AIB Leinster Club SHC: Shelmaliers edge out Lough Lene Gaels
Shelmaliers' Conor Hearned in action. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster Club SHC Quarter-Final
Shelmaliers 2-21 Lough Lene Gaels 4-14
By Gerry Buckley at TEG Cusack Park
Joshua Roche emerged as the Shelmaliers hero with his last-gasp point edging his side past Lough Lene Gaels in a thrilling Leinster club senior hurling quarter-final played in ideal conditions in Mullingar, the Wexford men prevailing despite playing almost the entire second half a man down.
The visitors led by 0-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes, but 41-year-old former Westmeath star Derek McNicholas found the net in the 11th minute after Jason Malone’s effort for a point had come back off the upright. Tit-for-tat point scoring ensued, with Ross Banville on form from placed balls for Richie Power’s troops, including an 18th-minute ‘65’ after Sean Keane Carroll had been blocked with a goal as his target.
The Wexford champions also failed to make the most of two other great goal opportunities as the first half progressed and they were fortunate that David Williams was short from a couple of frees well within his compass, the captain only scoring once in the first moiety from a close-range free.
His cousin Shane Williams also failed from a long-range free and this looked costly as the Westmeath men trailed by a point (0-9 to 1-5) approaching added-time – a minimum of two minutes was announced. However, they pounced for a brace of well-taken goals in injury-time via McNicholas and Marcus Kennedy - on the stroke of half-time. Joey Williams’ charges led by 3-5 to 0-9 at the interval.
Shelmaliers started the second half brightly and an unanswered 1-2 – the goal coming from Cian Doyle in the 33rd minute after a mix-up in the losers’ ranks – levelled the contest. However, they suffered a major blow in the 35th minute when Paul Hearn picked up a second yellow card and was duly sent off.
The sides were still on level terms four minutes later when Ryan Williams scored a great goal for the Westmeath champions, fresh from their first county success in 24 years. A great sideline cut by Doyle reduced the deficit, but the underdogs were unfazed and a fabulous point from McNicholas had them five points to the good (4-13 to 1-17) with 52 minutes on the clock.
However, a long-range free from Banville was added to from close range by sub Paddy Connors and this goal gave Shelmaliers momentum heading into the closing stages.
Aaron Kennedy nudged Lough Lene Gaels ahead on the stroke of the hour, but a free from Banville tied up the scoring and when the same player’s huge free dropped short with time almost up, Roche kept his composure to pop over the winning score. The final whistle sounded after Noel Conaty’s puck-out.
Scorers for Shelmaliers: R Banville 0-9 (5fs, 1‘65’), C Doyle 1-3 (0-1s/l), P Connors 1-1, C Hearne 0-3, S Donohoe, A Kinsella, J Roche, P Hearne, S Keane Carroll 0-1 each.
Scorers for Lough Lene Gaels: D McNicholas 2-2, D Williams 0-5 (4fs), M Kennedy 1-2, R Williams 1-0, A Kennedy, S Williams 0-2 each, J Malone 0-1.
Shelmaliers: Adam Howlin; Robbie Delaney, Aidan Cash, Jody Donohoe; Glen Malone, Simon Donohoe, James Cash; Conor Hearne, Aaron Kinsella; Joshua Roche, Ross Banville, Paul Hearne; Sean Keane Carroll, Joe Kelly, Cian Doyle.
Subs: Paddy Connors for Kelly (32), Luke Roche for Kinsella (45).
Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Daire Daly, Jason Malone, Micheal Daly; Philip Reilly, John Egan, Tommy Doyle; Brendan Doyle, Shane Williams; Conor McCrossan, David Williams, Eoin Daly; Ryan Williams, Derek McNicholas, Marcus Kennedy.
Subs: Aaron Kennedy for McNicholas (blood, 16 – 23), Aaron Kennedy for Malone (49), Daragh Qamar for B Doyle (56).
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
