Superb second-half Silvermines comeback falls short

GAA: All-Ireland Junior ‘B’ Hurling Series Semi-Final

Tommy Larkins 2-10

Silvermines 2-9

By James Hayden

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Evan Madden (Tommy Larkins)

SCORERS – Tommy Larkins: Eoin Fahy 1-6 (0-5 frees, 0-1 pen); Joe Dervan 1-0; Adam Page 0-2; Dara Starr (free), Donal Keane 0-1 each

Silvermines: David Shanahan frees, Orrie Quirke (1 free) 0-3 each; Daniel Ryan, Sean Ryan-Prendiville 1-0 each; Ronan Cunneen (free), Willie Keogh, Brian Leamy 0-1 each.

A superb second-half Silvermines comeback against Galway’s Tommy Larkin’s fell agonisingly short in what proved an absorbing All-Ireland Junior ‘B’ Club Hurling semi-final in Killeedy on Saturday afternoon.

Having trailed by eleven points at the interval following an opening half which saw the Tipperary champions register just two points, Sean Quirke’s charges mounted a second-half comeback of epic proportions in a bid to make it through to the All-Ireland decider.

Two Tommy Larkins goals in the space of sixty seconds deep in first half injury time ultimately proved crucial and provided the Galway side with a solid foundation for what ultimately proved to be the slenderest of victories.

Having come up just short against Ballybrown of Limerick in the Munster final, the ‘Mines fielded a strong side against a well-fancied Tommy Larkins outfit. The Galway champions accounted for St. Rynagh’s of Offaly in the Leinster final and took the game to the ‘Mines right from the throw-in.

Played in damp conditions on an ‘extremely soft’ pitch, both sides struggled to settle into an early rhythm with Adam Page opening Tommy Larkins account with a well-struck point inside the opening two minutes.

Playing into the teeth of stiff breeze, Silvermines struggled to motor in the opening quarter and coughed up two further points with both Eoin Fahy (free) and Adam Page increasing their side’s tally to three before Eddie Ryan’s clearance found Tiernan Flynn down the stand touchline. He arrowed a sublime ball to Brian Leamy who tore through on goal before popping the sliotar between the uprights for Silvermines’ opening score after eighteen minutes.

Goalkeeper Dara Starr landed a booming effort from all of 100 yards in reply as the Galway side began to really impose themselves on the game.

Eoin Fahy landed a sublimely hit free from the toes of the touchline on 22 minutes before he stepped up again three minutes later to bisect the uprights for his third pointed free of the half.

Defensively, Tommy Larkins held all the aces with Evan Madden, Shane Kelly, and John Larkin keeping the Mines’ attack at bay.

Meanwhile, in attack, the Galway side were growing in stature and although David Keane had the ball in the back of the net in the 25th minute, referee John O’Halloran had blown his whistle for what was a clear penalty. Silvermines dodged a bullet as Eoin Fahy’s well-hit penalty ricocheted off the crossbar and over for his sides seventh point.

Silvermines recorded only their second point on the cusp of the interval with Ronan Cunneen arrowing over from a placed ball after the impressive Cathal Gleeson was clipped on the hand by a loose hurley from wing-back, Gearoid Hanley.

Silvermines appeared to heading into the dressing room with a five-point deficit to claw back but in the blink of an eye Tommy Larkins netted two quick-fire goals, the first from Eoin Fahy following good work from full-forward Shane O’Grady, and the second a cracking Joe Dervan strike from range seconds later following a mix-up in the Silvermines defence.

A shell-shocked Silvermines trailed by what appeared to be an insurmountable 2-7 to 0-2 deficit at the break but from the re-start they really took the game to the Leinster champions.

Midfielder, Orrie Quirke got the ball rolling with a 33rd minute point before Eoin Seymour and Niall Curran linked up well in attack and provided half-time substitute Daniel Ryan with the opportunity to rattle the back of the Tommy Larkins net from close-range; 2-7 to 1-3 with 35 minutes elapsed.

Eoin Fahy replied with yet another well-struck point from a placed ball before Willie Keogh bisected the uprights with a neatly crafted 37th minute effort.

Silvermines had departed from their opening half running game and elected to play direct ball into their inside forward line, a tactic that paid dividends with Niall Curran causing untold problems on the edge of the square for the Woodford side.

Donal Keane kept the scoreboard ticking over for Tommy Larkins with a 39th minute point before Silvermines goalkeeper, David Shanahan landed a booming free from way out field.

The ‘Mines kept battling hard with Orrie Quirke reducing the deficit to six points thanks to a 48th minute point. A second Shanahan free from range and a close-range Quirke point narrowed the deficit even further as they really started to build a head of steam.

Tommy Larkins emptied their bench in a bid to bring a halt to Silvermines’ gallop with Eoin Fahy flighting over what proved a hugely crucial 59th minute free to put five between the sides once more, 2-10 to 1-8.

The ‘Mines were pushing very hard though at this stage with a third David Shanahan free reducing the deficit right on the hour mark.

Silvermines were in dire need of a goal and it came deep in injury time after corner-back Sean Ryan-Prendiville steered the sliotar into the back of the net after a frantic goalmouth scramble.

From the resulting puckout, Silvermines fought on their backs in a bid to gain possession but Tommy Larkins held fast and despite the best the ‘Mines could muster they just couldn’t bag the all-important leveller.

Impressive for Tommy Larkins were Evan Madden, Shane Kelly, Adam Page, Eoin Fahy, Joe Dervan, Jack Sheil and Eoin Forde while Cathal Gleeson, Eddie Ryan, Orrie Quirke, Sean Ryan-Prendiville, David Shanahan, Niall Curran, Tiernan Flynn and Patrick Steed caught the eye for Silvermines.

TEAMS - Tommy Larkins: Dara Starr (7), Evan Madden (8), Shane Kelly (Capt 7), John Larkin (7); Shane Whyte (7), Jack Sheil (7), Gearoid Hanley (7); Eoin Forde (7), Adam Page (7); Jamie O’Donnell (7), Joe Dervan (7), Eoin Fahy (7); Kevin Hooban (6), Shane O’Grady (7), Donal Keane (7).

Subs: Nathan Flaherty (6) for Hooban (38); Barry Tierney (6) for O’Grady (49); Ryan Daniels (NR) for Keane (53); David Hickey (NR) for Dervan (60); Jack Donoghue (NR) for Page (60+1).

Silvermines: David Shanahan (7), Ben Claffey (7), Eddie Ryan (Capt, 7), Sean Ryan-Prendiville (7); Eoin Seymour (7), Cathal Gleeson (8), Tiernan Flynn (7); Patrick Steed (7), Orrie Quirke (7); Niall Curran (8), William Keogh (7), Ciarán Timmons (7); Ronan Cunneen (7), Brian Leamy (7), Seán Spillane (6).

Subs: Daniel Ryan (7) for Spillane (HT); Gerard Leamy (6) for Timmons (41); Danny Keogh (6) for W Keogh (49); Eamonn Corcoran (6) for Cunneen (52).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick).