Coffey has the final say

Rathnew see off St Nick’s

RATHNEW ST NICHOLAS 2-10 1-11

THIS U-20 football contest between Rathnew and St Nick’s was a slow burner.

Played at Rathnew GAA ground on Sunday afternoon last, it took a long time for Rathnew to get into the game.

The Western side played into the Village end in the first half and also had the advantage of a strong breeze.

They were moving the ball quickly and confidently and also had a couple of forwards who knew where the posts were situated.

Much of the play was being directed through full-forward Stephen Doyle who was then laying off to Paddy Kelly and Brian Nolan in particular, to pick off some excellent points.

Midfield was evenly balanced where Ciaran Coffey and Gary Hughes matched the excellent Sean Brannigan and Shane Figgis.

However, the home side made little progress in attack and their only scores of the first half came from two frees by Ciaran Coffey and Dylan Smith.

In contrast the St Nicholas forwards slowly and steadily built up eight points by half-time with Paddy Kelly getting four, Brian Nolan two and a point apiece from James Eager and Darragh Dillon.

Leading by 0-8 to 0-2, there was little to indicate a massive change in the second half.

A heavy downpour during the break left the pitch slippery for the second period.

Rathnew appeared to have turned over a complete new page for the second half. They scored three points in their first three attacks and had the margin down to three points almost before St Nicholas players had touched the ball.

Dylan Smith got another point and when a mighty long-range effort from J T Moorehouse bounced over the bar after ten minutes there was now only one point between the sides.

The Westerners appeared to have lost their way but Brian Nolan raised the siege for them when he pointed after eleven minutes. Realising that they now had a battle on their hands they began to carry the game back to Rathnew.

However, a bizarre goal after fourteen minutes put Rathnew ahead for the first time. Ciaran Coffey’s 45 struck the crossbar and rebounded off a defender’s back into the net. Jenson O’Connor added a point and now Rathnew led by two points.

St Nicholas responded immediately. Thomas Lawlor and Mark Reid levelled matters again and then St. Nicholas got a break which went some way towards balancing the Rathnew goal.

Brian Nolan broke through and shot for goal. His effort deflected off a defender’s leg past Paddy Reynolds in the goal to put the lads from the West three points to the good again.

The lead was short lived, however, as Rathnew went looking for the equaliser.

They got it a minute later when Dylan Smith got his fist to a lob into the goalmouth by Sam O’Dowd. Level again with four minutes on the clock.

However Ciaran Coffey had the final say. Firstly he landed a great point from distance which bounced over the bar. He made the game safe for the home side when he landed a great point from a 45 just before the call of time.

Few would have predicted this outcome at the half-time break but Rathnew were worthy winners in the end.

Tom McGurk in the St. Nicholas goal had a great second half saving two certain goals from Dylan Smith and Ciaran Coffey.

It may be mid November and ground conditions have changed but these two sides served up a fine game of football played in a good competitive spirit.

Scorers - Rathnew: Ciaran Coffey 1-3, Adam Doyle 0-1, Sam O’Dowd 0-2, Jenson O’Connor 0-2, Dylan Smith 1-1, J T Moorehouse 0-1.

St Nicholas: James Egan 0-1, Paddy Kelly 0-4, Brian Nolan 1-3, Darragh Dillon 0-1, Thomas Lawlor 0-1, Mark Reid 0-1.