Rathvilly found what they needed at the right time.
Rathvilly 2-10, Palatine 0-11
By Stephen Bambrick
Like the only other Carlow SFC Final (2004 replay) played on a Saturday, it was the men from Rathvilly who emerged victorious, with county title number 10 deservedly captured. Kevin Murphy’s clinically taken brace of goals in a Man of the Match performance, with his second in particular in the game’s 40th minute following Conor Doyle’s lung-bursting break from his own half, was a seismic moment. The lead changed hands for the sixth and final time after the sides had been level on no less than seven occasions, burying the pain of previous semi-final loss at last.
Replays are replays for a reason: the first 60+ minutes had not separated the sides. The opening 11 minutes here, being end-to-end, had that very same scenario, the sides level on points 1 with Shane O’Neill and Murphy frees (Ciaran Moran and Eric Molloy fouled), 2 through Bryan McMahon and another Murphy free (Jack Deacy handling on the ground), 3 both from trademark O’Neill and Brendan Murphy (at 14 for a while) scores, and 4 via Conor Doyle before Craig Kearney hit a 55m free short but carelessly knocked out for a 45 by Rathvilly, the punishment leveling for 0-4 to 0-4.
Tit-for-tat so far, something needed to give. Who’d blink first? The 16th minute saw a Liam Gavin free drop short, the breaking ball not cleared to Palatine’s satisfaction. Ed Finnegan got the interception, and with the form of both Eric Molloy and Kevin Murphy this year, the punishment was the ultimate: Murphy gave Kearney no chance. 1-4 to 0-4.
Pal’s next couple of attacks yielded frees with both missing the target, the concession of the goal having an effect possibly. But one of their own could and should have come: Crowley fouled when through on goal, advantage coming, Rathvilly just about not turning the free into a penalty, Deacy not getting it over the line thanks to Colin Byrne. O’Neill’s free was some consolation, making it 1-4 to 0-5 on 21 minutes.
The scoreboard now slowed considerably, but James Foley had written work to do. JJ Smith for something said, Josh Egan and Padraic Deering for some coming together.
The next sight of goal was Liam Gavin’s free tailing off last minute. No such problem for Kearney’s second of the night, back to the minimum. Soon we were back to where we started, level pegging, and what a score to tie things up: a trademark jinking run by Crowley with a lot to do to level on 29 minutes. Finbarr Kavanagh did intercept a Rathvilly attack, but his options were limited, the halftime whistle sounding soon after, 1-4 to 0-7.
Crowley started the new half with a run from his own 45, his on-a-plate offload letting Jamie Kenny secure the lead once more. Not for long, with Kevin Murphy’s sweet strike keeping his percentage rate sky high, 1-5 to 0-8 in the 32nd minute.
Barry John Molloy used all his experience to get a strong hand in to prevent Kenny setting clear in the 33rd minute. Kevin Murphy, with another free (brought up for protesting), complemented the turnover, but McMahon would level proceedings for the last time, converting his own foul, 1-6 to 0-9 in the 35th minute.
Where Kenny didn’t slip the Rathvilly cover minutes previously, Brandon Cassidy just about did, his punched point with the angle tightening getting the lead back for Palatine in the 37th minute. Almost a score-a-minute second half so far.
The legendary late Martin Dermody once said in a county final commentary, “It’s a nervy job now Leo (Hughes).” The happenings of the 40th minute saw nerves of steel displayed. Palatine’s attack broke up deep on the Rathvilly 45 by Conor Doyle. With his undoubted pace allied to a head start, the only question was: could he/would he go alone or draw cover to put Kevin Murphy in? The latter the answer, the finish the finest. 2-6 to 0-10 (meaning Rathvilly’s last four title wins saw them scoring two goals in the final).
If the first goal hadn’t rattled Palatine, then the second had. Wides by Moran and Crowley in their next attacks suggested maybe Rathvilly were breaking for home as the shots Pal were getting away were under the utmost pressure.
With room at a premium on the pitch, the sideline was likewise, with Paud and JJ having a good old set-to, over as quick as it started (credit to both parties who, with time just up, let bygones be bygones, shook hands, the way it should be). A Josh Moore block on O’Neill, while not a score, reinforced Rathvilly’s reluctance to let this lead slip. Eric Molloy coolly popped over an actual score in the 45th minute. Three more wides would follow from successive Palatine attacks, leaving the scoreline 2-7 to 0-10 in the 47th minute.
The previously mentioned 2004 Rathvilly win had JJ Smith and Kevin Byrne playing, with Ed Finnegan picking up his first SFC medal as a sub. Twenty years on and his workhorse reputation is a given. His 51st minute point, from all his own work, was an added bonus, making it 2-8 to 0-10.
We had to wait until minute 57 for McMahon to get his third, the gap now down to three. However, this would be the last score the Bennekerry men would have. McMahon’s free was just off target, sub Tom Sheehan having one drop short also before the three additional minutes were announced. The first saw fellow sub for Rathvilly Adam Burgess let Molloy find Kevin Murphy to point. The incumbent MOTM brought his tally to 2-6 in minute two, following captain Moore’s drawing of a tap-over free.
Palatine were now down to 14 with Stephen Reilly seeing red, with Molloy getting a yellow just prior to James Foley’s final whistle.
This win completing the championship double with the Junior B, and treble if you throw in last Thursday’s Minor Div1 B win.
Robbie Molloy, Colin Byrne, Dara Curran, Barry John Molloy, Padraic Deering, Josh Moore (Captain), Padraig Bolger, Brendan Murphy (0-1), Eric Molloy (0-1), Brandon Kelly, Conor Doyle (0-1), Ed Finnegan (0-1), Brian Smith, Kevin Murphy (2-6, 0-3f), Liam Gavin.
Subs: Darragh Murphy for Bolger (Halftime), Adam Burgess for Brian Smith (41 mins), Jake Elliott for Liam Gavin (48 mins), Robbie Ryan for Deering (53 mins).
Craig Kearney (0-2, 0-1 45m, 0-1f), Conor O’Doherty, Cian Cashman, Jack Deacy, Stephen Reilly, Ciaran Moran (Captain), Cillian Duff, Finbarr Kavanagh, Jason Kane, Josh Egan, Shane O’Neill (0-3, 0-2f), Bryan McMahon (0-3, 0-1f), Jamie Kenny (0-1), Conor Crowley (0-1), Brandon Cassidy (0-1).
Subs: Gavin Healy for Duff (Halftime), Andrew Kehoe for Cassidy (41 mins), Tom Sheehan for O’Neill (53 mins), James Cranny for O’Doherty (57 mins).
James Foley (Kilbride)
