Back from the dead
Bobby Elliot inspires epic Carnew Emmets recovery
THE comeback by Carnew Emmets in this SHC clash with Arklow Rocks was the lead story in the sports section of the Wicklow and Bray People newspapers on July 8, 1988.
‘Carnew come back from death’s door’ screamed the headline with ‘Amazing late goal rush puts out Rocks’ yelling away as the subhead below.
Such was the drama of the finale of this game the report was even give a second subhead to hammer home the excitement: ‘In what must rank as one of the most dramatic finishes in years, Carnew came back from the dead to pip old rivals Arklow Rocks by two points – 3-7 to 3-5,’ it read.
The report tells of a game that saw Arklow Rocks seemingly coasting to an easy victory over Carnew, leading 3-5 to 0-6 with two minutes of normal time remaining but with the likelihood of a reasonable amount of injury time to be played by referee Christy Byrne due to a number of stoppages in the second half.
Carnew’s Bobby Elliot is credited with starting the revival after he was switched from corner-forward to full-forward.
‘Bobby Elliot started the comeback when he moved from the corner to full-forward and rounded the defence for a goal that at the time looked no more than a face-saver for Carnew.
‘Paudge Cullen sent over a point in the 30th minute and two minutes later Elliot broke the ball down for Co. Minor Vinnie Munroe to slam home another goal.
The puck-out was returned and Elliot was on hand to bat the hopping ball to the net.
‘A shattered Rocks had time for just one last attack. They won a free 35 metres out and had to go for goal but Pat Doyle saved and cleared as the full-time whistle sounded.
‘That Carnew timebomb went off without any warning. Up to that point a fairly inept attack were making no impression on what looked a very sound Rocks defence.
‘This was a highly entertaining game right through even if the hurling standard was not great. Rocks, with the wind behind them, led by 3-4 to 0-4 at half-time, thanks to at least one soft goal.
‘Carnew had made no use of the wind in the second half. Two points from Vinnie Munroe as against a Jack Reilly point for the Rocks was the total scoring return for 28 minutes.’ Carnew Emmets: Pat Doyle; John O’Sullivan, Batt Kenny, Jim Doran; David Quinn, Denis Kilbride, Jimmy McGinn; Paudge Cullen (0-1), Ger Murphy; Eddie Brennan, Paddy Doyle (0-1), Vinnie Munroe (1-2), J. Hennessy, Bobby Elliot (2-1). Subs: Jim Cush, Tom Sullivan, W Behan.
Arklow Rocks: Jim Byrne; Martin Barnes, Pat Monaghan, Charlie Monaghan; Pat O’Connor, John Sunderland, Peadar Keogh; Paul Mellon, Mick Byrne (0-1); Danny Curran (1-0), Joe Gilbert (0-1), Jack O’Reilly (1-2); Colm Boucher (0-1), Ciaran Mellon (1-0), Pat Corr.