Rathvilly get back to winning ways
Eric Molloy scored a penalty in Rathvilly's win over Clonmore Photo: Tom Nolan
Rathvilly atoned for last week’s defeat to Palatine when they ran out narrow group 2 round 2 winners of this senior football championship encounter at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
Clonmore hit the front in the opening jousts when Aaron Kelly rifled to the Rathvilly net from close range. As expected Rathvilly hit back with a Kevin Murphy free but they were making hard work of it trying to break down a resilient Clonmore defence.
The points came but they were far from free-flowing. In addition to Murphy’s free, on target for the eventual winners in that opening half were Brendan Murphy, Brandon Kelly, Darragh Murphy, Liam Gavin. Eric Molloy converted a 23rd minute penalty after Darragh Murphy drew the foul when he was pushed in the back. Clonmore’s points came from Rob Bulmer and Rory Maguire.
Oisin Doyle opened the second half scoring with a Clonmore 14 metre free. From the kick-out Rathvilly broke down field and Brandon Kelly settled for a point.
The second half saw Rathvilly up the ante and increase the intensity of the exchanges. Clonmore may lack the experience at this level but they stayed manfully to the job in hand. Kevin Murphy slotted a free and a point from play which should have been a statement of intent from the eventual winners. They didn’t build on it.
When Oisin Doyle scored a Clonmore point there was only three in it. On 51 minutes Clonmore lost Tom Pollard to a black card which gave the outsiders a mountain to climb. Padhraig Bolger’s three late points was the insurance for Rathvilly. Clonmore fought manfully to the end and were rewarded with a Luke Connolly goal and a Billy Lawlor point.
In the end Rathvilly’s experience saw them atone for last week’s defeat to Palatine but those late lapses will surely be a worry for them.
E Molloy 1-0 (pen), K Murphy 0-4 (3fs), P Bolger 0-3, L Gavin (f), C Doyle, B Murphy, D Murphy, B Kelly 0-1 each
L Connolly, A Kelly 1-0 each, O Doyle 0-3 (1f), R Bulmer 0-2, R Maguire, B Lawlor 0-1 each
Robbie Molloy; Colin Byrne, Eric Molloy, Paraic Deering; Padhraig Bolger, Josh Moore, Dara Curran; Brendan Murphy, Adam Burgess; Brandon Kelly, Liam Gavin, Jake Elliott; Kevin Murphy, Darragh Murphy, Conor Doyle. Subs: Ryan Sibbald for Elliott (43), Conor O’Neill for D Murphy (51), Robbie Ryan for Burgess (51).
Jordan Kane; Cormac Connolly, Anthony Kealy McDonald, Rory Maguire; David Mulvany, Billy Lawlor, Shane Murphy; Enda McGrath, Luke Connolly; Rob Bulmer, Eoin Connolly, Paddy Gahan; Jake Hickey, Oisin Doyle, Aaron Kelly. Subs: Tom Pollard for Kelly (35), Anthony Byrne for Mulvany (58).
William Fanning (Ballon).
