Fighting mars Taghmon win
Unruly scenes after game
TAGHMON-C’ROSS RAPPAREES 3-19 2-19 IT’S A long time since Taghmon-Camross took a major scalp in hurling, but 60 minutes of committed play helped them to blow away hot favourites Rapparees in this thrilling Greenstar Under-21 Premier championship preliminary round game at Taghmon on Tuesday.
Taghmon-Camross looked determined from the outset, with the dominant Ian Carty firing them forward from the centre-back position, while the excellent finishing of full-forward Pierce Doyle punished every indiscretion in their opponents’ defence.
Obviously the win will be a major boost for the south county side who many felt would struggle to leave their mark on the top flight.
For Rapparees, they went through valley periods, storming back into the game during different spells, but with 14 players from the 26th minute - after Ben Edwards was straight red carded following a pull on Pierce Doyle as he moved through the centre of the defence - they struggled at vital junctures. They did put in a storming finish, but the clock ran down.
Referee Jack Stafford was by no means showered with praise from the Cathedral town supporters, as one controversial decision after another against their side sent temperatures soaring.
The frustrations endured following the 60 minutes of indifferent refereeing decisions boiled over on the final whistle. Really it was a game where the referee tried to officiate from between the two ’65s, being unable to keep pace with the free-flowing nature of proceedings.
Seconds after Stafford had blown for full-time, all hell broke loose among players, supporters and mentors, as they became embroiled in a free for all lasting some five minutes. Blows were exchanged, while there was ground wrestling, and players being pulled apart before returning to the fray, in some of the wildest scenes seen at a game in the county for some time.
It left many frustrated and disturbed as the scenes escalated, before eventually the home side’s players were brought to one side of the pitch as the Rapps returned to the sanctity of the dressing-room.
Six minutes into the game the sides were deadlocked at 0-2 each, but one minute later Cillian Carty goaled having been picked out by Kevin Foley to leave his side with a 1-2 to 0-2 lead despite playing into a strong wind.
With Pierce Doyle pointing the way for the home side, they were level (0-7 to 1-4) at the end of the opening quarter.
The sides went on to exchange further goals through Stephen O’Gorman and Kevin Foley which left the locals with a 2-12 to 2-8 interval lead.
After Liam Ryan and Pierce Doyle (free) had exchanged points on the resumption, the home side stormed into a 2-17 to 2-12 lead by the end of the third quarter.
With Taghmon-Camross now playing some quality hurling, they gave themselves the cushion of a seven points lead (3-18 to 2-14) when Stephen O’Gorman goaled eleven minutes from the end.
While the Rapps responded with four Ryan Mahon points, three from frees, along with a Darragh Pepper effort to reduce the deficit to two (3-18 to 2-19), with two minutes remaining a Pierce Doyle pointed free secured a dramatic victory for the Taghmon-Camross boys.
Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; James Carroll, Adam Winters, Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Doyle, Ian Carty (0-2 frees), David O’Keeffe; Darren Carty (03), Stephen Stafford; Darren Hayden (0-1), Stephen O’Gorman (2-1), Barry Og McGrath (0-1); Stuart Murphy, Pierce Doyle (1-10, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ’65), Eoin McLoughlin (0-1).
Rapparees: Gary Murphy; Seán Cloherty, Dillon Redmond, Dan O’Brien; Conor Farrell, Ben Edwards, Ryan Hadley; Liam Ryan (0-1), Ryan Mahon (0-11, 7 frees); Leonard Connolly, Kevin Foley (1-1), Cillian Carty (1-1); Dayle Donohoe, Darragh Pepper (0-4), Pa Hore (0-1). Subs. - Ciarán Cronin for Farrell, Adam Kirwan for Hore, Nick Doyle for Donohoe.
Referee: Jack Stafford (Clongeen).