RATHNEW HIT THE ROAD
Village set for Leinster battle with the Blues
HAVING accounted for everything that their foes in Wicklow could offer, the footballers of Rathnew head north on Sunday to do battle with the Louth champions in the Village’s first step in the Leinster Senior club championship for 2017.
The Wicklow kingpins will be making the journey to Drogheda in fine fettle having secured another Senior title with their defeat of Blessington, and with supporter buses being organised and the tradtional Rathnew support likely to travel in big numbers it’s possible that Harry Murphy’s men will take to the field to a resounding cheer come Sunday afternoon.
Standing in their way are the Newtown Blues, Louth’s most successful Senior club team, who boast a very tal- ented line-up of players.
Newtown Blues won their 21st title on the same day as Rathnew defeated Blessington when they beat Dundalk Gaels by 2-10 to five points. Both county finals had similarities in the lead up to the match. In Wicklow it was the powerhouse against a team that hadn’t contested a final in 29 years and hadn’t won it since 1983, in Louth it was the powerhouse against a team that hadn’t contested a final in 25 years and hadn’t won it since 1952.
Chief among the Newtown Blues attack will be Ross Nally who bagged 1-05 in the county final on his way to securing the Man of the Match award.
Either side of him are Ciaran Downey and Conor Moore who will present the Rathnew full-back line with all sorts of problems. The Village can expect to face former Louth star Colm Judge in the role of sweeper while Andy McDonnell and Kevin Carr are other names that catch the eye.
But Rathnew possess plenty of firepower of their own. The magnificent Leighton Glynn can destroy a team, Jody Merrigan can be lethal, Mark Doyle can be devastating. Throw in James Stafford, Eddie Doyle, Ross O’Brien, Jamie Snell, Paul Merrigan and Damien Power and Sunday’s clash has the makings of a superb encounter.
The winners will welcome the winners of the Dublin club final between St Vincent’s and Ballymun Kickhams.
Full preview inside.