Blackwater on the double
THE PRESSURE was well and truly on for the Blackwater boys in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Roinn 'C' county football final in St. Patrick's Park on Thursday last after they had just seen their female counterparts clinch their own title. Standing in their way was a tough Tintern team which had come through a semi-final replay earlier in the week when they beat Kilanerin convincingly.
Early on in play it became clear that this was a game that you could not take your eyes off. Both teams displayed movement, creativity and clinical finishing that was top class. Tintern rattled Blackwater early when they quickly went 1-1 up through a Colin Walshe free and a close-range Mark Flynn punched goal.
Blackwater shook themselves however and got a goal back when Tomás Murphy kicked in a low and hard delivery that was deflected into the Tintern net. Shane Cahill then slotted over a free to bring the scores level, and Craig O'Reilly put Blackwater into the lead with a point from out on the wing.
The game followed a distinct pattern for the next 15 minutes of the half where Blackwater appeared to be a far better team through general play but were in big trouble any time Tintern sent high ball into their backs from defensive clearances or longrange frees. It was in this manner that Blackwater pulled further ahead with two well-taken Shane Cahill frees and a point from hardworking centreforward Aaron Culleton, but then lost some of that lead when Tintern got another goal and a point when Evan Kiely reacted well on two occasions when long ball was sent into the forwards. Just before half-time, Aaron Culleton scored another good point for Blackwater to bring the scores to 27 to 2-2.
The second-half saw both teams with their own periods of dominance but ultimately only one used their chances effectively. The Tintern forwards impressed early in the half with their constant tackling and hassling and looked to be getting back into the game when Colin Walshe pointed to put four points between the sides.
Blackwater then began to win the defensive battle with Tomás Murphy and John O'Toole playing very well, and they used any chance that they created much better to edge away with points from Craig O'Reilly and Shane Cahill. The killer blow came in the 17th minute when Shane Cahill grabbed a rebound from the crossbar, produced a smart turn and shot into the net.
Tintern’s frustration was evident when they had a player sent-off for a late challenge.
Blackwater wrapped up proceedings in style when Craig O'Reilly beautifully came onto a breaking ball late in the game and finished with a cool soccer-style effort that any Premiership striker would be proud of.
Blackwater: Ian O'Reilly, Feidhlim Roche, Jake Nobbs, Bryan Mooney, Ben Cullen, Tomás Murphy, John O'Toole, Jack White, Shane Cahill, Craig O'Reilly, Aaron Culleton, Patrick O'Connor, Conor Byrne, Josh Culleton, Kealan Fikenscher, Don Redmond, Shane Corrigan, Adam Murphy, Aidan McDonnell, Ross Berry, Daragh Murphy, Caolan O'Reilly, Josh Lawlor, James Cullen, Jason Wallace, Cillian Wallace.
Tintern: Jacob Ferguson, Dylan Ryan, Tommy Ryan, Daniel Flynn, Michael Hennessy, Eoin Ryan, Aaron Whelan, Eoin Codd, Mark Kehoe, Evan Kiely, Colin Walshe, Joseph Astley, Jack Delahunt, Mark Flynn, Jamie Sheehan, Eric Egan, Evan Cahill, Jack Holden, Seán Maher, Adam Byrne, Lucan Werner, Filip Niewodowski, Daryl Power.