Village win on the road
DONARD-THE GLEN 1-07 RATHNEW 0-12
RATHNEW made the long journey into the west and went home, top of the Hiltonne Engineering League after toppling Donard on Friday night.
Rathnew put in a big shift in the third quarter to take the points after a tough physical game of football where there was no love lost from last years corresponding fixture.
Jordi Graham pointed a free in the opening minute for the visitor’s. The home side registered two bad wides early on.
Harry Mangan found Des Mann from a quick free kick and the young forward split the post’s from 40m out to get the home side off the mark in the 10th minute.
Kevin Kealy was unlucky to see his effort for a point crash back out off the post after great build up play by Brian Lennon.
Rathnew’s lively corner-forward Seamus Cosgrave won possession in his own half back line and soloed through the heart of the Donard defence and dispatched the ball over the bar for an inspirational score to restore the lead.
Edward Doyle was covering a lot of ground early on as Rathnew were making more use of the ball whereas the home side were finding it harder to keep possession of the greasy ball and find their teammates.
Edward Doyle found Jordan Graham with a peach off a pass, however, the full-forward shot wide of the goal to let Donard of the hook.
Eddie Doyle pointed a free to put the visitor’s two up to close out the first quarter.
Brian Lennon won the resultant kick out and soloed 40m and split open the Rathnew defence and found big Niall Curran who rocked the Rathnew net to give the home side the lead for the first time.
In the 18th minute both side’s were reduced to 14 a side after a bit of a schmozzle near the sideline as the temperature soared, the ref had to ask a mentor to leave the playing area before restarting.
Both sides traded a couple of wides and plenty of banter also before lively Eddie Doyle levelled proceeding’s once again after the homeside turned over possession.
The homeside won a free, however a throw up was awarded for retaliation and Rathnew won possession and broke up the field where Eddie Doyle was fouled and duly pointed the free to restore the lead yet again. Conor Kelly won the ball from the kick out and found Des Mann who registered his second white flag of the evening to level the game going into added time.
Brian Lennon added a point to put the glen side up 1-03 to 0-05, as the half time whistle sounded. Within 30 seconds of the second period Jonah Graham laid the ball off to Ronan Doyle who split the post’s to level the game once again. William Rooney spilled the ball and Eddie Doyle was on hand to win possession and restore the lead with a fine point.
Kevin Kealy was fouled going through and Brian Lennon pointed the resultant free.
Harry Mangan pointed another free for the homeside after the goalie Dylan Keogh was harshly penalised for over carrying, when trying to clear the ball.
Andrew O’Brien was having a mighty game for Rathnew, breaking up good Donard play all through out the game.
William Rooney yet again spilled the ball and Seamus Cosgrave was on hand to punish with another point to close out the third quarter. Eddie Doyle drew a wonderful save out of the Donard goalie as Rathnew went for the jugular. Rathnew persisted with shooting on goal where Mark Moore was in fine form for the home side, instead of tagging on easier point options to keep the scoreboard ticking.
William Rooney had to come off with a facial injury after a heavy knock. Jordan Graham levelled the game in the 50th minute after a great penetrating run by Stuart Murphy. Seamus Cosgrave pointed moments later and only for a fine interception by Conor Kelly which denied the visitor’s a green flag for a bigger margin.
Nothing was going right for Donard as we went into the final few minutes. Another bit of a fracas followed, however a yellow to each side was the verdict. Eddie Doyle pointed a free in the 59th minute to give the visitor’s a three-point cushion.
However, back came Donard with a late rally to try and get an equalising goal. Brendan Daly was fouled and the free was moved in for dissent to the 21m line directly in front of the post’s and Brian Lennon went for the netbuster but the ball rose over the crossbar as the final whistle sounded.
Donard: Mark Moore; William Rooney, Alan Tutty, Conor Kelly; Diarmuid Daly, George Finlay, Bill Flynn; Brian Lennon, John Hanbidge; Harry Mangan, Kevin Kealy, Darren O Neill; Des Mann, Niall Curran, Ray Halloran. Subs: Rory Toomey, Brendan Daly, Ger Healy.
Rathnew: Dylan Keogh; David Jameson, James Manley, Andrew O’Brien; Philip O’Neill, Dean Franey, Ronan Manley; Stuart Murphy, Jonah Graham; Edward Doyle, Philip Murphy, Ronan Doyle; Seamus Cosgrave, Jordan Graham, Ross Quinn. Sub: Michael Nolan.