Shanballymore……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……0-14

Éire Óg……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1-9

Shanballymore are Munster Junior B Hurling kingpins following their close but deserved win over Eire Og (Annacarty) on Sunday in Killeedy. The game was keenly contested all through. Playing conditions were excellent on a bitter cold afternoon. Exchanges were very close early on.

Damian O’Brien opened with an early pointed free. Brian Sheedy replied for the winners following a long range free by Seán Lynch. Shanbally added quick points by Jonathan Dennehy and Brian O’Reilly. Good play by Michael O’Brien led to a very good point by John Quinn. John Quinn was fouled soon after and O’Brien levelled from the free. Good play out of defence by Alan Sheedy led to a great point by Colman O’Reilly. Jamie Sheedy followed with a pointed free that gave Shanballymore a two point lead. Éire Óg were quick to get back on terms Patrick Aherne pointed a ‘65 and Damian O’Brien with an 18th minute free tied the game up at 0-5 each. The only goal came a minute later when Michael O’Brien worked well for John Quinn who belted a ground shot to the net. Shanballymore had two wides but they rallied well. Darren Roche struck a very good point. Éire Óg regained the goal lead when Patrick Aherne pointed another ‘65. Jonathan Dennehy, Darren Roche and Colman O’Reilly were denied by three great saves by Jamie O’Dwyer. Further Shanballymore pressure as their midfielders of Miceal Burke and Brian Sheedy drove on. Colman O’ Reilly, Brian O’Reilly and Jamie Sheedy (free) had them level at the break 1-6 to 0- 9.

The opening quarter of the second half was very tense. Both defences were very solid. Shanballymore had two wides with Eire Og also off target. It took till the 44th minute for the first score when Jamie Sheedy pointed a free. Miceal Burke, Shanbally, replied with a very good point. Eire Og never gave up – good play by Michael O’Brien and Josh Quinn led to a foul on Damian O’Brien with O’Brien pointing the free. In the 48th minute Jamie Sheedy restored the two point lead when he pointed following a foul on Colman O’Reilly. John Quinn came close to a second goal for Éire Óg but a timely block down by James Hayes was vital the rebound came back to Quinn who pointed at the second attempt. Further Éire Óg pressure led to a movement by David Breen and Josh Quinn that was cut off by the outstanding Eoin McHugh. Brian Sheedy struck a great point restoring the two point lead with 6 minutes to go. Damian O’Brien with a good point from play cut the lead to the minimum. Éire Óg continued to try hard. The turning point in the game came in the 27th minute when Brian Sheedy worked well for Brian O’Reilly who was fouled. Jamie Sheedy pointed the free. Eoin McHugh was called upon again in the closing moments as Éire came close to a match winning goal. Both sides had a wide in injury time with Shanballymore holding out for a memorable win. Veteran 52 year old Éire Óg full forward John Quinn was named ‘Man of the Match’.

Scorers for Shanballymore: Jamie Sheedy 0-5f. Brian Sheedy 0-2 Colman O’Reilly 0-2, Brian O’Reilly 0 -2, Jonathan Dennehy 0-1, Darren Roche 0-1, Miceal Burke 0-1.

Éire Óg: John Quinn 1-2, Damian O’Brien 0-5 (0-4f) Patrick Aherne 0-2 ‘65s)

Shanballymore:

Declan Fitzgibbon, Eoin O’Regan, Eoin McHugh, Alan Sheedy, Jerome Fitzgerald, Sean Lynch, James Hayes, Miceal Burke, Darren Roche, Brian O’Reilly (Capt) Brian Sheedy, Jamie Sheedy, Pádraigh Fitzgerald, Jonathan Dennehy, Colman O’Reilly. Sub: Kenneth Barry for Darren Roche.

Eire Og:

Jamie O’Dwyer, Gearoid Loughman, Garret O’Brien, Michael Fox, Cathal Coughlan, Patrick Aherne, Michael Bradshaw, Seán Breen, Michael O’Brien, Josh Quinn, John Ryan, Willie O’Neill, Damian O’Brien, John Quinn, Michael McGrath. Subs: David Breen for Seán Breen, Michael Buckley for Cathal Coughlan.

Referee:

Anthony Costigan (Laois)