Late Baltinglass rally floors St. Patrick’s
BALTINGLASS ST. PATRICK’S 2-14 2-10
TWO late goals saved the day for the reigning All-Ireland club champions in the semi-final of the 1989 Hill-Opel Football League played in 1990 in Aughrim against St. Patrick’s 30 years ago.
Billy Nolan and Kevin O’Brien scored the two majors within three minutes to sicken the St Patrick’s challenge after the Dunbur side had looked to be on course for a two-point win.
‘It was two breakaway attacks that yielded the match-winning scores for Baltinglass in the last three minutes,’ read the report that appeared in the Wicklow People.
‘The first goal was scored by substitute Billy Nolan, who ran in on the ‘blind dise’ to finish off a lightning attacking move involving Billy Timmins and Robert McHugh, who gave the final pass.
‘The move that led to the second Baltinglass goal started from deep inside their own defence with Timmins setting Thomas Donoghue off on a tearaway solo run before ‘teeing up’ Kevin O’Brien for the score with a well placed through ball.
‘Before that Baltinglass were forced to make switches in both defence and attack as St. Patrick’s came from behind twice in the first half to lead by 1-4 to 0-6 at the interval.
‘The St. Patrick’s goal came after 27 minutes play, a gift presented to full-forward Eamon Cronin by Baltinbglass goalie Dan Leigh, who mis-hit a kick-out.
‘Kevin O’Brien was drafted to centre-forward in a switch with Robert McHugh, and an off-colour Brian Kilcoyne first swtiched wingback positions with George Bradley before moving to centre-back as the St. Patrick’s wingers Eddie King and Casey O’Brien and full-forward line of Henry Leonard, Eamon Cronin and Paul Fox were causing endless problems.
‘It is true that Baltinglass were without a number of their All-Ireland club championship side, but St. Patrick’s were also short of at least three key players and the loss of centre-back Joe Healy through injury in the first half was also a blow to them.
‘The opening for St. Patrick’s’ second goal after four minutes of the second half was created by full-forward Eamon Cronin who drew his opponent Hugh Kenny away from fronting his goal for Philip Healy’s long free. The ball broke to Paul Fox, who neatly plonked his shot in the back of the Baltinglass net.
‘Points by Kevin O’Brien, Con Murphy and Robert McHugh for Baltinglass reduced the deficit to one point (2-5 to 0-10) after nine minutes, but St. Patrick’s refused to yield, answering their opponents score for score.
Twice Tommy Kelly, one of the stars of the St. Patrick’s defence, denied Kevin O’Brien goals with timely blocks and Baltinglass were still trailing by one point, 2-9 to 0-13, after 20 minutes.
Phil Healy and James Gormley were more than holding their own at midfield with Raymond Danne and Tommy Murphy and when Paul Fox and Henry Leonard stretched the St. Patrick’s lead to three points by 23 minutes, it looked as if the Wicklow town side was about to gain the victory that had eluded them in last year’s senior championship final.
‘Unfortunately for them, they learned the truth of the old adage that Baltinglass are never beaten until the final whistle. Despite not controlling play, Baltinglass did look dangerous on the break and it was from such lightning attacks that they scored 2-1 in the last five minutes for victory.
Overall, St. Patrick’s by this performance must have given encouragement to all championship teams that Baltinglass can be caught napping, while the Slaneysiders have also shown by winning in low-gear that they are not ready to relinquish their crown just yet.