Rapps finish with flourish
Misery heaped on Harriers
RAPPAREES FAYTHE HARRIERS 1-22 1-16
RAPPAREES INFLICTED more weekend misery on Faythe Harriers in Oylegate on Sunday, although the manner wasn’t nearly as cruel or as controversial as the end of their Pettitt’s Senior championship clash less than 24 hours earlier.
This Permanent TSB Junior Group B game went in favour of last year’s runners-up thanks to the last four points in the closing six minutes, with the prolific Ed Tobin hitting three frees to bring his personal tally to eleven (four from play) before substitute Brendan Doyle added the last score.
It was exactly three months to the day since both teams had lined out in round one, and the Rapps now boast four points whereas the Harriers have yet to get off the mark.
A big moment arrived in the 48th minute when, with the Enniscorthy side ahead by 1-17 to 1-14, Harriers substitute Jack O’Leary hit the woodwork, and the exact same fate befell Con O Donnagáin from the rebound.
Whatever about it happening once, the chances of the post being struck twice in a matter of seconds by two different players are slim at the best of times, and it just about summed up a luck-less weekend for the losers.
The sides were level on six occasions in total up to and including the break when the score stood at 1-10 each.
Garry Murphy flicked home a Peter O’Sullivan delivery to edge the Rapps in front by 1-6 to 0-8 after 24 minutes, but the Harriers hit the net near half-time when Seán Banville’s dangerous ball in from the right wing went all the way past Jim O’Connor as Chris Glover put pressure on the Rapparees goalkeeper.
Central Harriers attackers Shane Howard and Con O Donnagáin looked sharp, picking off two and three points respectively from play, while Ed Tobin (0-5, 2 frees) had his eye in at the other end.
A Peter O’Sullivan shot was also well saved by Adam McDaid in the 18th minute, but the Rapps resumed on the front foot as substitute Mick Dempsey, Tobin, Anthony Peare and John Murphy gave them a 1-14 to 1-10 lead.
The Harriers settled again and were still well in the hunt when the margin was down to 1-18 to 1-16 after a Seán Banville point in the 52nd minute.
Rapparees ruled in the closing stages though, and it looks like they are intent on going one better than last year’s final loss to Gusserane.
Rapparees: Jim O’Connor; Declan Courtney, John Barron, Ronan Kirwan; Anthony Peare (0-1), Declan Ruth (capt.), Tommy Foley; Peter O’Sullivan (0-1), Anthony Murphy; John Ryan, Ed Tobin (0-11, 7 frees), John Murphy (0-2); Garry Murphy (1-2), Joe Cullen, Lee Treacy (0-2). Subs. - Brendan Doyle (0-1) for Kirwan, inj. (23), Mick Dempsey (0-1) for Ryan, inj. (HT), Anthony Russell (0-1) for A. Murphy (49), Ryan Hadley for Treacy (59).
Faythe Harriers: Adam McDaid; Nicky Murphy, Cillian Gahan, Jake Clancy; Fiach O Crualaoich (capt.), Alan Lynch, Stephen Cummins; Jack Murphy, Dean Walsh (0-1); Peter Furlong (0-1), Shane Howard (0-7, 4 frees, 1 ’65), Ryan Furlong; Seán Banville (1-1), Con O Donnagáin (0-5), Chris Glover. Subs. - Fran Cleary for Clancy, inj. (30), Jack O’Leary (0-1) for Cummins, inj. (32), David Gouldson for Glover (38).
Referee: Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien).