RATHGAROGUE CUSHINSTOWN DO THE COUNTY PROUD IN CROKE PARK
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown bow to Kerry
NA GAEIL (KERRY) RATHGAROGUE-C’TOWN
THE DREAM of AIB All-Ireland Club Junior football championship glory remained a live possibility for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown for more than 20 minutes in Croke Park on Saturday.
After going toe-to-toe with an accomplished Na Gaeil team from Tralee, it looked like the underdogs had settled into the tough task on hand and were going to make a real game of it.
Alas, those hopes were shattered after the concession of a cheap goal as the county and Leinster champions quickly fell in arrears by seven points.
And even though a coolly-taken penalty goal by Nicky Sinnott with the last kick of the half raised the spirits of their vocal supporters once again at the ideal time, the second period was all one-way traffic.
Having led by 1-8 to 1-4 at the break, Na Gaeil really cut loose on the re-start and added 2-12 to their tally while conceding just one point, from a Daire Bolger free at the start of the final quarter.
It was a sad way for such a magnificent campaign to end, but Kerry football is on a pedestal for a reason and it was there for everyone to see on Saturday as they were simply unstoppable when in full flow.
Any Junior club team with two county Seniors at midfield has to be a serious outfit, and it’s a measure of their overall ability that neither Diarmuid O’Connor nor Jack Barry were particularly prominent for long periods.
Indeed, O’Connor didn’t contribute anything to the 3-16 they registered from play, while Barry only raised one white flag, although one got the distinct impression that both would have been able to step up if it was really needed.
On this occasion they were happy to play supporting roles as colleagues of lesser ability really shone on their first journey to Croke Park.
After Na Gaeil captain Eoin Doody won the toss and opted to play towards the Hill 16 end, their rivals got the type of start that would have settled any nerves.
Just 47 seconds had elapsed when Daire Bolger and Bernard Furlong combined to feed Jason Dunne for the opening point with a high kick, after Na Gaeil’s Andrew Barry was stripped of the ball near midfield.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown did overcome a couple of early scares, with Nicky Sinnott clearing his lines after a handpass across goal from Diarmaid Herlihy came back off the post, although it wouldn’t have counted anyway if the ball had hit the net.
However, they had real luck on their side in the third minute when Mike Griffin fired low to the left and wide after the defence was opened up by Ian McCarthy, Diarmuid O’Connor and Dan Goggin.
Daire Bolger and Eoin O’Neill were injured in a 50-50 clash for the ball before Peadar Cody was booked for a high challenge on O’Connor, with Dara Devine converting the free for the equaliser in the seventh minute.
The Kerry side then hit the front via Mike Griffin after he played a one-two with Jack Barry, but there was a fine reply from Rathgarogue-Cushinstown after a patient move.
Eoin Porter, Daire Bolger and Robert Murphy all featured prominently before the former supplied the last pass for midfielder Daniel Martin Carroll to charge into the scoring zone and send over one of his trademark long-range points from 44 metres (0-2 each).
Dara Devine quickly restored the Na Gaeil lead, but their radars weren’t fully working at that stage as wides three and four from a first-half tally of eight followed.
A push on Jason Dunne, as he contested Bernard Furlong’s delivery, led to Daire Bolger levelling again with a tap-over free in the 17th minute.
Tadhg Cody dropped the next attempt short before a good tackle by Pádraig McGrath forced Diarmaid Herlihy over the endline when Na Gaeil threatened once again.
And Cody maintained his record of scoring in all of the 14 games in this campaign when he latched on to a Bernard Furlong pass and soloed away to just clear the crossbar in the 19th minute.
It was a rousing score, but it was the last time that Rathgarogue-Cushinstown were to experience the lead as their rivals responded with a game-changing 1-5 without reply.
Eoin Doody came forward to curl over a left-footed free before adding one from play after Nicky Sinnott’s kick-out was intercepted by Kieran O’Donovan.
Daniel Martin Carroll entered the notebook for a tackle on Jack Barry before determined diving blocks by Robert Murphy and Peadar Cody in quick succession typified the spirit within the ranks.
That can only get you so far, though, and as the half wore on it became apparent that Na Gaeil were moving with slickness and grace through the gears and they were going to be impossible to stop.
The loss of wing-back Brian O’Neill – one of the most consistent players on the team – certainly didn’t help the New Ross District men, and they fell two points behind when a dinked pass over the top by Ian McCarthy found the attack-conscious Eoin Doody who tapped over his second score from play (0-6 to 0-4).
A mere 25 seconds later it was the beginning of the end for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown. Na Gaeil’s Dara Devine gathered Nicky Sinnott’s re-start and transferred the ball quickly to Ian McCarthy who tucked it into the net, leaving the Wexford side in all sorts of bother.
They had Eric Cummins booked for a high tackle on Damien Bourke before good hassling by Tadhg Cody ensured that Kieran O’Donovan didn’t add a second goal after Diarmaid Herlihy’s handpass found him in an advanced position.
It was getting harder and harder to stem the tide all the same, and Ian McCarthy kicked a point with the outside of his boot before corner-back Ryan O’Neill fisted another almost two minutes into added time.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown were crying out for a lifeline, and it duly arrived after a menacing run from a familiar source.
A pass that was intended for Jason Dunne bounced over his head, but Tadhg Cody had read the flight of the ball and gathered it at pace before bearing down on the Na Gaeil goal.
He was fouled as he attempted to shoot, and netminder Nicky Sinnott showed no nerves after the long walk downfield as he slotted the spot kick into the bottom right corner (1-8 to 1-4).
Referee Seán Lonergan called for the ball as Timmy Culloty placed it for the kickout, and the timing was ideal for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown as they were ushered into the Hogan Stand dressing-rooms with the loud cheers of their followers still ringing in their ears.
Sadly, their shortcomings were ruthlessly exposed on the re-start, with Na Gaeil becoming the tenth Kerry club, and fifth in the past six years, to claim this particular title with a display of ruthless efficiency.
Mike Griffin, Diarmuid Herlihy and Ian McCarthy picked off early points before veteran Ollie Bolger came into the fray in place of Pádraig McGrath.
This led to the move of Bryan Cody from wing-back into the right corner, but before he had time to settle, the leaders put the issue beyond doubt with a second goal.
Jack Barry claimed a mark and fed Herlihy who was left unmarked, and McCarthy was on hand to slot home the rebound after he hit the post to leave Rathgarogue-Cushinstown chasing a 2-11 to 1-4 deficit.
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