Éire Óg top after attack fest

Éire Óg 1-16 Shannon Gaels 3-7

DESPITE trailing 3-3 to 0-6 at half-time, Éire Óg produced an outstanding second-half display to emerge three-point victors over Shannon Gaels in Lissycasey last Sunday evening.
The fact that both teams had already qualified for the last eight perhaps contributed to what was probably the most open, attack-minded game of the 2010 senior championship.
As well as Éire Óg played throughout the second half, Shannon Gaels had played outstanding attacking football in the opening period.
John Paul O’Neill and Shane Tubridy netted two goals, while Barry Toner steered his second penalty in successive matches to the net. Éire Óg could have goaled but Eoin Glynn’s effort was saved by Keith Ryan, however, they did kick some impressive first-half points.
The winners’ introduction of Brendan Manning and Dean Ryan definitely helped them as Éire Óg established midfield dominance for much of the second half. They kicked 1-10 in the second half, with Stephen Hickey netting their goal from close range. Hickey, Darren O’Neill, Nicky Hogan, Brian Frawley and Brian Lenihan kicked top-class points for a rampant Éire Óg, who have improved immeasurably under Joe Joe Whelan and Barry Donnelly.
The Ennis men face Cooraclare in the last eight while Shannon Gaels play Doonbeg.

Éire Óg: Shane O’Connell; Michael O’Regan, Donie Lyne, Saran Butler; Paul Madden, Conor Healy, Nicky Hogan; David Russell, Darren O’Neill; Shane Daniels, Fergus Flynn, Brian Frawley; Stephen Hickey, Eoin Glynn, Brian Lenihan.
Subs: Brendan Manning for Paul Madden; Dean Ryan for Fergus Flynn and Brian Fitzpatrick for Eoin Glynn.
Scorers: Stephen Hickey 1-5, (0-2f); Brian Lenihan 0-3; Shane Daniels, Brian Frawley, Eoin Glynn 0-2 each; Darren O’Neill and Nicky Hogan 0-1.

Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; John Neylon, Tomás Madigan, Fergal Kenny; Frank Cleary, Brian Bermingham, John Bermingham; Noel Kennedy, Michael O’Donoghue; Barry Toner, Eugene O’Neill, John Paul O’Neill; Shane Tubridy, David Neylon, Stephen O’Shea.
Subs: Cathal O’Neill for Fergal Kenny; Tomás Cleary for Shane Tubridy and Brian O’Shea for Stephen O’Shea.
Scorers: John Paul O’Neill 1-3; Barry Toner 1-3, (1-0 pen, 0-2f); Shane Tubridy 1-0 and Frank Cleary 0-1.