Rathnew win Minor ‘A’ after thrilling battle
TWO excellent football teams produced a stunning game of football when Rathnew and Baltinglass collided in the Minor ‘A’ county final in Aughrim last Sunday afternoon.
In the end the pure class of Eoin Doyle and Sean Coffey was probably the difference between these two sides following in a scintillating battle that produced eight goals and some truly wonderful scores and passages of play over the course of the 60 minutes.
Rightfully there were joyous scenes among the Village players, mentors and supporters at the winning of their first Minor ‘A’ crown since 1990 and what made it all the sweeter was the fact that for a brief period they had come close to losing it after Baltinglass pushed three ahead early in the second half after Rathnew had wrenched open a 3-2 to 0-0 lead after nine minutes following a devastating start for Alan Clarke’s side.
Eight goals will suggest that defensively both teams have questions to answer but in terms of attacking football and leaving nothing on the field of play then these two sides delivered a stunning clash for those supporters who made the trip to Aughrim.
A mixed bag of results in the league stages of this championship made predicting the outcome of this encounter very difficult but there was a quiet confidence emanating from the Rathnew camp that they would have what it takes on the day to get past their arch rivals from the west.
After taking a few moments to settle they looked like a football team on fire. Ross Quinn off his left from play opened up the scoring after two Jack Hanlon misses at the other end and then a wicked exchange between Toby Curran and full-forward Eoin Doyle saw the full-forward hoist over a bomb with four gone.
Baltinglass had no answer at this stage and Rathnew were going for the jugular. A foul on Reece Doyle by the excellent Jordan Etukodh left referee Kieron
Kenny with no choice other than to spread the arms and Eoin Doyle dispatched the spot kick with pure venom to the bottom corner, 1-2 to 0-0. Where would this stop?
A poor kick-out to a crowded area resulted in Ben Free firing home past Robert Brien and then Toby Curran rampaged through the Baltinglass defence but looked to have lost his chance when the ball slipped from his grasp but he pounced on the breaking ball and walloped it smack bang into the top corner of the Baltinglass net to end an electrified five-minute spell that left the Baltinglass players and supporters stunned.
lan Clarke’s men fired their first wide immediately after this and Baltinglass gathered their thoughts. Jack Hanlon was moved out from goal and he won a free from the tight-marking Fionn O’Sullivan and pointed their opener after 10 before Jamie Furlong added a second moments later and the rot looked to have been stopped temporarily at least.
Baltinglass were starting to break even around the middle third with Arun Daly Danne and Sean Coffey battling ferociously under the high ball.
The lads from the west won another free when Alex Glynn fouled Jamie Furlong, but they went short, lost it, won it back but a chronic ball into the corner ended what should have been a more productive move.
Rathnew were far from gone away at this stage and Toby Curran might have made more of a chance when fed by the sublime Eoin Doyle who was causing Jason Kenny all sorts of problems. An Eoin Doyle converted free opened the lead up to 3-3 to 0-2 after 17 minutes but then Baltinglass hit back big time.
Strong running from Arun Daly Danne allowed the strong midfielder pop a sweet handpass into space for the onrushing Tom Keogh who survived two challenges before lashing home low and hard past Rathnew goalkeeper Chris Doyle for a massive dose of uplifting medicine for the Baltinglass side.
Eoin Doyle struck back for Rathnew with a fine free for a foul on Killian Clarke and Doyle was almost through on goal yet again but his shot was blocked and Baltinglass were awarded a free out.
And then the Baltinglass recovery was continued apace. A wide from Jamie Furlong was followed by a ball from Tom Keogh to Adam Keogh and the corner-forward finished superbly past Doyle to make it Rathnew 3-4, Baltinglass 2-2 with three left in the first half.
It was all Baltinglass in the closing stages, but they couldn’t make their dominance count on the scoreboard and they went in probably the happier of the two sides having looked dead and buried in the opening nine minutes.
Rathnew started the second half like demons. Jason Kenny was playing an incredibly dangerous game of marking Eoin Doyle from the front and two balls went in over his head but he managed to get back and save one while Robert Brien saved superbly from Reece Doyle moments later when Eoin Doyle had fed the corner-forward with a neat handpass having gathered behind Kenny.
In between those two chances Baltinglass had come within an inch of causing Rathnew more goal problems but Fionn O’Sullivan threw his body on the line to thwart the attack.
Within minutes the sides were level. A goal from Adam Keogh and points from Jack Kirwan and Jack Hanlon (free) had the sides at 3-4 apiece and moments later Baltinglass led by three thanks to a ripper of a goal from the excellent Tom Keogh with seven gone in
the second.
Alan Clarke sent in Rian O’Toole for Alex Glynn as he attempted to shore up his defence and he watched his men equalise five minutes later when Reece Doyle finished to the back of the Baltinglass net after receiving a ball from none other than the superb Eoin Doyle. There were calls for a square ball against Reece Doyle, but it looked as though Eoin Doyle was already in the small square when he passed to Reece Doyle who palmed home from close range.
The next 10 minutes would decide who was going to win or lose this championship and it was the Rathnew men who turned it on when required.
Eoin Doyle from play, a pure class score from Ross Quinn, a wicked point from William Moorehouse and another from Eoin Doyle pushed Rathnew four clear with 11 to go.
Baltinglass, to their credit, came with another assault on the Rathnew lines and forced a fine save from Chris Doyle, added two points from Jamie Furlong (one free) but crucially added four wides, one goal chance, and dropped one short in the closing stages.
Rathnew were missing chances of their own but they led by two at this stage, so the pressure was all on Baltinglass but the score that decided the game arrived after 33 minutes and was without a shadow of a doubt the perfect score to end a classic match.
Sean Coffey rose like a god in the middle of the field and claimed a mark.
He fed Eoin Doyle who took a hop and dropped over a pure bomb from the sideline with Jason Kenny in close proximity.
It was the stuff of dreams and a point befitting the man’s performance on the day.
The final whistle brought pure joy to the Rathnew faithful. 10 of that team are eligible to play Minor again next season according to club sources including all six starting forwards.
Alan Clarke’s side had heroes all over the field with Fionn O’Sullivan working tirelessly to try nullify the threat of Jack Hanlon, Aaron Quinn working hard, Sean Coffey enjoying a pitched battle with Arun Daly Danne and William Moorehouse putting in a fine shift.
We can’t speak highly enough of Eoin Doyle or his attacking comrades. They were inspirational at times.
Baltinglass played their part in this epic encounter. Jason Kenny tried so hard to curtail the huge talent that is Eoin Doyle and they will collide many more times over the next 10 years all going well.
Jordan Etukodh was very impressive while Jamie Furlong, Tom
Keogh and Adam Keogh produced some wicked scores when the chips were down.
A worthy win for the Village. The future looks bright for both clubs, and, hopefully, for the county.
Scorers - Rathnew: Eoin Doyle 1-6 (p, 2f), Ben Free 1-0, Toby Curran 1-0, Reece Doyle 1-0, Ross Quinn 0-2, William Moorehouse 0-1.
Baltinglass: Tom Keogh 2-0, Adam Keogh 2-0, Jack Hanlon 0-2 (2f), Jamie Furlong 0-3 (2f), Jack
Kirwan 0-1.
RATHNEW: Chris Doyle; Thong Tron Quoc, Aaron Quinn, Alex Glynn; Killian Clarke, Fionn O’Sullivan, Dylan Doyle; Sean Coffey, Ben Free; William Moorehouse, Toby Curran, Charlie Cruise; Ross Quinn, Eoin Doyle, Reece Doyle. Subs: Rian O’Toole for A Glynn (38)
BALTINGLASS: Robert Brien; Jordan Etukodh, Jason Kenny, Ross Frahill; Hugh O’Toole, William Brien, Darren Walsh; Arun Daly Danne, Jack Kirwan; Evan Frahill, Jack Hanlon, Niall O’Connor; Jamie Furlong, Tom Keogh, Adam Keogh.