Resurgent Shannon kill off St Joseph’s challenge

Shannon CCS 1-15 St Joseph’s, Borrisoleigh 1-9

They looked to be heading for victory, but came out for the second-half and left that good form back in the dressing-room.

Shannon hit seven unanswered points to begin the second-half, four from playmaker and captain Damien Browne, to turn that five-point deficit to a two-point lead.

It could have been five more had the Clare side converted all the chances they created during that 15-minute spell, and the game would have been over.

However, they left the door ajar, and when impressive Borrisoleigh substitute Paul Maher cracked home a goal to retake the lead for the Tipp side, it was game on again.

The sides were level by the 56th minute, 0-11 to 1-8, and then the floodgates opened again. Just as they’d done for the first 15 minutes of the second-half, Shannon Schools dominated the last eight, including four minutes of added time.

They began this decisive period with a brilliant individual goal from substitute Eoin Quinn, when he won possession, worked his way inside and beat Tipperary minor keeper Matt Ryan with a powerful shot to the roof of the net. That score knocked the heart out of the gallant St Joseph’s comeback, and Browne (2), Caimin Morey and Eoin O’Brien finished out the scoring for Shannon.

St Joseph’s had goal opportunities near the death, but got nothing from a defence in which Diarmuid McMahon, Cathal King and Phillip Gleeson were magnificent. Still, ’keeper Sean Hayes saved smartly from Shamie Callanan, and centre-forward Martin Bourke’s final point shaved the crossbar. Brendan Maher tried hard for Borrisoleigh, and the loss of Eddie Costello early on to injury didn’t help their cause either, but there can be no denying the talent in this Shannon outfit.

The win keeps Shannon favourites to join Our Lady’s of Templemore as the top two in their group, but there is still a lot of hurling to be played.

Scorers: Shannon CCS: D. Browne 0-7 (0-6 frees 0-1 65); E. Quinn 1-1; E. O’Brien 0-2; J. Reidy 0-2; C. King, C. Morey, B. Gleeson 0-1 each. St Joseph’s, Borrisoleigh: B. Maher 0-6 (0-2 frees 0-1 65); P. Maher 1-0; S. O’Meara, M. Bourke, S. Callanan 0-1 each.

SHANNON SCHOOLS: S. Hayes; P. Gleeson, D. McMahon, R. McInerney; J. Roughan, C. King, S. Stack; S. Kelly, E. Barrett; D. Browne, J. Reidy, E. O’Brien; C. Morey, D. Reidy, B. Gleeson. Subs: E. Quinn (Kelly 38).

ST JOSEPH’S, BORRISOLEIGH: M. Ryan; A. Bourke, A. O’Dwyer, P. Leahy; J. Harkins, E. Costello, M. Ryan; M. Treacy, S. Callanan; E. Walsh, M. Bourke, S. O’Meara; B. Maher, D. Cuddy, T. Hogan. Subs: P. Maher (Cuddy 15); C. Moloney (Costello inj. 28).

Referee: M. O’Connor (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick).