Shandonagh go out despite ending Tang's winning run

Shandonagh 1-12, Tang 1-11

By Paul Hughes

Shandonagh concluded their 2023 SFC campaign with a win over Tang at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday evening last, but failed to qualify for the knockouts after coming down on the wrong side of calculations and permutations following results elsewhere.

Tang, who now face Tyrrellspass, had already advanced to the quarter-finals before this fixture, but were looking to keep their 100 percent record intact. They led by a Ciaran Clear goal at half-time (1-7 to 0-7), and were five points ahead minutes into the final quarter.

However, a late Shandonagh rally, including a well-taken goal by Cormac Coyne, tipped the scales in favour of the Mullingar men. Despite his side’s failure to advance, manager Kevin Hickey will see three wins out of five games as some measure of progress after the club’s return to senior ranks.

A flat first quarter saw Shandonagh lead by the minimum (0-3 to 0-2), with frees from Ryan Donnelly and Brian Kavanagh and a fine score by Luke Tynan cancelling out opening Tang points from Adam Neary (a free) and Ciaran Clear.

In the 19th minute however, Tang came to life when Clear anticipated the fall of a lofty kick from Shane Coughlan, and nudged the ball past Shandonagh ‘keeper Conor Craig for the game’s first goal.

The game opened up a bit from there, with Tang leading by the minimum after 28 minutes – Aidan Burke, Conall McKiernan and Neary cancelling out scores from Shandonagh’s Maitiú Scully, Jake Costello and a third free from Kavanagh.

Adam Treanor got in behind the Tang defence with his mind on a goal shortly before stoppage time, but it was cleared, and the men in maroon subsequently tacked on two scores from Shane Keenan (a fine effort under pressure) and Martin Rock to lead by three at the short whistle.

Shandonagh again threatened after the restart when Simon Carr threw himself at a pass from Luke Tynan, but a goal was averted by some astute Tang defending.

Keith Higgins’ charges then went four ahead thanks to a free from Aidan Burke, and they maintained this advantage by the end of the third quarter. Points from Neary and Keenan negated efforts from Kavanagh (a free) and Cormac Coyne, before Neary kicked another free to extend the lead to five in the 44th minute.

Shandonagh’s breakthrough came three minutes later, when they caught Tang on the break and Coyne’s rifle effort ended up in the bottom corner of Owen Coughlan’s net.

Adam Treanor followed this up with a wonderful point from the terrace side of the park, but Shandonagh spent the next 12 minutes struggling for an equaliser.

At the other end, Tang could have wrapped the game up. On 55 minutes, long ball from Conall McKiernan found the grasp of sub John Tumelty, who turned to finish only to have his shot saved by Conor Craig. Adam Neary kicked the resultant ’45’ wide.

On the stroke of 60 minutes, Shandonagh’s Gareth Carr then crowned a fine season with the equaliser, a superb score from the left wing. Three minutes into injury time, the same man put his body on the line to start a move that led to the winner, a second point from Luke Tynan.

Tang – who had wing back John Rock sent off at the death for a robust challenge on Shandonagh sub Ben Treanor – now gear up for a quarter-final against Tyrrellspass.

Scorers - Shandonagh: C Coyne 1-1, B Kavanagh 0-3f, R Donnelly (frees) and L Tynan 0-2 each, M Scully, J Costello, A Treanor and G Carr 0-1 each. Tang: A Neary 0-4 (2f), C Clear 1-1, A Burke (1f) and S Keenan 0-2 each, C McKiernan and M Rock 0-1 each.

Shandonagh: Conor Craig; Cathal Craig, Jack O’Brien, Maitiú Scully; Adam Treanor, Daniel Scahill, Gareth Carr; Darren McWade, Brendan Killian; Simon Carr, Luke Tynan, Cormac Coyne; Ryan Donnelly, Brian Kavanagh, Jake Costello. Subs used: Cormac Gordon for McWade (inj., 11), Aaron Craig for Killian (40), Ben Treanor for Costello (44), Aaron Flanagan for Donnelly (56).

Tang: Owen Coughlan; Conall McKiernan, Kieran Duncan, Eoghan Bannon; John Rock, Ian Coughlan, Jason Coughlan; Ciaran Clear, Robert English; Shane Keenan, Aidan Burke, Shane Hanley; Adam Neary, Martin Rock, Shane Coughlan. Subs used: Tommy Lennon for S Hanley (40), Ronan Hanley for English (44), John Tumelty for Burke (49), Callum McGarry for M Rock (54), Killian Foxe for I Coughlan (57).

Ref: Alan Coyne (Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall).

In a nutshell

Man of the match: Gareth Carr (Shandonagh). A tireless worker throughout, Carr popped up with a late equaliser and played an instrumental role in engineering Shandonagh’s winning point.

Key moment: Tang looked odds-on for five wins out of five until Cormac Coyne’s 47th-minute goal turned the tables for Shandonagh.

What it means: Tang advance to the quarter-final where they will face Tyrrellspass next Sunday.