Pal were looking good late on but Rathvilly dug out a draw.
2024 Michael Lyng Motors SFC Final
Palatine 2-7, Rathvilly 1-10
By Stephen Bambrick
There was a certain air of inevitability about Palatine and Rathvilly getting to do it all over again given the close nature throughout this year’s Senior county final. Liam Gavin held his nerve at the start of additional time to point a free, giving everyone another shot at glory. The final score was 2-7 to 1-10 in a game that both clubs will feel they could do a good bit better now they have that chance.
A nervy opening saw both sides cough up possession with shots dropping short. A score or two was needed to settle things down. When the game’s first score did arrive, it seemed like time stood still as Josh Egan raced clear towards the Rathvilly goal, the lack of engagement making his mind up as he almost passed it past Robbie Molloy in the 4th minute.
It was more of the same with poor shot selection, meaning it was the 9th minute before Conor Doyle’s mark had Rathvilly up and running. Conor Crowley restored the goal advantage from a free in the 11th minute, with a Kevin Murphy placed ball dropping short. Craig Kearney and Murphy traded frees in the 15th minute.
Palatine, through the flying Conor Crowley, went 1-3 to 0-2 up in the 16th minute, the game still failing to get the blood flowing, with Palatine having had the better of the first quarter.
The second quarter belonged to Rathvilly in the scoring stakes, with frees in the 22nd and 25th minutes converted by Murphy (Elliott fouled) and Gavin (earned himself) respectively. Elliott then found the time to point following an intercepted kickout, reducing the margin to the minimum at 1-3 to 0-5 in the 26th minute.
Eric Molloy’s driving runs have been a big part of Rathvilly’s journey to this year’s county final. In the 27th minute, he gratefully accepted Ed Finnegan’s pass on the edge of the Palatine D, somehow skipping clear to bury past Kearney for what would be the half-time score of 1-5 to 1-3. The game now turned in a matter of minutes.
Possibly, half-time came at the right juncture for Palatine. Their start to the second half would suggest so, as Josh Egan and Andrew Kehoe (Crowley having carried from deep inside his own half) had it 1-5 to 1-5 just three minutes in. The Rathvilly response saw Brendan Murphy eventually hit the target after some earlier frustrations attacking wise.
The lead was restored and built on, with Murphy this time the provider for Brandon Kelly to double his side’s advantage to 1-7 to 1-5. A Molloy slip in a similar position to his earlier goal was a let-off that Palatine fed off, Moran drawing a foul for the well-marshalled Shane O’Neill to leave just the minimum in it with 43 minutes gone.
The 46th minute would offer a case of whodunnit, as in did Stephen Reilly’s shot from the 45m line get a touch off the inrushing Jack Deacy, or could the man with Cavan blood (and the most Cavan name!) claim it as Robbie Molloy’s goal was breached via the underside of the crossbar?
The Bennekerry men were not too pushed once it stood, 2-6 to 1-7 it became, with substitute Conor Lawlor thwarting Doyle’s run before Conor Doherty’s handpass was met by a Palatine hand, which could have possibly clinched the game in the 50th minute. The same minute gave us one of the scores of the day, with Conor Doyle’s lateral run under severe pressure complemented by his score, bringing it back to one. It was a nervy job now, if it wasn’t already that.
The introduction of Bryan McMahon paid dividends as he put Cian Cashman’s pass over to leave two in it once again, 2-7 to 1-8 with 57 minutes gone. Did Rathvilly have time for points? Molloy’s coolly taken point in the 59th minute answered yes. A Darragh Murphy free drifting wide was not ideal for Rathvilly in the 60th, but the pressure applied to Jack Deacy on receiving the next kickout saw an over-carrying decision go to Rathvilly.
With Palatine not retreating quickly enough, this saw Liam Gavin’s odds of scoring increase dramatically with the yards taken off his kick. The equaliser came, and both sides will be happy to get another crack at the title in next Saturday’s replay.
Palatine: Craig Kearney (0-1f), Conor O’Doherty, Cian Cashman, Jack Deacy, Stephen Reilly (1-0), Ciaran Moran (C), Cillian Duff, Finbarr Kavanagh, Jason Kane, Josh Egan (1-1), Shane O’Neill (0-1f), Brandon Cassidy, Jamie Kenny, Conor Crowley (0-2, 0-1f), Andrew Kehoe (0-1).
Subs: Bryan McMahon (0-1) for Cassidy (39 mins), Conor Lawlor for Kane (43 mins), Gavin Healy for O’Doherty (50 mins), Tom Sheehan for Reilly (58 mins).
Rathvilly: Robbie Molloy, Colin Byrne, Dara Curran, Barry John Molloy, Padraic Deering, Josh Moore (C), Eric Molloy (1-1), Brendan Murphy (0-1), Adam Burgess, Brandon Kelly (0-1), Conor Doyle (0-2, 0-1m), Ed Finnegan, Jake Elliott (0-1), Kevin Murphy (0-2f), Liam Gavin (0-2f).
Subs: Brian Smith for Burgess (46 mins), Darragh Murphy for Elliott (51 mins).
Referee: John Hickey (Fenagh)
Footnote: It was brilliant to see the children and young adults of St. Lazerians School being a big part of county final day, firstly playing their own mini-games before being part of the pre-match parade along with both participating teams and the Killeshin Pipe Band. Memories for life. Speaking of memories, the families of the Leinster SFC winning team of 1944 were celebrated during half-time on the 80th anniversary, honouring a team like no other in our county’s proud GAA history.
