Rathnure on late scoring spree
RATHNURE MONAGEER-BOOLAVOGUE 7-20 2-10 WITH 40 minutes of hurling played just four points separated the sides, but Rathnure went on a scoring spree in the closing ten minutes to demolish the challenge of Monageer-Boolavogue in this Enniscorthy District Under-21 hurling Roinn 1 championship semi-final at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Monday of last week.
Monageer-Boolavogue manager Ed Rowesome was right when he said that Pádraig Flynn was the best hurler on the pitch, but whether playing at centre-forward or centre-back he could do little to deny the closing 20-minute surge of the eventual winners who in that period outscored their opponents by 4-11 to 0-2 - quite a remarkable turnaround.
Notably through the first-half very little separated the sides. Monageer-Boolavogue got off to a bright start with opening points through Diarmuid Pender and Pádraig Flynn with two long-range frees to lead by 0-3 to nil after just five minutes.
Once Rathnure mounted an attack of note, Shane Lawlor raced through the defence to fire a low ball to the net, bringing the sides level after six minutes.
Monageer-Boolavogue went about regaining the lead and within a minute they were back in front when Patrick Walsh got his hurley to a high lobbing effort from Diarmuid Pender to deflect the ball to the net, leaving his side leading by 1-3 to 1-0.
With Ciarán O’Connor and Flynn continuing to exchange points, it was eight minutes before the break when O’Connor struck for his side’s second goal, which helped them to a 2-8 to 1-7 interval lead.
There was a real flurry of scores on the resumption with Shane Lawlor adding 1-1 within three minutes, and one minute later Flynn crashed home a fine goal for the opposition to keep them very much in the game.
Ten minutes into the second-half Rathnure were leading by 3-9 to 2-8, but the following 20 minutes saw a total transformation, as the eventual winners assumed full control.
They added further goals through Jason Lawlor, Ciarán O’Connor (two) and substitute Martin O’Connor to run out comprehensive 25-point winners in the end.
Rathnure: Liam Barron; Eoin Byrne, Denis Maher, Cathal O’Connor; Eoin Higgins, Brian Quigley, Ben Ronan; Podge Doyle (0-3), Michael Redmond (0-2); Shane Lawlor (2-4), Ciarán O’Connor (3-6, 0-5 frees), Michael Martin; Jason Lawlor (1-1), Seánie Redmond (0-2), Aodhán Foley (0-1). Subs. - Patrick Flynn (0-1) for Martin, Martin O’Connor (1-0) for J. Lawlor, Niall Dillon for Ciarán O’Connor, Thomas Furlong for Foley.
Monageer-Boolavogue: Adam Dunne; Seán O’Leary, Shay Gahan, Liam McHale; Robbie Donnelly, Graham O’Reilly, Shane Gahan; Cathal Walsh, Seán Roche; Diarmuid Pender (0-1), Pádraig Flynn (1-8, 0-7 frees), Colm McGannon; Mark Gahan (0-1), Jamie O’Brien, Patrick Walsh (1-0). Subs. - Ciarán Redmond for Shane Gahan, inj., William Murphy for O’Brien.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).