Foley kicks vital goal
Rapps shake off persistent Fethard
RAPPAREES FETHARD 3-13 1-16
A KICKED goal by team captain Kevin Foley in the 43rd minute proved vital in Taghmon on Saturday as Rapparees made it two wins from two in Group A of the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship against gutsy newcomers Fethard.
The sides were deadlocked (2-9 to 1-12) when a free from long-range by veteran Tomás Mahon was caught around a crowded square by the inter-county sweeper, and he turned and booted the ball past Seán Foley to give the Enniscorthy men a lead they never relinquished.
This was only the second-ever Senior meeting of the clubs, with the Rapps finding this a good deal tougher than their predecessors who spoiled St. Mogue’s only semi-final appearance thus far on a 2-19 to 1-10 scoreline 21 years ago.
Fethard may have only one point from their two outings, but there was enough evidence in both games to suggest they are well capable of claiming wins against St. Anne’s and Ferns St. Aidan’s in particular in the games to come.
They had an early fillip as Eddie Power finished to the net with a pull in the sixth minute, after teenage Rapps netminder Anthony Larkin made an initial double save from Bryan Power and Darren Foley.
That chance arose after Liam Ryan was blocked, and he wasn’t his normal commanding self in the first-half as the eventual winners’ goal led a charmed existence at times.
Nonetheless, the Rapps had a real ace up front in Darragh Pepper who finished with five points from play, and they eased into a 1-5 to 1-4 lead in the 17th minute when a mis-hit shot by Jack Kelly was grabbed by Alan Tobin who rattled the net.
Larkin made another good save from Bryan Power to spare Ryan’s blushes, and three points on the trot from Mark Wallace (free), Jimmy Sutton and another Wallace free saw Fethard regain their lead by the 24th minute (1-7 to 1-6).
The sides were level moving into first-half added time when the Rapps pounced again, after wing-back James Peare joined the attack but put too much weight on a handpass intended for Ryan Mahon.
However, it worked out perfectly because the ball was met first-time instead by Eamonn Furlong whose instinctive pull may have taken a deflection en route to the top corner of the net (2-8 to 1-8).
Fethard resumed full of fire as Garrett Foley and Mark Wallace picked off the first two points, with Alan Tobin replying before a couple of Wallace frees left it all to play for (1-12 to 2-9).
That Kevin Foley goal couldn’t have arrived at a better time from the Rapps’ viewpoint, and he quickly added a point from a clever short Tomás Mahon free.
Fethard closed the gap to three points courtesy of Ciarán Dwyer, and the return from injury of his brother, Mikie, for the last quarter was a huge bonus.
He hit the last of the six points that the sides shared before the finish, with two beauties from Darragh Pepper giving the Rapps a bit of breathing space.
However, they did have one big let-off in the 57th minute when Anthony Larkin fluffed his pick-up from a free and pulled into the path of Eddie Power who drove the ball over the bar with a goal on his mind.
That score made it 3-12 to 1-15 rather than 3-12 to 2-14 which would have made matters very interesting, with Fethard ultimately falling short although they remained in contention until the bitter end.
Rapparees: Anthony Larkin; Dillon Redmond, Liam Ryan, Mel Doyle; Ben Edwards, Ricky Fox, James Peare; Oran Carty, Jack Kelly; Tomás Mahon (0-4 frees), Kevin Foley (capt., 1-2), Anthony Roche; Darragh Pepper (0-5), Eamonn Furlong (1-0), Alan Tobin (1-2). Subs. - Ryan Mahon for Foley, temp. (29HT), Mahon for Doyle (37), Nick Doyle for Roche (47).
Fethard: Seán Foley; Martin Power, Rúairí Tubrid, Richard Waters; John Tubritt, Daire Barden, Joe Sutton; Garrett Foley (0-1), Graham O’Grady (capt., 0-1); Jimmy Sutton (0-1), Mark Wallace (0-9, 8 frees), Eddie Power (1-1); Bryan Power, Darren Foley (0-1), Ciarán Dwyer (0-1). Sub. - Mikie Dwyer (0-1) for D. Foley (46).
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).