Rathnew rule second half

Stafford vital in Village win

BLESSINGTON RATHNEW 0-13 3-9

RATHNEW’S ability to score goals when required and their absolute refusal to accept defeat saw them scorch Blessington in the second half of this SFL Division 1 clash in the west on Sunday morning.

A goal from Graham Merrigan within five minutes of the restart was the perfect tonic for Hary Murphy’s men as it rescued them from a six-point deficit to leave them trailing by just three points with Blessington looking as though they were about to continue their impressive form from that opening 30.

Merrigan’s goal was complemented by majors from James Stafford and substitute Luke Corcoran as Rathnew took complete control more or less with Gary Byrne, Jamie Snell, JT Moorehouse, Ciaran Coffey, Theo Smyth and Ross O’Brien dominating in a chilly but dry Blessington.

It was very much that classic game of two halves. Blessington were in fine form in the opening 30 with Patrick O’Connor looking very sharp, Mikey O’Connor impressing, Anto McLoughlin proving busy, Kevin-John Rogers and Jack Gilligan competing very well with Stafford and Coffey while the halfback line of Caolan McGorman, Kevin Hanlon and Jack Cotter were coping well with a formidable looking trio of Theo Smyth, Ross O’Brien and Graham Merrigan while Barry Murphy, Steven Bohan and Aaron Curran looking comfortable against Mark Doyle, Dylan Smith and Ross Quinn.

The visitors started brightly with a shot dropped short by Theo Smyth and a wide and a point from Mark Doyle in the opening three minutes.

Blessington grew into the game and assumed a somewhat dominant role as they built up a 0-7 to 0-3 lead at the break. Caolan McGorman grabbed their first before Mark Doyle hit back from a free for the visitors.

A mighty Patrick O’Connor score in the 11th pulled Blessington level at 0-2 apiece with the Blessington management switching full-forward Curtis Geraghty and centre half Anto McLoughlin around the same time.

A sublime flick from Curtis Geraghty to centre back Kevin Hanlon bought Hanlon some time and he returned the ball to Geraghty who fired over a bomb off the outside of his right at the end of the first quarter to give Blessington the lead for the first time.

It was 0-6 to 0-2 within minutes thanks to points from Stephen Carroll, Mikey O’Connor from a free and corner-forward Jordan Nolan.

A Theo Smyth 45 was followed by a super score from Hanlon after major work from Patrick O’Connor to leave it 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.

Mickey O’Connor and Jordan Nolan pointed either side of a Mark Doyle free to make it 0-9 to 0-4 and then Merrigan struck for the game’s opening goal after a high ball down on top of James Stafford and Mark Doyle eventually broke to the waiting Merrigan who fired home for the perfect boost for the Rathnew men.

A wicked one-two with Anto McLoughlin allowed Patrick O’Connor bag the perfect response for Blessington but from here on in it was all Rathnew.

Harry Murphy had rejigged his side somewhat. Danny Staunton had entered the fray at the break for Ross Quinn, Graham Merrigan was moved up to corner-forward. With 10 gone in the second he brought in Luke Corcoran for Dylan Smith and he also pulled Theo Smyth into centre half forward and brought Ross O’Brien out to the wing. His deployment of Ross O’Brien at 11 was interesting and not unsuccessful while JT Moorehouse looks a solid operator at six having had Anto McLoughlin and Curtis Geraghty for company at different times.

The classic high ball down on top of James Stafford resulted in Rathnew’s second goal and a poor defensive error allowed Luke Corcoran to lash home their third to knock the stuffing out of Blessington who would see Anto McLoughlin leave the field moments later as if to compound their woes.

Two James Stafford points prior to Corcoran’s goal should also be mentioned as massive boosts to the Village side.

Both sides face two tricky tasks next time out. Rathnew welcome neighbours St Patrick’s to Merrymeeting on Thursday evening while Blessington must do battle with a flying Baltinglass.

Scorers – Rathnew: James Stafford 1-2, Graham Merrigan 1-0, Luke Corcoran 1-0, Mark Doyle 0-3 (2f), Theo Smyth 0-2 (1 45), Ciaran Coffey 0-1, Ross O’Brien 0-1 (f).

Blessington: Mikey O’Connor 0-3 (2f), Patrick O’Connor 0-3, Jordan Nolan 0-2, Anto McLoughlin 0-1, Curtis Geraghty 0-1, Stephen Carroll 0-1, Kevin Hanlon 0-1, Caolan McGorman 0-1. RORY STOKES saved the day for Tinahely with a late monster score after a thrilling battle with St Patrick’s in Dunbur Park on Sunday morning.

It was the meeting of the reigning Senior football championship and last year’s Intermediate kingpins on a beautiful morning by the sea.

A super start for Alan Costello’s men saw them surge into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead over Casey O’Brien’s charges as the high-flying Tinahely hit the ground running against a Pat’s team that have yet to find their form in 2019.

However, stung into action by the early concession of the 1-2, Pat’s fired over nine points on the trot to take a 0-9 to 1-2 lead at the break with Stephen Duffy and Paudge McWalter prominent for the home side.

An early Tinahely point in the second half was cancelled out by a Donal Fitzgerald screamer but the introduction of James Hedderman would bring a new lease of life to the Tinahely attack and he would be pivotal for the move for a Rory Stokes goal to get Alan Costello’s side right back in the game.

The loss of Stephen Duffy to a ÉIRE ÓG Greystones secured top spot in Division 1A after this narrow victory over a talented Avondale side in Rathdrum on Sunday morning.

Darren Hayden’s 1-4 and Shaun Cranley’s 0-5 were pivotal to the north Wicklow men’s win with Oisin McGraynor shining for the Dales with seven points to his tally.

The win leaves Éire Óg in top spot with Avondale in fourth position on six points.

Both sides will face tough tasks on April 20 in the next round of games. Avondale will travel to the Wexford border to take on James Hickey’s Carnew while Éire Óg will welcome Martin Ging’s Annacurra who claimed their first win at the weekend at the expense of Bray Emmets.

Scorers - Éire Óg Greystones: Darren Hayden 1-4, Shaun Cranley 0-5, Daniel Keane 0-3, Conall Deaney 0-1, Fintan O’Shea 0-1, Darren Rooney 0-1, Cian O’Flaherty 0-1.

Avondale: Oisin McGraynor 0-7, Ross Ward 0-3, Zac Cullen 1-0, Conor Byrne 0-2, Eoin Baker 0-1, Jack Manley 0-1, Ryan Cahill 0-1.

Dunlavin find themselves in second spot in Division 1A of the Senior football leagues this week thanks to a stunning victory over Kilmac at home.

Cian O’Sullivan’s 2-2 was hugely vital for the cause against a

AGB sit in third spot in the SFL Division 1 this week after a comfortable win over a struggling Kiltegan in Ballymoney last weekend.

JP Hurley’s tally of five points and Peter Hempenstall’s goal were key to the victory that saw Kiltegan struggle with the pace and power of the Arklow men and now sees them rooted to the bottom of the league table with five defeats from five.

The west side’s woes continued with the news that talismanic Rory Finn has picked up an injury and

A very helpful 2-2 from nippy Ross Davis and Conor Odlum’s 1-1 helped Newtown to a fully deserved victory over James Hcikey’s Carnew last week.

A Don Jackman hat-trick helped Coolkenno snatch a share of the spoils away in Askinagap last Sunday morning against Ballymanus on Sunday morning moving them on to three points after three games in Division 2.

Trailing by six points at the break (2-6 to 0-6), Coolkenno stormed back in the second half

With time almost it was Conor Walker who had the chance to tie the game, which he did with aplomb.

A good result for Coolkenno.

Sean O’Brien’s magic is still working well in Baltinglass after his Senior side inflicted a heavy defeat on Hollywood on a filthy night for football last Friday night.

John McGrath led the charge for the flying Slaneysiders with 1-5 to his credit on the night. He was helped by the freetaking of Mark Jackson and a three-point haul from Jason Kennedy.

Hollywood have serious work to do at this stage. They sit just above Kiltegan on one point with the gap to St Patrick’s above them starting to widen with each passing week.

Scorers - Hollywood: E. Burke (0-01), R. Houlihan (0-01), K. Peppard (0-01), C. Tyrrell (0-01)

Baltinglass: J. McGrath (1-05), S. Heaslip (1-0), M. Jackson (0-03; 0-02F; 0-01 45), J. Kennedy (0-03), S. O’Brien (0-02), C. Lee (0-01), T. O’Toole (0-01).

Fourth spot is where Kilcoole find themselves after their comprehensive victory over struggling Stratford-Grangecon who have yet to register a win or a draw in this year’s campaign.

Six points from Michael Murphy helped Barndarrig to a superb 2-13 to 0-10 victory against Decky Byrne’s Laragh last weekend and lifts them off the bottom.