Holders dethroned by O’Connor’s goal

R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 1-11 ADAMSTOWN 1-7 A POWERFUL second half display propelled hosts Rathgarogue-Cushinstown to the New Ross District Under-21 hurling Roinn 1 championship final on Monday of last week.

Substitute Shane O’Connor scored the vital goal in the final quarter to see his side over the line and into the title decider opposite a high-scoring Gusserane outfit.

On a perfect evening for hurling, the sides sparred in the opening exchanges. Tadhg Cody, who would go on to impress for the home side, put Rathgarogue-Cushinstown ahead, only for Tomás French to reply shortly after.

Daire Bolger ended the game as top scorer with 0-7 to his name, and he gave his club their second lead of the evening. It would prove to be the last time they were ahead until O’Connor netted their vital second-half goal.

Last year’s champions began to turn the screw. French levelled with a dead ball, Liam Stafford and Seán Barden got in on the scoring act, and French rounded out a streak of four in a row.

That left Adamstown 0-5 to 0-2 ahead. Daire Bolger pulled one back but the visitors finished the half on the front foot, with two more French dead-balls, to lead by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.

From a position of strength, Adamstown struggled after the change-around. It started ear- ly in the half. With Bryan Cody masterly at centre-back, Peter Asple running midfield and Bolger knocking over the scores, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown pulled within one.

However, an Adamstown side, indebted to the strong showing of James Furlong at centre-back, got a reprieve when Harry Cosgrave netted to halt the tide. The goal would prove to be his side’s only score of the half and it gave them a 1-7 to 0-6 lead at the time.

Adamstown had plenty of chances as the half wore on but wasted them. Tadhg Cody popped over a couple of minors and Bolger also pointed, but it was the O’Connor goal that gave Rathgarogue-Cushinstown a lead they would hold until the end.

Now 1-9 to 1-7 ahead, the visitors made the game safe with late points.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Ian Kennedy, Ricky McGrath, Liam O’Shea; Patrick Murphy, Brian Cody, Aaron Ryan; Peter Asple (0-1), Tadhg Cody (0-3); John O’Keeffe, Barry Murphy, Eric Cummins; Daire Bolger (0-7 frees), John James Carroll, Shane Delaney. Sub. - Shane O’Connor (1-0) for O’Keeffe.

Adamstown: Paudge Kavanagh; J.P. Furlong, Johnny Connors, James Furlong; Mosey Delaney, Paudie Barden, Michael Boland; Tomás French (0-5 frees), Stephen English; Andrew French, Liam Stafford (0-1), Jack Curtis; Michael Foley, Seán Barden (0-1), Harry Cosgrave (1-0). Sub. - Donal Cosgrave for A. French.

Referee: Fintan Whyte (St. James’).