Mikey turns tide for Blesso Classy Carnew
Blues see off Rathnew
BLESSINGTON RATHNEW 0-11 1-7
BLESSINGTON took the spoils in the Dunne Cup section of the league after a hard-fought victory over Rathnew last Thursday evening.
The introduction of Mikey O’Connor late in the second half seemed to have swung the pendulum back in the home side’s favour. It was the second time in a week that Rathnew were pipped at the post, after Hollywood took the spoils against them last time out.
It was nip and tuck stuff this, with very few chances registered on the score board, with some poor shot selection in a dour opening half.
Graham Merrigan put the visitors in front with a point in the third minute after good work by Theo Smyth.
Martin Shannon registered the host’s opener, with a point in the 10th minute to level the game as both sides were increasing their wide tally. Mark Doyle fielded a high ball in from Stafford and Doyle coolly finished it over the bar to close out the opening quarter.
Patrick O’Connor levelled the game again with a point after a great run by Kevin Hanlon, but, again, full-forward Mark Doyle pulled a high ball out of the sky and slotted it over the black spot going into the closing stages of a poor half of football.
Curtis Geraghty levelled proceedings in the second minute of injury time, leaving it three points apiece, with eight wides for the Blues against Rathnew’s five.
Things surely had to liven up in the second half. And that they did. Rathnew landed three unanswered points in the opening five minutes of the restart with Theo Smyth landing a monster of a point from 55 meters out, followed by points each for Jody and Graham Merrigan after great penetrating runs by Leighton Glynn and John Manley.
Kevin Hanlon stopped the rot with a mighty point from an acute angle with 50 on the clock. Both sides were lucky to escape picking up black cards, with a couple of very tight calls.
Eoin Keogh reduced the deficit to the minimum to close out the third quarter. Mikey O’Connor was sprung from the bench and laid off to Barry Murphy who levelled the match going into the final ten minutes.
Mikey O’Connor landed three points on the bounce to turn the game back in the Blues’ favour, the third point from a free, brilliantly won by Patrick O’Connor after a great interception.
Again, a couple of chances went amiss by each side. Jody Merrigan hit over a sweet effort from a very acute angle for the visitors. Gavin Murray won the resultant kick out and found Martin Shannon with a sublime pass and Shannon rose a white flag with three minutes left.
Eoin Keogh stretched it out to four in the next attack and Blessington looked home and dry. It definitely was the longest day off the year for the Blessington faithful as normal time had elapsed and we were at the mercy of the ref’s watch now.
However, only a fool would write Rathnew off. Not for the first time (or last), James Stafford shook the net late on as we went deep into injury time to leave the game on a knife edge.
Not once, but twice Rathnew got gilt-edged chances to level the game, but took the paint off the wrong side of the upright on both occasions as the full-time whistle sounded with Blessington booking a ticket to play St. Patrick’s in the final.
– Blessington: Mikey O’Connor 0-3 (1f), Martin Shannon 0-2, Eoin Keogh 0-2,
Pat O’Connor 0-1, Curtis Geragthy 0-1, Kevin Hanlon 0-1, Barry Murphy 0-1.
Rathnew: James Stafford 1-0, Graham Merrigan 0-2, Jody Merrigan 0-2, Mark Doyle 0-2, Theo Smyth 0-1.
Scorers
Peter Manning; Aaron Curran, Wayne Callaghan, Stephen Bohan; Kevin Hanlon, Paul McLoughlin, Caolan MacGorman; Gavin Murray, Martin Shannon; Jack Cotter, Patrick O’Connor, Eoin Keogh; Conor Ryan, Curtis Gerathy, Dean Siney. Subs: Kevin John Rodgers, Barry Finan, Barry Murphy, Mikey O’Connor.
Peter Dignam; Paul Merrigan, Jamie Snell, David Jameson; Chris Healy, Ross O’Brien, John Manley; James Stafford, Theo Smyth; Eddie Doyle, Leighton Glynn, Graham Merrigan; Ronan Doyle, Mark Doyle, Jody Merrigan. Subs: Ciaran Coffey, Johnny Byrne. Blessington
Ciaran Fleming (Balt-
Blessington: Rathnew: Venue: Referee:
inglass)