Rathnew edge out Dunlavin
RATHNEW 1-12 DUNLAVIN 1-11 RATHNEW edged Dunlavin in an action packed D’Arcy Sand Intermediate football championship Group 2 game in Joule Park, Aughrim on Sunday afternoon.
The village withstood a late fightback from the western men as a six-point lead midway through the second half was whittled down to the minimum but held on to record a crucial victory.
Dunlavin will no doubt be hugely disappointed and a spurned two good goal chances near the end that might have gotten them over the line but in reality is was the periods before and after half time which cost them as Rathnew dominated and built up a nice lead.
Dunlavin should take heart in how they fought back though and on another day they may convert those chances and come away with a different outcome.
It was a fast paced game throughout with some great scores and good passing and movement. Dunlavin seemed to a have the slightly faster team up front but the likes of Philly Murphy, Edward Doyle and Jordan Graham were brilliant for the village men and instrumental to the victory. Rathnew’s backs were tenacious for most of the game and it wasn’t until late on that the likes of Fionn Deegan and James Walsh got in behind them but unfortunately for Dunlavin this came a little too late.
Edward Doyle’s goal in the 45th minute ultimately proved to be the difference and the veteran Rathnew player was a real thorn in the sight of Thomas Whelan throughout and kicked some brilliant points.
The game started at a million miles an hour as the sides went score for score. Three time’s Dunlavin took the lead but each time Rathnew pegged them back. Aaron Phelan was very prominent catching kick outs clean and making surging run’s through the middle, one of which yielded the opening score as James Walsh converted a close in free.
Philly Murphy opened Rathnew’s account after good work from Stuart Murphy and Andrew O’Brien and the Rathnew captain had a fine game as every time the ball left his boot it usually found a red and green jersey or else sailed over the black spot.
Danny Staunton also had a good game for Rathnew and his point epitomised their effort as he disposed the Dunlavin man on his own 45 before getting on the end of the following attack to leave the sides locked at 3 points a piece.
An injury to Rathnew full back James Manley stalled what was a frantic opening but thankfully he was okay to leave the pitch on his own accord and Edward Doyle got them back on track as he swivelled and scored a sweet point on the stand side.
James Walsh kept Dunlavin in it from dead balls and the sides were separated by the minimum entering first half stoppage time but Philly had the final say of the half as he landed two exquisite scores to
widen Rathnew’s lead. The first he curled over from 40 yards having been under severe pressure from marker Eoin Murtagh before he arced another long range one in with the outside of his right boot.
Dunlavin needed to come out fighting in the second half but it was Rathnew who upped the intensity and seemed sharper to the breaks and the dirty balls. They were getting a strangle hold around the middle with the likes of Gary Byrne at centre back and Jonah Graham at midfield really showing well.
Ronan Byrne added a good score from a free before Edward Doyle came up with the crucial goal that made the difference in the end.
Stuart and Philly Murphy were involved in the build up to release Doyle who finished low and hard leaving Tom McGuirk with little chance and Dunlavin with a mountain to climb and only 15 minutes to scale it.
To their credit Dunlavin battled on and 3 minutes later they scored a goal to cancel Doyle’s major with plenty of time on the clock. Tom Harney emptied the bench and the substitutes rewarded him as Barry Miley was heavily involved in the build-up where the ball found its way to Marty Caplis and the forward hit an absolute screamer in off the crossbar from 15 yards.
Miley was again instrumental in setting up James Walsh as he closed the gap further and then Caplis was millimetres away from landing his second goal and giving Dunlavin the lead as his speculative looped shot across goal deceived Dillon Keogh only to bounce out off the post.
That seemed to be their chance gone but the hugely energetic Fionn Deegan had other ideas and burst clear of the Rathnew full back with a surging run.
With 10 yards between him and the net he pulled the trigger but his shot lacked conviction as Rathnew substitute Jason Devlin put his body on the line and blocked the shot.
Edward Doyle hit over a free before Stuart Murphy was shown the line for a second yellow having swung wildly trying to tackle Daniel Dawson, who had a very good game, but Dunlavin didn’t have much time to take advantage and although James Walsh added two points they couldn’t quite claw back the deficit as Rathnew rumble on.
SCORERS: Rathnew: Edward Doyle 1-4 (0-1 free), Philly Murphy 0-4, Jordan Graham 0-2, Danny Staunton 0-1, Johnny Byrne 0-1. Dunlavin: James Walsh 0-7 (0-5 frees), Shane Carty 0-3, Marty Caplis 1-0, Alan O’Sullivan 0-1.
RATHNEW: Dillon Keogh, Ross Quinn, James Manley, Patrick Connors, Andrew O’Brien, Gary Byrne, Stuart Murphy, Jonah Graham, Edward Doyle, Philly Murphy, Danny Staunton, Séamus Cosgrove, Jordan Graham, Ronan Doyle. Subs: Jay Dolan for James Manley (14 mins), Jason Devlin for Andy O’Brien (Black card, 36 mins), Johnny Byrne for Ronan Doyle (49 mins), James Manley for Jay Dolan (Black card, 49 mins). DUNLAVIN: Tom McGuirk, Thomas Whelan, Thomas Kelly, Louis Caplis, Daryl Huntley, Eoin Murtagh, Daniel Dawson, Aaron Phelan, Paul Murtagh, Brian Nolan, Enda Bowes, Fionn Deegan, Shane Carty, Thomas Davies, James Walsh. Subs: Alan O’Sullivan for Enda Bowes (30+1 mins), James Sinnott for Enda Bowes (half time), Marty Caplis for Thomas Davies (44 mins), Barry Miley for Daryl Huntley (48 mins).