Dominant display from Villagers in second half
A continuous, steady drizzle and a healthy breeze blowing towards the village goal greeted both sides for this Arklow Bay Hotel Division 1 football league clash played in Merrymeeting on Saturday evening last, May 13.
Rathnew played the first half against the elements but began the game in whirlwind fashion. Seamus Cosgrove pointed in the first minute and one minute later the ball was in the Bray Emmets net.
A goalmouth block by goalie Stephan Carton rebounded to Stephen Byrne who booted home the only goal of the game. At this stage the home side were flying and Bray Emmets had still to leave the starting blocks. Centre-forward Marc Lennon steadied things when he pointed after four minutes.
Rathnew remained dominant around the middle with the aerial dominance of James Stafford hard to counteract. Mark Doyle pointed a Rathnew free but this was immediately responded to by Cathal McGee with a good point from play.
The Bray men began to make a little better use of the elements delivering quick early ball into the forward line. Cathal McGee pointed again, Adam Dixon added another and when Des Kelly pointed a forty-meter free off his left after 13 minutes the sides were level.
When John Kinch landed a point from a 45 three minutes later, Bray Emmets were ahead for the one and only time in the game.
By now Rathnew had moved Stephen Byrne back to sweep in front of his full-back line. The visitors were not to score again for the remainder of this half.
In addition, weather conditions got worse with heavy rain sweeping down the field. Leighton Glynn levelled scores again on 17 minutes and Edward Doyle restored the Rathnew lead with a pointed free four minutes later.
Jody Merrigan pointed from play and Nicky Mernagh, moving forward from his centre-back position put another point on the board just before the call for halftime. This left a goal between the sides, 1-6 to 0-6.
Rathnew were now turning over to play with the advantage of the elements.
The rain had ceased again but the wind appeared to have strengthened. Edward Doyle had the home side’s first point of the second half after seven minutes but Des Kelly responded for Bray with a well taken point from a free a minute later.
Rathnew took control at midfield and were not afraid to land in long balls.
Despite chalking up seven wides in this half (they had five in the first half ) the home side began to land some fine points from various angles and distances.
Nicky Mernagh came forward again after 10 minutes, Jody Merrigan on 18 minutes, an Edward Doyle pointed free a minute later, Jody Merrigan again, midfielder Theo Smith and James Stafford had Rathnew comfortably ahead by 1-13 to 0-7 by 25 minutes, John Kinch landed the Bray men’s last point from a free with two minutes left on the clock.
Rathnew finished with James Stafford topping off a fine performance for him by landing a 45 and Eddie Doyle brought his sides tally to 1-15 when he pointed just before the final whistle.
Bray Emmets just about kept pace with their opponents in the first half but the home side were very dominant when they turned over with aid of the elements for the second half. They lost Graham Merrigan to a red card midway through this half but it had no bearing on the outcome of the game.
Scorers - Rathnew: Edward Doyle 0-4, Stephan Byrne 1-0, Jody Merrigan 0-3, Nicky Mernagh 0-2, James Stafford 0-2, Layton Glynn, Mark Doyle, Theo Smith and Seamus Cosgrove 0-1 each.
Bray Emmets. Cathal McGee 0-2, Des Kelly 0-2, John Kinch 0-2, Adam Dixon and Marc Lennon -01 each
Rathnew: Peter Dignam; John Manley, Damien Power, David Jameson; Enan Glynn, Nicky Mernagh, Graham Merrigan; James Stafford, Theo Smith; Seamus Cosgrove, Jody Merrigan, Edward Doyle; Layton Glynn, Mark Doyle, Stephan Byrne. Subs: Paul Ellis for Seamus Cosgrove.
Bray Emmets: Stephan Carton; Marc Linehan, Con Benville, Philip Haughton; Ishmael Mhansa, Ben McCormack, Andrew Reynolds; John Kinch, Des Kelly; Simon Reynolds, Marc Lennon, Niall McGraynor; Tadgh Dornan, Cathal McGee, Adam Dixon. Subs. Peter Quinlan for Tadgh Dornan. Con Greene for Simon Reynolds.
Referee: John O’Brien