Rathgarogue-Cushinstown’s first victory outside the county
RATHGAROGUE-C’TOWN 1-14
MOONCOIN (KILKENNY) 1-9
THE FOOTBALLERS of Rathgarogue-Cushinstown had to work very hard in Dr. Tierney Park, Graiguenamanagh, on Sunday before eventually seeing off the stubborn challenge posed by Mooncoin of Kilkenny in the first round of the AIB Leinster Club Junior championship.
The game had been moved to this venue from Callan on Friday, but it was then delayed by 24 hours due to the heavy rainfall early Saturday morning.
Mooncoin had returned to football action recently with a 3-6 to 1-5 win away to Lisdowney in the Kilkenny league final, and it was a helpful game for them as their Intermediate championship title had been secured as far back as August 11 when Erin’s Own of Castlecomer were defeated by 2-6 to 0-4 in Nowlan Park.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, without netminder Nicky Sinnott and Jason Dunne, scorer of two goals, from their county final starting team, knew they were in for a tough test from an early stage.
Mooncoin picked off the first two points to signal their intent, before Daire Bolger settled some nerves by knocking over a free.
It remained a close contest for the remainder of the opening half, with Rathgarogue-Cushinstown going ahead by one point before a goal from their rivals reeled them in.
Big midfielder Paul Henebery was the scorer, and it left the Kilkenny men with a two-point advantage that was reduced to one by half-time (1-4 to 0-6).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown realised that wholesale improvement was required, and they did up their performance levels on the re-start as the high fielding of Daniel Martin Carroll and the constant probing of centre-forward Daire Bolger started to yield dividends.
After hitting the front by the bare minimum, Mooncoin got back on level terms once more, but a goal from corner-forward Luke O’Connor midway through the second-half proved the crucial score.
It pushed Rathgarogue-Cushinstown into a 1-9 to 1-6 lead, and they had increased the gap to four (1-12 to 1-8) with ten minutes remaining when wing-back Brian O’Neill was dismissed on a second yellow card.
This setback meant that they weren’t home and hosed just yet, but their composure in the closing stages was impressive as they outscored the opposition by two points to one.
A strong defence came to the fore in this period, while Jonathan Kelly showed his worth between the posts with a couple of fine saves.
It was an historic occasion for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, their first time to represent Wexford in a provincial football competition, and also the club’s first-ever Leinster victory.
Their sole previous attempt came 13 years ago when they lost an Intermediate hurling replay to Raharney of Westmeath in New Ross, after a draw in St. Loman’s (Mullingar).
The stakes will be raised even higher in the quarter-final on Saturday, as the last Wexford football club left standing will be hosting the Dublin representatives.
That game, against Craobh Chiaráin from Donnycarney, will go ahead in New Ross at 1.30 p.m.
Castletown made their exit to Eire Og from Carlow in the first round of the Senior competition, while Kilkenny Senior champions Mullinavat received a walkover in the Intermediate grade last weekend as our county final won’t be played until next Saturday.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Jonathan Kelly; Pádraig McGrath, Peadar Cody, Paddy Murphy (0-1); Brian O’Neill, Eoin Porter (0-1), Bryan Cody; Daniel Martin Carroll, Matthew Cody (capt.); Bernard Furlong, Daire Bolger (0-5, 2 frees), Tadhg Cody (0-1); Eric Cummins (0-2), Robert Murphy, Luke O’Connor (1-1). Subs. - Ricky McGrath for B. Cody, inj., Aaron Ryan (0-3) for P. McGrath, Paddy Barron for O’Connor, Ian Kennedy for Furlong, Neil Merrigan for Cummins.
Mooncoin: Eoin Purcell; Ciarán Walsh, Seán Wall, Niall Madden; Seán Gannon, Cormac Daly, Seamus Kearns; Ethan Ryan, Paul Henebery (1-1); Stephen Crowley (0-1), Seán Walsh (0-2), Patrick Walsh (0-1); Keith Kirwan (0-3), Alan Walsh, J.P. Purcell (0-1). Subs. used – Niall Blanchfield, Jack Ryan, Niall O’Hanlon, Niall Brophy, Cormac Fleming.
Referee: Gary Hurley (Westmeath).