Firepower lacking as Rathkenny bow out

Wolfe Tones 0-10 Rathkenny 0-7

WITH a preliminary quarter-final spot up for grabs, this SFC local derby clash proved a dour affair at Castletown on Friday evening.

The Tones registered their expected win, but it was a laboured one, with the fare on offer bottom-drawer stuff throughout.

Tones were again without Thomas O’Reilly and Daniel O’Neill, while Rathkenny hopes suffered with the absence of talisman Caolach Halligan who picked up a serious knee injury in the outing against Moynalvey.

Being minus score-getter Halligan was reflected in Rathkenny’s final tally, with Jack Gore their only forward to score, and all of his four points came from placed balls.

Tones were marginally better throughout and were never headed at any stage. They led 0-3 to 0-2 at the break and looked to be heading for a clear-cut victory when stretching their advantage to four points within six minutes of the restart.

Their lead came under pressure in the third quarter, but Rathkenny didn’t have the ammunition to cause a shock and Tones shook themselves up in the latter stages to clinch victory.

Saran O Fionnagáin and Alan Callaghan pointed Tones ahead in the opening quarter and it was 18 minutes before Rathkenny troubled the scoreboard operator, with Brian Meade pointing.

Rathkenny’s remaining score of the half was a Jack Gore free, while Eanna O’Kelly Lynch fisted over for Tony Kearney’s side.

Tones restarted with points from O Fionnagáin, Padraig Diamond and Cian Ward (free). Jack Thompson had Rathkenny’s opening point of the second half, while the only other score in the third quarter was a long-range effort from Fiachra Ward.

However, Tones were playing well short of their best and Rathkenny reeled off three successive points from Jack Gore frees to leave one between the teams.

Eanna O’Kelly Lynch lifted the pressure with his second point on 54 minutes and Stephen Sheppard and Fiachra Ward (free) added further scores. Rathkenny’s only response was a point from Brian Meade.

WOLFE TONES: David Nolan; Stephen Sheppard 0-1, Shane Glynn, Conor Sheppard; Eanna O’Kelly Lynch 0-2, Eoghan Harrington, Eanna Harrington; Stephen Corrigan, Cian O’Neill; Alan Callaghan 0-1, Cian Ward 0-1f, Niall O’Reilly; Padraig Diamond 0-1, Saran O Fionnagáin 0-2, Fiachra Ward 0-2 (1f). Subs: Mark Coleman for C Ward, Gary McFadden for Coleman.

RATHKENNY: Colin Curtis; Mark Byrne, Ross Gore, Niall Brannigan; Jack Thompson 0-1, Donal Keogan, Christy Meade; Robert Garry, Brian Meade 0-2; Thomas McGuinness, Jack Gore 0-4fs, Ivan Lenehan; Brian Lenehan, James Macken, Owen Elliott. Subs: Evan Crosbie for B Lenehan, Donal Curtis for Elliott, Stephen Crosbie for Thompson.

REF: Patrick Coyle (Curraha)