Rathvilly make no mistake at second time of asking
Padhraig Bolger soars to catch a high ball for Rathvilly Photo: Pat Ahern
Rathvilly were comfortable winners of this Senior Football Championship semi-final replay at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
The Wicklow border side played an attacking game full of pace as they opened up their rivals at will. Within three minutes, Brian Smith scored three points from play and as the half unwound, Conor Doyle landed a two-pointer from his first half total of five points.
Robbie Kane opened the Bagenalstown account with a free on five minutes but they were holding on grimly.
The challengers did get respite when Paddy McDonnell off-loaded to Darragh Nolan in full flow and he found the bottom right-hand corner of the net at the O’Hanrahan end of the ground. A Jack McCullagh two-pointer left only a point between them but Rathvilly finished the half strongly. Peter Burgess pointed and Doyle added his two-pointer. A Cian Doyle free for the Gaels left it 0-14 to 1-6 to Rathvilly at the break.
The second half was a procession. Smith and Doyle continued to pull the strings and slowly but surely the gap widened. The latter scored his side’s only goal as he attacked the right hand post, veered left and with the space widening he slammed the ball to the net.
It was all about playing the game out to its conclusion from there as the champions look forward to Sunday with little to worry about.
C Doyle 1-6 (1-2p), B Smith 0-5, L Gavin 0-4 (1-2pf f), E Finnegan 0-3, B Kelly 0-2, P Burgess, P Bolger 0-1 each.
D Nolan 1-0, C Doyle 0-3 (fs), R Kane 0-2 (1f), J McCullagh 0-2 (2p), S Clarke 0-1.
Harry Clarke; Dara Curran, Robbie Ryan, Paraic Deering; Padhraig Bolger, Josh Moore, Brian Smith; Conor Doyle, Adam Burgess; Peter Burgess, Brandon Kelly, Ed Finnegan; Liam Gavin, Jake Elliott, Brynn Nolan. Subs: Kevin Murphy for Nolan (40), Brendan Murphy for Burgess (43), Diarmuid Gavin for Elliott (48), Darragh Murphy for L Gavin (54), Ryan Sibbald for Finnegan (54).
Ciaran Cunningham; Thomas McDonnell, Jason Wall, Sean Wall; Niall Bolger, Niall McCullagh, Mark McDonald; Patrick McDonnell, Shane Clarke; Danny Doyle, Jamie Clarke, Darragh Nolan; Cian Doyle, Robbie Kane, Oisin Dillon. Subs: Andrew Casey for Bolger (h/t), James Farrell for C Doyle (49), Darren Crooks for D Doyle (49), Ross O’Neill for S Wall (59), Liam McDonnell for McDonnell (59).
Sean McCormack (Fighting Cocks).
