan; Johnny O’Toole-Greene, Scott Delaney; Andrew Delaney, Shane O’Toole-Greene, David O’Rourke; Darragh Bryant, Jack Bryant, Nigel Dunne, Subs – Jack Watkins for Dolan, inj. (9m).
BRACKNAGH: Keith Keogh; Adam Kelly, Tom Hyland, Charlie Keogh; Colin Broderick, Fionn Dempsey, Alex Broderick; Mark Dunne, Jason Dempsey; Mikey Cunningham, Eoghan Geoghegan, Colm Cunningham; Josh Maher, Peter Cunningham, Conor Melia. Subs – Anthony Cunningham for Alex Broderick (45m), Robin Galbrith for Maher (52m), Bryan Cassidy for Melia (52m).
Referee – Kevin Williamson, Tullamore.
REFEREE WATCH
Kevin Williamson handled a tough, physical game very well and there were no big debates. Referees seem reluctant to show black cards under the new rules and Sean Mooney was fortunate to get a yellow for hauling down Eoghan Geoghegan in the second half.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Andrew Delaney’s 14th minute goal was a great score and it provided the springboard for Shamrocks to push on and open up a big gap.
VENUE WATCH
Raheen managed the fixture with the usual professionalism and their Geashill venue was well prepared.
WHAT’S NEXT
Bracknagh play Rhode in the quarter-finals while Shamrocks have Ferbane.
STATISTICS
Wides: Shamrocks – 8 (4 in first half); Bracknagh – 6 (4 in first half).
Yellow cards: Shamrocks – 2 (Sean Mooney and Jack Watkins); Bracknagh – 0.
Black cards: 0
Red cards: 0
