Foley’s crucial goal
Resilient Rapps remain unbeaten
RAPPAREES NAOMH EANNA 1-13 0-13 RAPPAREES BLASTED 1-7 during the opening 17 minutes which enabled them to stave off a Naomh Eanna resurgence in this hugely exciting Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship Group A game in Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday.
That fruitful spell was to prove crucial for the Cathedral town side as this was a period during which they played some splendid flowing hurling. Such was their dominance during this period that it looked as if they were about to canter to a comfortable victory, but Naomh Eanna had other ideas.
Conor McDonald, who was being well marshalled inside by Liam Ryan up to then, was given a more outfield role, and with it came the Naomh Eanna revival, as by the interval they had reduced the deficit to four points, while turning over with wind advantage on the resumption.
While they created sufficient chances to generate a result, the more experienced Rapps outfit weathered the storm to fashion a huge victory, in the process maintaining their impressive unbeaten championship record.
Once the dust settled on the throw-in, Pádraig Doyle pointed Naomh Eanna in front with a 60-metre free inside the opening minute. Gradually gathering momentum, the Rapps began to move the ball at pace, with Tomás Mahon sending over two long-range frees, while in between wing-back Ben Edwards surged forward for a fine point.
With Tommy Foley and Ryan Mahon extending the lead fol- lowing excellent play from Ricky Fox, the Rapps dominance was such that Naomh Eanna were being forced back into a defensive situation in desperate damage limitation.
After Kevin Foley and Mahon (free) followed with points, disaster struck the Gorey town side after 17 minutes.
Keeper Barry Kinsella had a short puck-out intercepted by Ricky Fox who cut through the defence before picking out Kevin Foley who first-timed a great shot direct off the ground into the roof of the net, giving his side a 1-7 to 0-1 lead.
The switch of McDonald immediately followed with the inter-county player hitting over four successive points, two from frees, to be followed by a long-range Willie Cullen effort, which reduced the deficit, leaving the Rapps leading by 1-7 to 0-6 at the interval.
Naomh Eanna did start positively on the resumption with McDonald pointing a long-range free. After Mahon and Eoin Conroy had exchanged points, McDonald followed with three more efforts, two from frees, while Mahon managed a pointed free in between to leave just one separating the sides (1-10 to 0-12) with five minute remaining.
The second-half was producing excellent hurling from both sides, but Mahon’s frees were proving crucial as he followed with two more, while in between Pádraig Doyle saw a rising shot for goal go just over the bar, and with it went the Gorey side’s last chance of victory.
Naomh Eanna will be disappointed to have lost out after such a frenetic effort, but the experience of Rapparees got them through as they never panicked under the second-half onslaught. It was an immense game of hurling and a credit to both sides.
Rapparees: Eamonn Furlong; Dillon Redmond, Kevin Courtney, Tom Wall; Ben Edwards (0-1), Liam Ryan, Jack Kelly; Conor Ronan (0-1), Ryan Mahon (0-1); Ricky Fox, Tomás Mahon (0-8 frees), Ed Tobin; James Peare, Kevin Foley (1-1), Tommy Foley (0-1). Subs. - Joe Cullen for Peare, Declan Ruth for Tobin.
Naomh Eanna: Barry Kinsella; Peter Travers, Brendan Travers, Tom Stafford; Seán Doyle, Lee Kinsella, Gary Molloy; Eoin Conroy (0-1), Kevin Harrington; William Cullen (0-1), Pádraig Doyle (0-2, 1 free), Gearóid Cullen; David O’Brien, Conor McDonald (0-9, 6 frees), Aodhán Doyle. Subs. - Conor Hughes for O’Brien, Dara McDonald for L. Kinsella, Darragh Hughes for G. Cullen.
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).