Stars have little bit extra
STARLIGHTS R-C’TOWN 1-13 0-14 (AET)
DILLON REDMOND jumped back off the bench in the second-half of extra-time to push Starlights past the stern test posed by hosts Rathgarogue-Cushinstown on Tuesday.
The speedy wing-back was re-introduced in a more attacking role with the game tied, and he proceeded to score two vital points and set up Willie Hudson for the other score to finally put the gutsy home outfit to bed.
The idiosyncrasies of the All-County Football League can throw up some fascinating ties and this Division 2 semi-final fell into that bracket. Senior champions and Junior runners-up seldom meet, and certainly not in as interesting a situation as this.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown are more talented than your average fourth tier team, while on the other side of the field Starlights started with just six of the 15 that began their last Senior championship outing against Glynn-Barntown. The ingredients were all there for a belter and these sides didn’t disappoint.
Nicky Sinnott kicked Rathgarogue-Cushinstown ahead in the opening minute but the wind-aided Starlights hit back to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. Willie Hudson netted powerfully from Tommy Foley’s pass after Eamonn Furlong started the move with an excellent mark.
The Bellefield side were ahead by 1-7 to 0-2 after James Carty popped over the crossbar but four late Rathgarogue-Cushinstown points, including scores from roving defenders Patrick Murphy and Brian O’Neill, left just four between the sides at the interval.
It was all change in the second-half, as Starlights moved 1-9 to 0-8 ahead after a closely-contested third quarter but Rathgarogue-Cushinstown started to dominate.
Sinnott got his side within one in the 51st minute but the home club didn’t equalise (1-9 to 0-12) until Eoin Porter scored his sixth point, from a ‘45, in the first minute of added time.
Porter and Pa Doyle, now playing outfield, cancelled each other with raised white flags in the firsthalf of extra-time. Redmond and Hudson put Starlights two ahead before Porter crashed a shot inches wide with five minutes to go.
A Peadar Cody point was countered by Redmond with two minutes of overtime remaining and, despite late pressure on their goal, Starlights held on to book a final place opposite Shelmaliers.
That game is down for decision in St. Patrick’s Park this coming Friday at 7.45 p.m., while the Division 1 final between Castletown and Glynn-Barntown is a provisional fixture for the same time and night in Innovate Wexford Park.
If the Wexford District side beat Cloughbawn in the hurling semi-final last night (Monday), they will meet Oulart-The Ballagh instead on Friday in the Division 1 decider in Bellefield.
Five more All-County League finals are set to be played over the weekend, with another two next Monday.
Starlights: Pa Doyle (0-1); Ronan Kirwan, Anthony Roche, Dale Galway, Dillon Redmond (0-2, 1 free), Richie Farrell (capt.), James Peare (0-1); James Carty (0-2), Eamonn Furlong; Lenny Connolly, Jason Russell, Willie Hudson (1-2); Darragh Pepper (0-3, 2 frees), Tommy Foley (0-2, 1 free), Tomás Mahon. Subs. - Tom Ryan for Connolly (36), Ryan Mahon for Carty (44), Damien Tobin for Doyle (44), Jack Doyle for Redmond (57), Pa Doyle for Ryan (61), Redmond for Russell (71).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Jonathan Kelly; Patrick Murphy (0-1), Bryan Cody, Paudie McGrath; Brian O’Neill (0-2), Robert Murphy, Ollie Bolger; Ian Kennedy, Peadar Cody (0-1); Daire Bolger, Eoin Porter (0-7, 5 frees, 1 ‘45), Tadhg Cody; Jason Dunne, Bernard Furlong (capt., 0-1), Nicky Sinnott (0-2). Subs. - Ricky McGrath for O. Bolger (37), Aaron Ryan for D. Bolger (45), Mark Carroll for T. Cody (52), Cody for Sinnott (64), Daire Bolger for Dunne (71), Patrick Barron for Ryan (76).
Referee: David Jenkins (Gusserane).