Wall goal decides a cracker
Gusserane gain narrow victory with second-last kick
GUSSERANE 4-8 R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 1-14 A CRACKING New Ross District Under-21 football Roinn 1 championship final wasn’t decided until the second-last kick in Gusserane on Saturday when Sam Wall crashed home his second goal from a Mark Rossiter pass to break Rathgarogue-Cushinstown’s hearts and clinch the title for the home side.
Both teams deserve tremendous credit for serving up 27 scores on a bitterly-cold evening on the cusp of December, and in truth 20 minutes of extra-time would have been no more than the visitors deserved.
And that looked the most likely scenario after Eoin Porter floated over a free off the ground with 20 seconds of normal time left to bring the teams level for the sixth time.
However, Gusserane were intent on making up for their defeat to the same opponents in the corresponding District hurling final three months ago. And when Mark Rossiter worked some space in the right corner over two minutes into added time, he had a willing accomplice in Sam Wall who cut in with menace and drove a low shot across Fionn Slattery and into the far corner of the net.
Referee Anthony Tobin called a halt to proceedings on the kickout, leaving Rathgarogue-Cushinstown with nothing to show for a first-class effort. When the disappointment abates they will reflect on the presence of so many promising young players within their ranks, and they should be quite capable of making a serious assault on the Junior championship title in 2017.
Certainly it was to their immense credit that they went toe-to-toe throughout with a Gusserane side boasting seven Senior championship medal-winners, with that figure bolstered by one since the semi-final win over Taghmon-Camross with the return of Adrian Redmond.
Gavin Sheehan was also available again after sustaining an injury in the replayed Minor final a fortnight ago, but unfortunately he only lasted 19 minutes before he was forced off.
It was clear from the start that the rampaging runs from midfield of Tadhg Cody would pose problems for the locals, and he picked out the accurate Aaron Ryan for the lead point in the third minute.
Seán O’Connor hit back from a Martin Fitzharris pass before Eric Cummins cut in from the left to a central position and restored Rathgarogue-Cushinstown’s lead with a fine piece of individual skill.
And when Eoin Porter knocked over their third with the outside of his boot, Gusserane knew they would have a fight on their hands to regain a District title last won in 2013 when they went on to add county honours.
Mark Rossiter pulled back a point from a free before the O’Rahilly’s hit the front for the first time in the 23rd minute when substitute Donal Kiely played a pass from the endline to Sam Wall who used his strength to burst in from the left and crash the ball to the net (1-2 to 0-3).
Eric Cummins and Seán O’Connor went on to swap points before Rathgarogue-Cushinstown finished the half on a high note, with further scores from Daire Bolger (free) and Tadhg Cody after a Barry Murphy pass bringing them level (0-6 to 1-3).
That momentum was carried spectacularly into the first five minutes of the second period when the District double-seekers added an impressive 1-3 without reply.
Eoin Porter fed Tadhg Cody after the throw-in and the midfielder soloed clear for the lead score after a mere 19 seconds, and Porter then nailed a free before Daire Bolger picked out Aaron Ryan who made it 0-9 to 1-3.
The kick-out after that point broke to Bolger who took off on a scorching solo run and didn’t draw breath until he had crashed the ball to the net.
Gusserane really had to show what they were made of at that stage, staring a six-point deficit in the face. The composure and experience that comes from winning that Senior crown shone through, while they also attacked the Rathgarogue-Cushinstown kick-out with a vengeance and John Roche in particular won a lot of vital possession.
Mark Rossiter steadied the ship with a pointed free before he earned a penalty after a Martin Fitzharris pass and picked himself off the ground to calmly slot the spot-kick into the corner of Fionn Slattery’s net (1-9 to 2-4).
Three minutes later Rossiter had narrowed the gap to one, but only because a difficult free on the sideline was made scoreable owing to dissent. John Roche then picked out Seán O’Connor for the leveller, and we had a serious game on our hands with 18 minutes left (2-6 to 1-9).
Barry Murphy edged Rathgarogue-Cushinstown ahead again, but Sam Wall’s effectiveness as a targetman, with the ball sticking to his chest all evening, was evident again when he laid a pass off for Rossiter to kick the equaliser.
Gusserane super-sub Oisín Foran then reprised his semi-final role by coming off the bench to kick a vital goal, with his first touch this time in the 47th minute (3-7 to 1-10).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown nearly replied immediately, but Micheál Ryan superbly turned a Bryan Cody shot onto the crossbar and Aaron Ryan had to be content with a point in the follow-up.
A very good solo point from Eric Cummins confirmed that the visitors weren’t lying down though, with John Roche catching an Eoin Porter free under his own crossbar in true Darragh O Sé fashion before Daire Bolger restored parity from a free in the 57th minute (1- 13 to 3-7).
Oisín Foran showed his worth once more with the lead point, and Aaron Ryan had his sole miss from a great chance before Eoin Porter converted a placed ball to ensure it went down to the wire.
It was left to Sam Wall to decide the destination of the last District final of the year in any grade, but this was certainly a case of leaving the best game until the very end.
Gusserane: Micheál Ryan; Donal Kinsella, Mark O’Neill, Eoin Foran; Chris Cullen, Ciarán Conway, Gavin Sheehan; John Roche, Jack Burford; Adrian Redmond, Mark Rossiter (1-4, 1-0 pen., 0-3 frees), Seán O’Connor (0-3); Martin Fitzharris, Seán Ryan (capt.), Sam Wall (2-0). Subs. - Donal Kiely for Sheehan, inj. (19), Oisín Foran (1-1) for Cullen (46).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Ricky McGrath, Bryan Cody, Ian Kennedy (capt.); Liam O’Shea, Eoin Porter (0-3, 2 frees), Paddy Murphy; Tadhg Cody (0-2), Jason Dunne; Eric Cummins (0-3), Daire Bolger (12, 0-2 frees), John O’Keeffe; Shane O’Connor, Aaron Ryan (0-3), Barry Murphy (0-1). Subs. - Shane Delaney for O’Connor (HT), Jack McGrath for Delaney (56).
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).