Ugly scenes mar 13-man Shan’s semi-final victory

Shandonagh 2-16, Milltown 1-16

By Rodney Farry

Shandonagh are one match away from a swift return to the senior ranks after defeating neighbouring rivals Milltown in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.

Although Shandonagh were the better team and deserved their victory, for the second time in the space of 24 hours much of the post-match talk centred on the disgraceful scenes that followed the late sending off of a player from the losing team.

Experienced Milltown defender Bernard Kiernan received a second yellow after fouling Shandonagh’s Brian Kavanagh off the ball with less than ten minutes of regulation time remaining.

As Kiernan made his way off the pitch, Kavanagh jogged towards him and appeared to say something. Kiernan responded by trying to grab Kavanagh. He then punched the Shandonagh man a number of times after he fell to the ground. Shandonagh’s top scorer Tom Molloy subsequently received a second yellow card for his involvement in the melee after Kiernan’s sending off.

After being on the backfoot for most of the match, Milltown gained the initiative after the dismissals and almost pulled off an unlikely comeback, outscoring Shandonagh 1-7 to 0-2 over the final 15 minutes which included five minutes of added time.

Although the match had been not overly physical considering it was a semi-final featuring neighbouring parishes, Molloy was the second Shandonagh player to be sent off.

Daire Conway was dismissed at the end of the first quarter for committing two yellow card offences in the space of a few minutes.

However, despite playing three quarters of the match with a numerical disadvantage, Ray Sheridan’s men dominated for long periods and prior to Kiernan and Molloy’s sending-offs had an 11-point lead and looked to be cruising to a place in the final in two weeks’ time.

A flurry of late Milltown scores that included three two-pointers and a goal from substitute Jarlath Boyce deep into time added on meant that by the time Kenny blew the full-time whistle 13-man Shandonagh were hanging on.

The match began in a whirlwind fashion with five scores in as many minutes. Jack Duncan – Milltown’s most dangerous attacker – opened his side’s account after 30 seconds with a well-taken point. Shandonagh’s reply was swift, with Ryan Donnelly hitting the ball over the bar following a strong run from Will Scahill.

With two minutes on the clock, Shan took the lead courtesy of a point from Molloy. Milltown levelled proceedings for the first and last time in the fourth minute when Duncan pointed a free from 30 metres.

Maitiú Scully restored Shandonagh’s lead when he sent the ball over the bar following a marauding run through the heart of the Milltown defence.

As the half progressed, Milltown struggled to contain Shandonagh. With Scahill and Luke Tynan skilfully linking defence and attack, Shandonagh’s direct style of play up the centre of the pitch was causing all sorts of problems for Mickey Harkin’s charges.

A point form the increasingly influential Scahill was quickly by Shandonagh’s first goal of the match on nine minutes. Tynan won possession following a poor kick-out from Alan Geraghty and dispatched the ball to Molloy, who planted it into the right-hand corner of the net with the minimum of fuss.

A minute later, Brian Kavanagh extended Shan’s lead to six points when he scored his first over of the match.

Although they were reduced to 14 men after 15 minutes when Conway was sent to the line, Shandonagh dominated the remainder of the half, outscoring Milltown by five points to two. Duncan scored his and Milltown’s third point on 16 minutes before Shandonagh increased their advantage with a brace of two pointers from Brian Kavanagh (a free) and a wonderful effort from Molloy.

The industrious Conor Gibney - one of Milltown’s better players on the day – opened his account with a well struck effort from just inside the two point arc in the 20th minute.

The first-half scoring drew a close on 24 minutes when Kavanagh extended Shandonagh’s lead with a free from the 20 meter line after Milltown breached the three-up rule.

Milltown’s hopes of mounting a second half comeback were dealt a blow when Jack Murtagh had to come off injured in the 28th minute. He was replaced by Jarlath Boyce.

Half-time score: Shandonagh 1-10, Milltown 0-4.

Nine points down at the end of a first half in which they spent most of it on the back foot, it was no surprise that Milltown manager Harkin made a couple of half-time substitutions with Luke Gunning replacing Conor Lynn and Peter Ballesty making way for Nathan Creagh Dillon.

It was, however, Shandonagh who opened the scoring with the impressive Molloy pointing at the end of another fluent move.

Duncan reduced the deficit and extended his personal tally to five points with a long-range two-point free after 38 minutes.

Shandonagh replied instantly with a well-taken score from Molloy, who looked dangerous every time he received the ball.

Dylan Murtagh, who was not as influential as he usually is, and Kavanagh (a free) exchanged points before a two-pointer from Duncan cut Shandonagh’s lead to seven points as the match entered the last quarter.

Less than a minute after Duncan’s score, Shandonagh’s second goal appeared to extinguish any hopes of Milltown making a come back. A flowing move involving the two Treanors, Scahill and Molloy ended with the attack minded corner back Maitiú Scully who fired the ball past Geraghty.

In the 50th minute Molloy extended Shandonagh’s lead to 11 points with his sixth over of the match.

In the build-up to Molloy’s score, Kiernan fouled Kavanagh off the ball, for which he received his second yellow card of the game.

The scenes that followed Kiernan’s dismissal were more reminiscent of something one might see at an MMA event rather than a GAA one.

When referee Kenny and his team managed to restore order, Shandonagh were reduced to 13 men with Molloy receiving a second yellow for his part in fracas.

A two-pointer from Daire Hynes on 56 minutes reduced the deficit to nine points before a pointed free from Ryan Donnelly a minute later kept the scoreboard ticking over for Shan.

A brace of two-point frees from Duncan reduced the deficit to only six points, and when it was announced that there would be at least five minutes of time added on, hopes of a Milltown comeback did not seem quite so far-fetched.

A pointed free from Donnelly following another breach of the 3-up rule by Milltown gave his side some much-needed breathing space as the clock ticked down.

A Paddy Kiernan point in the 63rd minute made it a two-score game once again. It was all Milltown at this stage, and when Boyce punched the ball into the net after Duncan sent a high ball into the danger area in the last minute of time added on, there were only three points between the teams.

The Shandonagh fans’ already frayed nerves were further tested when their team was penalised after Cian Molloy’s goal kick was touched inside the 40 metre arc. Milltown knew that this was their last throw of the dice. A short free kick was passed to their dangerman Duncan, who had no option to shoot for goal despite the wall of Shandonagh players on the line. While Duncan’s low shot was well-struck, Molloy redeemed himself by pulling off a fine save much to delight and relief of his colleagues and the team’s supporters.

Shandonagh were undoubtedly the better team, but their indiscipline almost cost them a place in the final against Tubberclair in two weeks.

Ray Sheridan and his backroom team know that their side have much to work on if they are to achieve their objective and secure a return to senior football at the first attempt

Scorers - Shandonagh: Tom Molloy 1-6, Brian Kavanagh 0-5 (1tpf, 2f), Maitiú Scully 1-1, Ryan Donnelly 0-3 (2f), Danny Scahill 0-1. Milltown: Jack Duncan 0-11 (3tpf, 1f), Jarlath Boyce 1-0, Daire Hynes 0-2 (1tp), Dylan Murtagh, Paddy Kiernan and Conor Gibney 0-1 each.

Milltown: Alan Geraghty; Diarmuid Maguire, Bernard Kiernan, Sean Dillon; Tommy Lynn, Conor Gibney, Matt Gunning; Jack Murtagh, Dylan Murtagh; Daire Hynes, Paddy Somers, Peter Ballesty; Luke Gunning, Ben McGauran, Jack Duncan. Subs used: Jarlath Boyce for Jack Murtagh Conor Lynn for Luke Gunning H/T, Nathan Creagh Dillon for Peter Ballesty H/T, Sean Summers for Paddy Somers (inj. 36 mins), Paddy Kieran for Nathan Creagh Dillon (blood sub; 45 -49 mins), Paddy Kiernan for Sean Summers (49 mins).

Shandonagh: Cian Molloy; Maitiú Scully, Ben Treanor, Brendan Killian; Gareth Carr, Danny Scahill, Daire Conway; Mickey Boyle, Caelum Faughnan; Adam Treanor, Conor McCrossan, Luke Tynan; Ryan Donnelly, Brian Kavanagh, Tom Molloy. Subs used: Darren Bitu for Mickey Boyle (37 mins), Aaron Craig for Caelum Faughnan (47 mins), Jake Costello for Brian Kavanagh (52 mins), Darren McWade for Conor McCrossan (59 mins).

Ref: Enda Kenny, Ballinagore.