Rockwell’s Rally Falls Just Short
Mullinahone 2- 5 Rockwell Rovers 1 – 5
When Rockwell Rovers and Mullinahone lined up in Fethard on Saturday evening for this county under 21B football final patrons expected an exciting game. Both sides had rather narrow wins in their respective semi-finals. Rockwell had defended well to overcome Newport while the Mullinahone attack had functioned sweetly to overcome Upperchurch. By a strange coincidence the very first county under 21B football championship in 1987 had been won by Rockwell Rovers when they defeated Ardfinnan after a replay. The following year Mullinahone had overcome Loughmore to win the title. In the twenty years since neither side had won a second title.
Conditions for the final were top class. The sun shone across the pitch which was in pristine condition. A goodly crowd had gathered by the time referee John Kissane threw in the ball. John himself was to have a good game. His task was made easy by the fact that both teams concentrated on playing football and provided a fine sporting game from start to finish. The only previous GAA history between the clubs was back in 1956 when Mullinahone played New Inn in the county juvenile (then under 15) football final. Mullinahone won that game 6-6 to 0-0 but charges were levelled that they had practised the black arts of overage players. The charges were not defended and New Inn were declared champions. No fear of the black arts on Saturday night as both teams fielded relatively young sides.
The game began with Rockwell doing most of the attacking but unfortunately for them they didn’t score. Mullinahone were slow to find their feet but after four minutes their full forward Ned Tobin found Niall Cronin with a pass on the edge of the square and the young wing forward struck well into the Rockwell net. It was a great start for Mullinahone as Rockwell continued to hold the whip hand. However, the Mullinahone defence settled down quickly and Rockwell’s tendency to play cross field didn’t help their cause.
In nine minutes a Rockwell free from out the field hit the upright but as it dropped it was swept off the goal line by corner back Brian Treacy who was to have an excellent game acting as a sweeper and clearing up an amount of ball. The 11th minute brought disaster for Rockwell. A long distance free from Kevin Walzer dropped into the Rockwell square. Towering Ned Tobin rose to meet it but the ball avoided his clutching hands. Tobin’s effort confused the other jumpers and the ball dropped into an empty net. It was a devastating blow to Rockwell and lesser teams would have buckled. A minute later Sean Curran had a point when a third goal might have been on.
By now the Kickhams were finding their feet and were seven points in front. At centre field Donal Cody was catching some good ball and beginning to make an impression in the area. In 20 minutes Adrian Doheny scored the first of his points to give his side an eight point lead. Four minutes later Gavin Ryan opened Rockwell’s account with a point from a free. In 28 minutes Sean Curran caught a good ball for Mullinahone and shot a fine point. The last action of the half was Mullinahone captain and centre back Enda McEnery being booked but no further scores resulted.
Half time Mullinahone 2 – 3 Rockwell Rovers 0 – 1
Rockwell needed a good start to the second half and they got it. In the first minute Alan Moloney pointed from far out and then in the fourth minute we had another goal of the fortunate variety. Moloney dropped a high ball into the square and it bounced straight into the net. Perhaps both goalies were affected by the bright sun into their eyes. Rockwell were back in the game and were only four points adrift. After four minutes Niall O’Brien broke away for a Mullinahone point.
This helped to calm their fraying nerves. Rockwell got well on top especially at midfield where Gavin Ryan and Alan Moloney took over. The Rockwell rally continued. In six minutes centre back Eoin Barrett came upfield to point. Two minutes later Gavin Ryan pointed a free and after nine minutes Alan Moloney pointed. Rockwell had now surged to within two points. Strange to relate they were not to score again. Just like the tide the game was to take yet another turn. The Mullinahone left flank of the defence. Treacy and Shane O’Brien were now excelling and began to launch counter attacks. Both sides missed chances with Mullinahone the more culpable.
The 22nd minute brought more drama with Rockwell county minor Gavin Ryan going down with an injury. He didn’t go off but he had to be moved out of the vital mid field area. As the Rockwell tide began to ebb captain Eoin Barrett tried valiantly to rally his forces. A Rockwell free was sent wide after 24 minutes as the mentors sent on Stephen Boland and Kevin Riordan. Niall O’Brien was through and wide for Mullinahone. In the next minute Adrian Doheny pointed for Mullinahone as the siege began to lift. They were now a goal clear with three minutes to go. Only a goal would now save the West champions. It didn’t come. Referee John Kissane sounded the final whistle after 3/4 minutes of added time. The Mullinahone lads had reclaimed the title last won twenty years ago in 1988.
Final score: Mullinahone 2-5, Rockwell Rovers 1-5.
For Mullinahone it was triumph at the end of a long road. Nine years ago this team had come together as under l2’s to win the South Tipp – l2C football title. This year they have won six straight games to win the title. Three of those wins were by a narrow margin of one kick of a ball. Their strength has been their evenness and the ability of different players to rise to the occasion. On Saturday we have mentioned some heroes. At full back Joseph O’Meara defended well.
He made one crunching but fair tackle at a vital stage of the second half. Niall Mullally and Sean Quirke played their parts as did A.J. Cronin. Up front all the forwards had their moments with the likes of Doheny and Sean Curran reserving their best games for the final. Manager Sean O’Meara can be proud of his charges. Rockwell will be bitterly disappointed. They showed great heart and good football to get back into a game that seemed nearly gone before it began.
Their young full back, Brian Shanahan was a tower of strength while centre back Eoin Barrett played a captain’s part. Minor midfielders Ryan and Moloney generally controlled the area. Up front Gearoid Moloney and Barry O’Donnell tried hard while Stephen Byrne and Thomas Byrne also did likewise.
Had the Rockwell forwards the same cutting edge as Mullinahone’s it is they who would have been celebrating. After the game the cup was presented to the captain of the Mullinahone team, Enda McEnery by the Runai of the county board Timmy Floyd who congratulated both teams and the referee on what had been an exciting final.
Mullinahone: Alan Walsh, Niall Mullally, Joseph O’Meara, Brian Treacy, Sean Quirke, Enda McEnery (capt), Shane O’Brien, A.J. Cronin, Donal Cody, Kevin Walzer, Adrian Doheny, Niall Cronin, Niall O’Brien, Ned Tobin, Sean Curran.
Rockwell Rovers:James Dudley Noel Barrett Brian Shanahan Brian Riordan Thomas Byrne Eoin Barrett (capt.) Eamon Barron Gavin Ryan Alan Moloney Niall Kennedy Barry O’Donnell Stephen Byrne Eoin Byrne Gearoid Moloney Wllie Flynn Subs used Stephen Boland Kevin Riordan
Referee John Kissane (Nenagh Eire Og)
| Comments |
|
3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
