Dwyer delivers the late winner
Both teams in knockouts
MIKIE DWYER may still be a Minor, but it’s already common knowledge that he’s one of the most lethal finishers in the county.
However, knowing it and doing something about it are two different things as Rathnure learned in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Saturday when the full-forward’s sparkling contribution of 2-5 from play powered Fethard to victory and a place in the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship quarter-finals from this Group B clash.
Victory was only sealed in a dramatic finish, with Rathnure first looking like they had got over the line when a long Alan Ronan free was flicked to the net by Nigel Higgins in the 58th minute.
The score was ruled out for a square ball though to leave the sides deadlocked at 2-12 each, and Dwyer was about to pounce. After Higgins was hooked with a point on the cards, the ball was moved downfield and Joe Sutton’s delivery was gathered and dispatched low to Kiall Byrne’s net by Dwyer - now being marked by Brendan Flynn after causing problems earlier for Teddy O’Connor.
The win secured a quarter-final clash against Ballyfad for Fethard, while Rathnure’s disappointment was shortlived.
Indeed, they ought to have left messages of thanks before departing the venue for its tenants, Geraldine O’Hanrahans, whose victory over Buffers Alley ensured the black and ambers also sneaked into the knockout stages on scoring difference, despite managing just one win from five games.
Such are the vagaries of the system and, though Rathnure will be rank outsiders against St. James’, it’s certainly a far better situation to be in than the no man’s land of fifth spot which would have awaited them in the event of an Alley victory.
The decisive score of the opening quarter was a seventh-minute goal for the Enniscorthy District side, with Colin Flynn feeding former county Senior captain John O’Connor for a neat finish to establish a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.
Stephen Furlong couldn’t make the most of three chances in quick succession to add a second, while Kiall Byrne denied Ricky Rowe at the other end just over a minute later.
Fethard narrowed the margin to one early in the second quarter after points from Dwyer and free-taker Mark Wallace, two of just three marksmen for the seasiders on an evening when no fewer than nine Rathnure players hit the target.
And both men were instrumental in the goal which put the reds 1-5 to 1-3 clear in the 21st minute, with Dwyer handpassing to team captain Wallace who made no mistake.
However, this provoked a very strong response from Rathnure as four points on the trot from Nigel Higgins, Colin Flynn (free), Ciarán Donnellan (line ball) and Trevor Hogan left them ahead by 1-7 to 1-5 at the break.
The opening half had been played at a pretty pedestrian pace considering what was at stake, but it livened up on the re-start as Dwyer rattled the net inside two minutes.
One ex-Senior player then replaced another for Rathnure as Colm Byrne came on for the injured Trevor Hogan, and the new arrival goaled with his first touch after good work by John O’Connor and Chris Redmond.
That score edged Rathnure 2-8 to 2-7 clear and, though the sides were level twice after that, three points without reply from free-taker Colin Flynn (two) and Jason Lawlor then moved them 2-12 to 2-9 ahead by the 49th minute.
The leaders didn’t score again though, with Garrett Foley (free), Mikie Dwyer and Mark Wallace (free) getting Fethard back to parity before that lively finish, with a goal ruled out for Rathnure before one arrived to make all the difference at the other end.
Fethard: Seán Foley; Martin Power, Rúairí Tubrid, Seán Donohoe; Michael Roche, Kevin Rowe, Richard Waters; Joe Sutton, Garrett Foley (0-2, 1 free); John Rice, Mark Wallace (capt., 1-5, 0-3 frees), Graham O’Grady; Ricky Rowe, Mikie Dwyer (2-5), Christopher Molloy. Sub. - Damien Browne for Rice (49).
Rathnure: Kiall Byrne; Eoin Byrne, Teddy O’Connor (capt.), Brendan Flynn; Eoin Higgins, Mick O’Leary, Alan Ronan (0-1 free); Chris Redmond (0-1), Stephen Furlong (0-1); Trevor Hogan (0-1), Nigel Higgins (0-1), Ciarán Donnellan (0-1 line ball); Jason Lawlor (0-1), John O’Connor (1-0), Colin Flynn (0-5 frees). Subs. - Colm Byrne (1-0) for Hogan, inj. (35), Anthony Westnott for Donnellan (52), Aodhán Foley for Redmond, temp. (53-55), Foley for C. Flynn, inj. (57).
Referee: John Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).