Rathvilly beaten despite Gavin's heroics
Brandon Kelly reacts after a missed opportunity during Rathvilly's defeat to Portarlington Photo: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Rathvilly centre-forward, Liam Gavin, scored 1-9 including four two-point frees, but it was not enough to save the Carlow champions as Portarlington advanced to the semi-final of the Leinster Senior Football Club Championship when they eked out a win by the narrowest margins at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
The Laois champions, who were firm favourites, made the short journey across the Barrow and were quickly out of the blocks as they stretched into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead by the twelfth minute. Colm Murphy opened the scoring for Portarlington and Ronan Coffey added another point from a placed ball before Gavin converted a Rathvilly free.
The home side gave as good as they got but found it difficult against a strong Portarlington defence. Murphy scored another Portarlington point but they were relieved when Rathvilly put an excellent moved together. The ball came to Peter Burgess but he had to settle for a point as the ball cleared the crossbar. At the break, Portarlington led 1-5 to 0-6.
Rathvilly’s Conor Doyle opened the second half scoring with a free. Rioghan Murphy replied with a Portarlington point. Burgess scored his second point for Rathvilly as both sides gave their all. Classy centre-back, Robbie Pigott, advanced and stroked over a Portarlington point. It got better for the visitors and two more points from Coffey and Murphy pushed the visitors lead out to six with seven minutes to go. In the final quarter, Rathvilly’s Padhraig Bolger picked up his second yellow card.
Gavin brought his total of two-point frees to four as Rathvilly made one last effort to rescue themselves. Portarlington found a bit more when substitutes, Sean Moran and Keith Bracken both raised a white flag. With six minutes of injury time announced due to an injury to Carlow intercounty player, Colin Byrne, Rathvilly made one last effort.
Brandon Kelly picked up loose ball and from half-way he spotted Gavin who had got inside his marker. The receiver showed excellent pace and never slowing he tussled with the visiting keeper and managed to force the ball over the line.
With only a point in it now, the kick-out was vital. Portarlington made sure of securing the victory as they took possession and saw out the win in what was a game of inches.
Colm Murphy 1-6 (3fs), Ronan Coffey 0-3, Robbie Piggott, Rioghan Murphy, Sean Moran, Keith Bracken 0-1 each.
Liam Gavin 1-9 (4-2pfs f), Peter Burgess 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-1 (f).
Evan Grattan; Alex Mohan, Tom Corcoran, Cathal Bennett; Darragh Slevin, Robbie Pigott , Conor Moran; Hugo Emerson, Eoin McCann; Sean Michael Corcoran, Rioghan Murphy, Sean Byrne; Jordan Fitzpatrick, Ronan Coffey, Colm Murphy.
Subs: Hugh Connolly for R Murphy (41), Sean Moran for Byrne (52), Keith Bracken for McCann (54), Patrick O’Sullivan for Corcoran (61).
Regan Murphy; Paraic Deering, Josh Moore, Robbie Ryan; Peter Burgess, Dara Curran, Padhraig Bolger; Brendan Murphy, Conor Doyle; Adam Burgess, Liam Gavin, Colin Byrne; Brian Smith, Brynn Nolan, Brandon Kelly.
Subs: Eric Molloy for Smith (35), Ed Finnegan for A Burgess (39), Darragh Murphy for Byrne (40), Diarmuid Gavin for Nolan (55).
I Howley (Dublin).
