Extra-time success
R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 3-6 KILRUSH 1-9 (AET)
EXTRA-TIME was needed to separate Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Kilrush in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘B’ football championship quarter-final in Bellefield on Sunday.
After a dramatic conclusion saw the Gorey District champions force extra-time with a goal and a point in second-half stoppage time, the New Ross District runners-up rallied and found an all-important third goal to book their spot in the last four.
The less said about the opening half, the better. Somehow Rathgarogue-Cushinstown managed to hold a two-point lead at the interval (1-1 to 0-2) despite not getting their first score until the 28th minute.
Jack Quinn and John Harte were on target for Kilrush before Neil Merrigan pointed and Eoin Burke found the bottom corner on the stroke of half-time.
Thankfully, the second-half had a lot more life in it. Kilrush outscored their opponents four to one in the 25 minutes after the re-start.
A Stephen Ryan treble and a Kevin Kenny point pushed them into the lead (0-6 to 1-2) before a dramatic closing five minutes.
It started with points by Chris Kent and Brendan Fitzpatrick before the latter found the net in the 59th minute.
With four between the sides (2-4 to 0-6), Kilrush look buried. But another point, before a questionable Kevin Kenny spot-kick in the 64th minute, pushed the game into a very unlikely period of extra-time.
Jack Murphy’s goal was the crucial moment of the 20 extra minutes. He punched in when Fitzpatrick’s shot was fumbled and Kilrush could only answer with points from Ryan and Kevin Kenny.
Further Rathgarogue-Cushinstown points through Ian Kennedy and Paddy Barron sealed their three-point victory.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Seamus Burke; Colm Murphy, Francis O’Brien, John O’Keeffe; Eoghan Whelan, Paudie McGrath, Chris Kent (0-1); Ian Kennedy (0-1), Martin Carroll; Eoin Burke (1-1), Paddy Barron (0-1), Neil Merrigan (0-1); James Whelan, James Bolger, Liam O’Shea. Subs. - Brendan Fitzpatrick (1-1, 0-1 free) for Bolger (31), Jack Murphy (1-0) for Whelan (44), Liam Roche for Merrigan (53), John Bolger for Carroll (64).
Kilrush: Alan Owens; Pádraig O’Rourke, Tomás Kenny, Raymond Lancaster; Darragh O’Connor, Paul Browne, Tom Hayden; Jim Sharry, Jamie Quinn; Jack Quinn (0-1), Stephen Ryan (0-4, 3 frees), Martin Hayden; John Harte (0-1), Frank Boggan (capt.), Ciarán Lancaster. Subs. - Kevin Kenny (1-3, 0-3 frees, 1-0 pen.) for C. Lancaster (31), Eoin Murphy for O’Rourke (31), Eoin Carton for R. Lancaster (36), Ciarán Lancaster for Harte (75).
Referee: Colm O’Flaherty (St. Michael’s, Cork).