London 1-7
Warwickshire 0-9
THEY were out of it for 50 minutes, yet somehow London contrived to steal a one-point victory over Warwickshire joining Kilkenny as automatic qualifiers for the All-Britain semi-finals.
For Warwickshire there will be little time to lick their wounds as they head south west for a quarter-final knock-out clash against Gloucestershire, while Scotland will host Lancashire in the other quarter-final after the Cats defeated the former champions in Manchester last Saturday.
With both Yorkshire and Hertfordshire making their exit at the weekend – Yorkshire once again not fielding while Scotland defeated Hertfordshire in their Round Two clash – there are six teams remaining.
There will be plenty of room for improvement for London as they await the winners of the Scotland-Lancashire clash, after they were largely nullified by a solid Warwickshire defence at Pairc na hÉireann – that is until John Daly bagged th only goal three minutes from time to bring the sides level before the Thomas McCurtains wing-forward Gavin O’Flaherty landed the winner in the final minute.
London trailed Warwickshire by five going into the final quarter of the match and for large periods they were unable to find any rhythm in attack. With Conal Dowling deployed as sweeper Warwickshire’s full-back line, led by Ryan Bennett and ably assisted by James Connolly and Shane Sweeney, held the upper hand.
The home side’s excellent opening half hour performance gave plenty of cause for optimism, getting things underway with a fine score from Joe Owens that was followed up by a superb point out wide by Michael Harrigan who could have snatched the first goal of the game, but for a smart stop by Eoghan Collins.
Warwickshire extended their lead through a fine Mark Quinn strike and a James Loney 45 and then went narrowly close to goal when Stephen Ormsby’s determined run ended with a shot fizzed just wide of the near post.
Stephen Monahan launched a fantastic long range effort over the bar, before Dan O’Hara and Loney (free) extended the lead to six as London hit back with a Killian Butler point just before the interval. The wind was favouring the home side in the opening half and it had a bearing on matters as things wore on, for their part London were hinting at a resurgence early in the second-half when Eamon McGovern latched onto a long ball only to punch wide of Eamon Fallon’s left-hand upright.
Still, Warwickshire remained in the ascendancy and they went seven in front thanks to Quinn’s second point and a strong run and finish from St Barnabas midfielder Dan O’Hara.
London made some tactical changes, moving James Gartland into full-forward and bringing their half-forwards into the game much more as the clock moved towards the final 12 minutes. Two frees in quick succession helped them to gain some degree of momentum, McGovern and Daly the dead ball strikers, before a dangerous run into the goalmouth by Robbie Reid saw a low ball fed into the path of Gartland who couldn’t get enough purchase on the ball to turn it goalwards.
The pendulum was gradually swinging back towards London, with Warwickshire’s firm defence increasingly needing an out ball to relieve pressure. There were late chances for Warwickshire that could have settled matters before the late drama down at the other end, but the final quarter remained scoreless for the home side who turned their attentions to keeping London out as they cranked up the intensity.
Then the pivotal intervention came when a break down the right wing saw Daly presented with another opportunity in front of Fallon, this time the full-forward made no mistake as he checked back to fire low into the net beyond a cluster of defenders.
With the teams level, London gathered another re-start and launched what would be the winning attack as O’Flaherty rumbled through to point from 30 metres out. There was still time for Warwickshire to take the game to extra-time, however Loney’s chipped free faded wide to the right.
Man of the match:
James Connolly (Warwickshire)
Immense in an unfamiliar corner-back role, continually making vital challenges alongside the similarly impressive Ryan Bennett.
Score of the match:
A fine run from Joe Owens was rounded off with an excellent strike from a tricky spot by Michael Harrigan.
Turning point:
Those final five minutes where Warwickshire simply couldn’t get out, John Daly’s goal two minutes from time turning the game on its head.
Wides: London (4) 7, Warwickshire (4) 6.
Frees: London (8) 17, Warwickshire (4) 8.
Yellow Cards: London 1 (James Lally 43), Warwickshire 4 (Niall McCooey 14; Mark Quinn 17; Conal Dowling 34; Joe Owens 53).
Scorers:
London: J Daly 1-1 (1f), Gavin O’Flaherty 0-3, K Butler 0-1, E McGovern 0-1 (1f), J Gartland 0-1.
Warwickshire: M Quinn 0-2, J Loney 0-2 (1’45, 1f), D O’Hara 0-2, J Owens 0-1, M Harrigan 0-1, S Monahan 0-1.
Teams:
London: E Collins; K Delahunty, C Doherty, J Winters; P McGirr, R Reid, R Ellin; J Gartland, P Rafferty; G O’Flaherty, E McGovern, J Lally; E Lenihan, J Daly, K Butler.
Warwickshire: E Fallon; J Connolly, R Bennett, S Sweeney; N McCooey, S Ormsby, J Ridley; B Rushe, D O’Hara; M Quinn, J Loney, J Owens; M Harrigan, S Monahan, C Dowling. Subs: L Connolly for Ridley (48).
Referee: M McMenamin (Hertfordshire).
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