Coughlan's clincher lands first Nationalist Cup in 12 years for Old Leighlin
Manager Brian Lonergan is mobbed in celebration on the sideline after Old Leighlin's Senior Championship win in Carlow Photo: Pat Ahern
A point from Cathal Coughlan with the last kick of the game won Old Leighlin a first Carlow senior football final in twelve years at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
Events went as predicted in the first half as both sides played a similar style of football. Probing and testing each other, scores were hard to come by. Liam Gavin opened the scoring with a point from play and Seamus Kinsella replied in kind at the O’Hanrahan end of the ground.
There was only one real goal chance and that came in the first quarter when Rathvilly keeper, Harry Clarke, denied Mikey Bambrick.
A two-pointer from Bambrick was the highlight of the half but not far behind was Brandon Kelly’s one-two with Jake Elliott which produced a point.
At the interval the sides were tied at 0-6 each.
A James Doyle goal early in the second half put Old Leighlin four points clear. When Aaron Amond landed a two-point free, the challengers were six clear. Rathvilly launched a huge comeback effort and a brace of points from Brynn Nolan and Dara Curran with one each from Adam Burgess and a Kevin Murphy free drew the sides level.
With four minutes of injury time announced, there was time for one more attack. Old Leighlin grafted for possession and carefully playing the ball towards the left-hand side, Coughlan was on hand to pick his spot to become an Old Leighlin hero on an unforgettable day for the club.
M Bambrick 0-4 (1-2p), J Dowling 1-0, A Amond (1-2pf), C Coughlan (1f), S Kinsella (1f) 0-2 each, I Atkinson 0-1.
L Gavin 0-3, D Curran, K Murphy (1f), B Nolan, B Kelly 0-2 each, E Finnegan, A Burgess 0-1 each.
Steven Scallan; Jordan Kelly, Niall Roche, Tadhg O’Neill; Tadhg Roche, Sean Bambrick, Jamie Doyle; Ian Atkinson, David Bambrick; Aaron Amond, Mikey Bambrick, James Dowling; Cathal Coughlan, Seamus Kinsella, Darragh Fitzgerald. Subs: Sean Taylor for Dowling (53), Ruarc O’Neill for Doyle (57), Mark Brennan for D Bambrick (59).
Harry Clarke; Robbie Ryan, Dara Curran, Paraic Deering; Padhraig Bolger, Josh Moore, Brian Smith; Adam Burgess, Conor Doyle; Peter Burgess, Brandon Kelly, Ed Finnegan; Liam Gavin, Kevin Murphy, Jake Elliott. Subs: Brendan Murphy for Elliott (42), Brynn Nolan for Finnegan (42).
Jonathan Murphy (St Mullins).
