Brilliant Bray slay Rathnew
BRAY EMMETS RATHNEW 2-07 0-07
WELL, that was unexpected. Rathnew are out. Few predicted it beforehand but Marc Lennon’s goal in the 53rd minute when he smashed the ball past Peter Dignam turned the atheists into believers and suddenly, when we expected Rathnew to claw their way back from a three-point deficit in their own way, Bray’s lead was six, two goals, and Rathnew had left it too late.
It has blown open the Senior football championship leaving a trail of shock and awe in its wake.
Rathnew, the Kilkenny of Wicklow football, give their opposition a brief glimpse of the Promised Land and then say, “Nah, not today, we’re the kings of Wicklow and you may return to your lowly station.”
That’s how it appeared like it would play out. Bray had all of the possession, the wind, and the pep in their step in the first 15 minutes yet were level at a point apiece having kicked four wides in that time.
Two minutes later they’re behind from a beautifully taken Jody Merrigan point, who beat a couple of players to create space and a better angle to kick the ball over the bar into a strong breeze.
That’s what they do in Rathnew, they give you the chances but still end up on top.
Granted, Bray responded excellently with a goal but then wouldn’t score for another 15 minutes. A long ball was kicked into Paul Cunningham and he laid it off to the on-rushing John Henderson to give Dignam no chance. There is the glimpse until Rathnew drag Bray back down to reality.
Jody Merrigan is in the wars and wins a free that he converts. He then has a goal chance excellently saved by Paul O’Keefe. It’s all Rathnew in the final 10 minutes of the half while Bray have limited options in attack. Nicky Mernagh has gone back as a sweeper and covers the space. Bray can’t even get the ball forward to fire off a shot in anger.
Rathnew register a couple of poor wides themselves but create goal chances that send Bray defenders sprawling to get in a block. Mernagh settles for a point. The game is level, 1-01 to 0-04, with half an hour gone. There’s some injury time and Rathnew regain the lead, Eddie Doyle kicks over a free won by Stafford.
Mercifully for Bray the half-time whistle isn’t blown just yet and they attack again though still they get to midfield and are met by a wall of Rathnew players. With his teammates not making much of an inroad Michael Browne takes it upon himself to do something and kicks over a point from outside the 45 and the sides are level at half-time.
Rathnew should have been happy at the break, level and now playing with the wind into the town end.
First blood of the second half
however goes to Bray, substitute Cathal McGee kicking the ball over the bar. The sides trade a couple of wides, Eddie Doyle especially had options outside him but he took on a difficult shot and dragged it wide.
Second blood of the half goes again to Bray. Arran Murphy, giving away a few inches to most players, takes off from somewhere out the far side of Avondale to catch a Peter Dignam kick out and pass to Marc Lennon and the lead is two. Stafford reduces it to one, 38 minutes on the clock.
Cathal McGee is fouled, Niall McGraynor kicks the free. Minutes later he kicks another one. Forty five minutes on the clock, Bray lead by a goal, 1-06 to 0-06. Can they pull off the shock upset? Maybe Bray people think so but not many others would agree. Another spate of wides but Bray won’t care, valuable seconds and minutes are being eaten up.
The clock ticks into the 53rd minute and Bray break. Rathnew are caught defensively. Marc Lennon slips past a challenge and rattles the back of the net to send the doubters begging for forgiveness. This could actually happen.
Jody Merrigan gets a point back but Bray stream up the right hand wing and Shane Lohan, all the way from corner-back, joins the attack.
The umpire doesn’t need to wave his white flag, the cheer goes up from the Bray crowd and the margin is back to two goals.
Stafford moves to the edge of the square, but he’s followed by the town of Bray, and any ball that’s kicked in is kicked back as long and as hard as a Bray man can; anything to get the ball out. They succeed.
The kings are gone but they’ll be back. It’s now time for another team to sit on the throne.
Scorers – Bray Emmets: Marc Lennon 1-01; John Henderson 1-00; Niall McGraynor (3f) 0-03; Shane Lohan, Michael Browne, Cathal Magee 0-01 each.
Rathnew: Jody Merrigan (2f) 0-03; Eddie Doyle (1f), James Stafford, Leighton Glynn, Nicky Mernagh 0-01 each.
Bray Emmets: Paul O’Keefe; Shane Lohan, Adam Benson, Dáire Henderson; Eoin McCormack, Ben McCormack, Cathal Ó Dúlacháin; Rory Breslin, Niall Gaffney; Niall McGraynor, John Henderson, Arran Murphy; Paul Cunningham, Marc Lennon, Michael Browne. Subs: Cathal McGee for Michael Browne (HT); Ronan Cunningham for Ben McCormack (38 mins); Ben McCormack for Adam Benson (50 mins); Dáire Lohan for Ronan Cunningham (53 mins, BC); Mark Linehan for Niall Gaffney (60 mins, inj.); Sean O’Neill for Paul Cunningham (62 mins, inj.).
Rathnew: Peter Dignam; Paul Merrigan, Damien Power, Jamie Snell; Andrew O’Brien, Ross O’Brien, John Manley; James Stafford, Theo Smith; Graham Merrigan, Leighton Glynn, Nicky Mernagh; Jordan Graham, Mark Doyle, Jody Merrigan. Subs: Eddie Doyle for Jordan Graham (22 mins); Stephen Byrne for Mark Doyle (43 mins); Paul Ellis Graham Merrigan (48 mins); Enan Glynn for Damien Power, Warren Kavanagh for Andrew O’Brien (both 52 mins).
Referee: Damien Byrne