Murley’s point earns St Pat’s another shot
SHANE MURLEY’S late equaliser may have thrown Wicklow GAA fixtures into something of a mess but it also guaranteed the large crowd of vocal supporters in Joule Park Aughrim another hour of a fascinating battle that left us all on the edge of our seats last Sunday afternoon.
Up and down the field we went in the county grounds as these old enemies and neighbours went toe to toe in an absorbing match on a stunningly beautiful day for a championship decider.
Murley’s fisted point at the death rescued Casey O’Brien’s men from the jaws of defeat but the St Pat’s men will feel that they have learned plenty about themselves and Rathnew and will be disappointed at not driving on from a positive position at half-time.
Rathnew captain Eddie Doyle must have thought that his beautifully floated free into the Rednagh Hill end to send the Village into a late lead was the score that was going to see him lift Miley on the step of the stand despite Harry Murphy’s men producing something of an erratic performance over the course of the hour.
But Pat’s weren’t done. Where other teams from the county town might have faded, Casey O’Brien’s men believed. Off they went up the field through the hands and off the boot of Conor Ffrench. Rathnew’s weary legs had them chasing anything that moved but Pat’s were making their passes stick. Ciaran Doyle wins the break, on to the magnificent McWalter, to Ffrench, a kick to Crowe, to Duffy, to Delahunt, to Ffrench, to Murley, oh sacred heart of the divine, the full-back, look where he is, the number three. They’ve cruised through the Rathnew defence like a bejeweled dagger sliding into the heart. He’s closed down, cuts back, Peter Dignam to beat, a goal to win, a point to draw, the fist, the point, the white flag waves. We go again.
What a game. Joule Park Aughrim was awash with colour. The Rednagh Hill end section of the stand was packed with young Rathnew supporters, the bank jammed with Pat’s believers. Flags hung from fences or were waved with gusto, red and green smoke drifted into the clear blue sky ahead of the start and all around the ground you could almost taste the anticipation for the approaching battle. Could Rathnew retain the crown? Or would Casey O’Brien deliver an epic victory and bring Miley back to Dunbur Park?
Both teams broke early from the parade, Pat’s the first to split, heading directly for their dug out, Rathnew do likewise.
Noel Kinsella has ball in hand, a bid day for the Kilbride official who seemed to handle the inevitable in-game feedback with aplomb. A free against Peter Dignam in the second half for a pick up earned Kinsella and his officials the most heat during the game although it must have been the reporting of the transgression that caused the upset because it looked like a pick up all day from the press box.
Rathnew started very impressively. Favourites before the game and rightly so, they settled quickly, opening up a three-point lead within five minutes through James Stafford, Nicky Mernagh and Leighton Glynn.
Pat’s had the first attack, but Stephen Duffy’s lofted effort was plucked from the sky by Peter Dignam. Two long high balls from Rathnew were dealt with very capably by the Pat’s defence but the sun was causing havoc in the eyes of the defenders and a spilled ball was won by Rathnew and a free earned by Leighton Glynn was taken quickly by the dual star and the St Pat’s defence were completely switched off as the ball was sent into the heart of their defence. Nobody reacted, the ball bounced, and James Stafford punched over the bar when it might easily have been a goal.
The passion and hunger from the Rathnew men was evident to see early on and it was these qualities that turned the ball over and presented Nicky Mernagh with the chance to fire over their second score.
John Manley cut out a pass from Paudge McWalter and Ross O’Brien fed the ball across to the impressive JT Moorehouse who had galloped into space. Shane Murley spotted the danger early and left his station beside Leighton Glynn but Moorehouse won possession, fed the unmarked Glynn and but for the pace of Conor Ffrench to get back the white flag that was waved after Glynn split the posts might have had a different hue.
Stephen Duffy opened Pat’s account after 11 minutes from a free won by Paul Earls after a foul by Damien Power. Moments later John Crowe picked up a yellow card for a high arm on Jamie Snell and a Rathnew attack was swallowed up by an alert Pat’s defence before Stephen Duffy pointed his second free from close range to leave just one between the sides.
A pinged Stephen Duffy free in front of Tommy Kelly drew a foul on the Pat’s attacker from Paul Merrigan and it was moved forward by Noel Kinsella for dissent and Duffy did the necessary and we were all tied at 0-3 apiece.
Rathnew recovered very well from this period of Pat’s dominance and a long ball into the Pat’s heartland was won by Leighton Glynn who showed all his class to evade several defenders before dropping a bomb over Colly Byrne’s crossbar.
A Theo Smyth ball to Mark Doyle saw the full-forward earn a close-in free which Eddie Doyle stroked over and a fine point from a free from Jody Merrigan opened up a three-point lead again with 19 on the clock.
Strong running from John Crowe helped Pat’s create a scoring chance but Jonathan Delahunt fired wide, but the Pat’s faithful wouldn’t have long to wait before they got a massive boost.
Strong play around the middle saw Pat’s attack through Ciaran McGettigan who lost the ball as he went by a Rathnew defender. Possessing keen soccer skills, McGettigan dribbled the ball briefly before spotting Tommy Kelly across the square and he slipped a sweet pass across and Kelly finished to the back of Peter Dignam’s net. Game on!
Pat’s drove hard at Rathnew and an overcooked pass to Dean Healy spoiled a potential goal chance but the ball was worked to Stephen Duffy and he screwed a sweet kick over the bar to send Pat’s into a 1-4 to 0-6 lead after 22 minutes.
Pat’s were asking all sorts of questions of the Rathnew defence at this stage and Dean Healy drew a free from Ross O’Brien which Stephen Duffy pointed before Healy fired over a beauty himself after good work from Simon Bouchier and Pat’s led by three at 1-6 to 0-6.
Jody Merrigan would have the last say of the half with a fine score from a free to send Pat’s in leading by two and playing down towards the village end in the second half.
A magnificent score from Tommy Kelly pushed Pat’s out to a 1-7 to 0-7 lead but Ross O’Brien grabbed the first of his beautiful pair of points in the second half before a Jody Merrigan free from distance was helped over the bar by Dean Healy and when James Stafford fired over after great work
from substitute Warren Kavanagh things were looking very good for Harry Murphy’s men.
The game turned scrappy as tensions rose with the game there for either team to take. Tommy Kelly profited from super work from John Crowe but saw his shot come back off the upright. Rathnew attack but Mark Doyle’s shot from close range was half blocked and cleared by a dogged Pat’s defence.
A Stephen Duffy point from a free after a pick up from Peter Dignam was answered by a Mark Doyle free before Tommy Kelly made it 1-9 to 0-11 after good work from Dean Healy.
Back came Rathnew. The belief and character the Villagers showed was impressive. Ross O’Brien added his second before Eddie Doyle lofted over a stunning point for the lead and possibly the championship.
Pat’s would have another chance. Down the field they came, pass after pass. Tired Rathnew legs couldn’t catch them. On came Murley, the fisted point, the draw! Great stuff.
Key to the Pat’s win was the performance of Paudge McWalter. The former county star was exceptional as was Conor Ffrench and the St Pat’s full-back line dealt superbly with the Rathnew goal threat over the course of the hour.
Rathnew had a fine start and had capable servants in Damien Power, Ross O’Brien, JT Moorehouse and James Stafford, but it was their collective will, their never-say-die attitude that brought them to within moments of another county crown.
They will meet again on October 27 at 3pm, the day before the Wicklow champions welcome Offaly’s Rhode for their Leinster club opener.
Extra-time would have saved a lot of hassle but then we wouldn’t have another cracking battle between these two to look forward to.
Scorers – St Patrick’s: Stephen Duffy 0-6 (5f), Tommy Kelly 1-2, Dean Healy 0-1, Shane Murley 0-1.
Rathnew: Jody Merrigan 0-3 (3f), Eddie Doyle 0-2 (2f), Leighton Glynn 0-2, Ross O’Brien 0-2, James Stafford 0-2, Nicky Mernagh 0-1, Mark Doyle 0-1 (f).
Rathnew: Peter Dignam; Paul Merrigan, Damien Power, Jamie Snell; JT Moorehouse, Ross O’Brien, John Manley; James Stafford, Theo Smyth; Eddie Doyle, Jody Merrigan, Danny Staunton; Nicky Mernagh, Mark Doyle, Leighton Glynn. Subs: Graham Merrigan for Staunton (H/T), Warren Kavanagh for Manley (42), Enan Glynn for Snell (62).
St Patrick’s: Colm Byrne; Padraig Higgins, Shane Murley, Wayne Doyle; Ciaran Doyle, Conor Ffrench, Simon Bouchier; Dean Healy, Jonathan Delahunt; john Crowe, Paudge McWalter, Paul O’Brien; Stephen Duffy, Tommy Kelly, Paul Earls. Subs: Patrick O’Keane for Earls (45), J Dunne for McGettigan (57).
Referee: Noel Kinsella (Kilbride)