Skeheenarinky survive Newport epic to advance after penalty drama

FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Preliminary Quarter-Final

Skeheenarinky 1-21

Newport 2-18

After extra time (Skeheenarinky win 8-7 on penalties)

Opinion is very much divided on the idea that penalties should decide the outcome of a championship hurling game. Newport followers might well agree after they saw their team exit this year’s FBD Insurance County Intermediate Championship when Conor O’Mahoney’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Glen Walsh, thus allowing Skeheenarinky to advance to the quarter-final following their exciting contest at Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town, last Sunday.

Whatever side you are on, “thems the rules” and O’Mahoney was unfortunate. On the opposite side of the coin, praise must go to Glen Walsh and to a Skeheenarinky team that came from four points in arrears to force extra-time when Tomas Vaughan’s free made it all square at 1-15 each at the end of sixty minutes.

The extra-time saw Skeheenarinky take hold as they went three points clear approaching the end of the second ten-minute period before Steven O’Connor squirmed past a crowded goal to prise home an equalising goal after Colin Floyd’s close-in free was saved, making it 2-18 to 1-21.

Sunday’s game won’t go down as the best ever but, overall, it had plenty of endeavour mixed with the good and the bad, while the closeness of the scoring kept everyone on the edge of their seats right to the very end.

With the help of a strong breeze, Skeheenarinky dominated the first quarter and points by Darragh Brennan, Fionan O’Sullivan and Tomas Vaughan had the South champions 0-3 to 0-2 in front by the sixteenth minute. That lead might have been greater, but the radar was not what it could have been as Skeheenarinky hit six wides in the period. Newport had just one wide, while Charlie Tobin and Colin Floyd, with a sixty-five, provided the Mulcaire scores.

Both defences were employing a sweeper, with Conor O’Mahoney alert to every danger for Newport, while Noel Vaughan was on overtime at the other end as Newport had come more into the game in the second quarter.

As a result, the scoring average was minimal and by the 25th minute it was 0-7 to 0-5, with Tomas Vaughan 0-2, plus one each by Fionan O’Sullivan and Oisin Brennan from centre-back scoring for the Southsiders, while Newport depended on Colin Floyd (0-2, one from a free), plus one from play by Conor Floyd.

Spectacular scores were few in the game, but Conor Sweeney changed that statistic when scoring from the left wing, giving Skeheenarinky their biggest lead to date, three in front approaching the break.

That soon changed when the tireless Cian Flanagan had his lengthy delivery drop outside the small square. Hesitation by the Skeheen defence proved indecisive and Colin Floyd took advantage by finding the net from close in. A timely score for Newport as the sides reached the dressing room, Newport 1-5 Skeheenarinky 0-8.

Second Half

Newport began the second half with much more purpose and they were soon two in front after Colin Floyd’s free plus a second Charlie Tobin point from play. Three Tomas Vaughan frees overshadowed Odhran Floyd’s score from play as the scores were level, 1-8 to 0-11, after forty-two minutes.

Newport now had their problems with their radar, but they went two in front by the 46th minute thanks to another Colin Floyd free, quickly followed by a Callum Poole point. Poole had just come on as a substitute and made a real difference.

Newport were by now the better side in terms of scoring opportunities and Steven O’Connor, Pa Ryan and Aidan Moloney came up trumps as Newport went 1-13 to 0-12, the biggest margin of the day, with seven minutes on the clock.

But Skeheenarinky were not done yet. Tomas Vaughan, who had done well on frees up to then, showed he had another string to his bow when his well-delivered sideline ball from sixty metres dropped dangerously into the Newport goal area. Confusion reigned and wing-back Riain O’Callaghan reacted best and planted a low ball past a helpless Eoin Shinners in the Newport goal.

The excellent Fionan O’Sullivan followed up with an equaliser, his third score so far. Odhran Floyd’s quick response had Newport back in front before James Moloney increased the margin with a point in the 59th minute with a goal at his mercy.

It was time for cool heads and there was none better than Tomas Vaughan when, bang on the hour mark, he elected to bisect the posts with his latest free. Four minutes of additional time followed, with every move important, before Skeheenarinky won a free out on the left wing. Up stepped Vaughan and the sides were heading into two ten-minute periods of extra-time.

Extra-Time

After Sam McGrath and Colin Floyd swapped points, it was Skeheenarinky who took charge as points by Fionan O’Sullivan and Charlie English had them two in front. Skeheenarinky continued on the front foot and Darragh Brennan was almost through for a goal, but Cian Flanagan’s hook saved the day. Newport were relieved, but they recovered a little when Colin Floyd reduced the deficit with a free before the final changeover.

With Conor Sweeney returning to action, having been replaced in the 50th minute with a troubled hamstring, Skeheenarinky were three clear within forty-nine seconds of the restart after Darragh Brennan and Tomas Vaughan scored from play.

The subs bench came into action as the next six minutes were devoid of scores until Colin Floyd added another free. As the clock ticked on, both sides had chances to score, but the wides were increasing. Nobody was giving up and, incredibly, there wasn’t a cramp in sight before Tomas Vaughan pointed a sixty-five to leave his team three in front with fifteen seconds on the clock.

Newport had one last chance and another foray ended with Pa Ryan winning a close-in free. Colin Floyd took charge and his effort was well saved by Glen Walsh before Steven O’Connor shot the ball over the line for an equalising goal, making it Newport 2-18 Skeheenarinky 1-21, and penalties were on the way.

Penalties

The penalties were taken at the country end and Skeheenarinky went first, with Tomas Vaughan scoring. Colin Floyd had his penalty saved by Walsh, but after the five regulation penalties each it was four each, with Darragh Brennan, Fionan O’Sullivan and Noel Vaughan raising green flags. James Barry was denied. Newport scored through Eoin Shinners, Conor O’Mahoney, Pa Ryan and Conor Floyd, who equalised.

The first three efforts of the second round were successful, with Tomas Vaughan, Darragh Brennan and Fionan O’Sullivan matched by Pa Ryan, Eoin Shinners and Conor Floyd. Skeheenarinky’s fourth penalty was scored by James Barry before Conor O’Mahoney was denied and it was game, set and match to Skeheenarinky, who will meet Borrisokane in the quarter-final next Sunday as they head into their eighth weekend of action without a break.

Scorers: Skeheenarinky: Tomas Vaughan (0-11, 0-7f, 0-1 65), Fionan O’Sullivan 0-4, Riain O’Callaghan 1-0, Darragh Brennan 0-2, Conor Sweeney, Oisin Brennan, Charlie English and Sam McGrath all 0-1 each.

Newport: Colin Floyd (1-8, 0-5f, 0-1 65), Steven O’Connor 1-1, Charlie Tobin, Odhran Floyd 0-2 each, Conor Floyd, Pa Ryan, Callum Poole, Aidan Moloney, James Moloney all 0-1 each.

Skeheenarinky: Glen Walsh; Seamus O’Callaghan, James Barry, Eoin Morrissey; Noel Vaughan, Oisin Brennan, Riain O’Callaghan; Fionan O’Sullivan, Jack Kearney; Conor Sweeney, Tomas Vaughan, Charles English; John Martin, Darragh Brennan, Tommy Sweeney.

Subs used: Sam McGrath for Martin (HT); Christy English for T Sweeney (42); Tommy Sweeney for C Sweeney (50, inj); Conor Sweeney for T Sweeney (ET); John Ryan for Morrissey (ET); Kieran Macken for O’Callaghan (ET).

Newport: Eoin Shinners; Shane Flanagan, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Aidan Moloney (Capt); Cian Flanagan, Conor O’Mahoney, Aaron O’Neill; Conor McLoughlin, Diarmuid O’Riordan; Steven O’Connor, Conor Floyd, Charlie Tobin; Odhran Floyd, Colin Floyd, Pa Ryan.

Subs used: Callum Poole for O’Neill (42); James Moloney for Pa Ryan (54); Brendan Coffey for O’Riordan (55); Pa Ryan for Oran Connors (ET); Thomas Floyd for Odhran Floyd (ET).

Referee: Phil Ryan (Knockavilla Kickhams)