Ó Síothcháin shines in An Rinn's fourth county intermediate success
An Rinn Players and Young Supporters celebrate their victory over Roanmore in the Co.Intermediate Hurling Final played at Walsh Park on Saturday last. Photos: Sean Byrne
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Intermediate Hurling Final
An Rinn 2-15
Roanmore 2-14
A Liam Ó Síothcháin-inspired An Rinn recovered from six points down and survived a late Roanmore rally to take home the county intermediate hurling title for the fourth time on a windswept Saturday afternoon.
The blue and gold subs and supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate with their heroes after a nail-biting finish. Just like the Western final, they won by the narrowest of margins.
The Gaeltacht men led by four entering three minutes of injury time, but a late twist was in store. Sean ‘Scorcher’ Roche made it edge-of-the-seat stuff when he whipped home his second goal on 62 minutes. A foul on Harry White, on the 45 metre line to the right of the posts, gave the Sky Blues a shot at extra time. They were shooting into a stiff breeze however. Gavin O’Brien was pacing around the stand as Josh Sheridan stood over the free. He pulled it left and wide. A let off for An Rinn. The leaders kept the sliotar at the right end of the field before referee Paddy Smith finally blew it up.
Man of the Match Liam Ó Síothcháin slotted six points from play (three in each half). From the first minute, the diminutive corner forward got out in front of his marker and popped up with crucial scores. The full forward trio tallied 2-12 between them. Goals in either half from Conaire Ó Síothcháin and Donie Breathnach proved big moments. Corner back Conor Ó Cuirrín made vital clearances in a storming second half.
Sean Roche, Sam Pender, and Emmet O’Toole excelled for Roanmore. Stephen Gough’s side could have been awarded a second-half penalty for a foul on Eamon Power. Smith signalled a free instead. A very tight call.
The Sky Blues took the field without Eastern Final Man of the Match Callum Carroll as well as experienced defender Chris Dempsey. Both of them came on as substitutes for the seniors in the win over Fourmilewater. In the second half, they felt the absence of Carroll on the frees as three flew off target in the final quarter. An Rinn boasted more options in the stand. Substitutes Oisín Ó Ceallaigh and Fearghal Ó Cuirrín both made a difference and both scored second half points.
Roanmore played with a fresh breeze in their favour towards the city goal in the first half. The goalposts were swaying in the wind! Four minutes in, Sean Roche swapped passes with Tony O'Brien and ‘Scorcher’ fired to the far corner of the net. A Josh O'Brien point made it 1-3 to 0-1 to the Sky Blues. An Rinn hit three wides at the Keane's Road End before Emmet O'Toole extended Roanmore's advantage to six. The Eastern champions should have netted a second goal but O'Brien let a Roche handpass slip out of his grasp. Donie Breathnach responded with a much needed free for An Rinn. Livewire corner forward Liam Ó Síothcháin tried to rally the troops with his second point over the shoulder. On 14 minutes, Conaire Ó Síothcháin wriggled his way through on goal, after a Caolán Mac Craith free dropped around the danger area, and booted the ball home (1-4 to 1-3). A huge score against the elements.
The Roanmore subs encouraged their colleagues to shoot from deep, and O'Toole did just that as he split the posts from his own 65. Liam Ó Síothcháin struck his third before two Breathnach frees snuck the Gaeltacht side ahead (1-6 to 1-5).
Roanmore soon regained the lead, however, as O'Toole opened the shoulders again from his own 65 to raise his third white flag. Two Josh Sheridan frees and a Sam Pender point from play sent them three clear at the break (1-9 to 1-6). An Rinn sub Oisín Ó Ceallaigh ran at the Roanmore backs on his introduction and won two frees. The Westerners struggled with their shooting, however, and registered seven first-half wides.
Roanmore's lead increased to five within four minutes of the restart with Sam Pender and Sheridan on target. Ó Síothcháin got a point back. In the 36th minute, Mac Craith and Ó Ceallaigh worked the ball into Donie Breathnach, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan and rattled the net. Ó Síothcháin, who else, got out in front again and equalised (2-8 to 1-11).
A Ben Mac Ualtair hook prevented another O’Toole point. A high tackle by Darach Ó Cathasaigh on Eamon Power appeared to occur inside the large rectangle but Roanmore got a free instead of a penalty. Manager Stephen Gough was furious along the sideline. Two Sheridan conversions edged the Sky Blues back in front.
An Rinn rattled over the next five however as O'Toole and Sheridan missed Roanmore frees into the teeth of the wind. Ó Ceallaigh and Ó Síothcháin levelled matters. Fionn Ó Murchú produced a mighty catch before Breathnach nailed another free. Hard-working midfielder Jack Ó Floinn then scored from 60 metres. Fearghal Ó Cuirrín made the long journey home from Abu Dhabi worth his while as he put a goal between them (2-13 to 1-13). Goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan belted over a free at the other end.
Two Breathnach frees, one after a late tackle on Caolán Mac Craith, gave An Rinn a four-point buffer heading into added time. They needed all of it.
Donie Breathnach 1-6 (6fs), Liam Ó Síothcháin 0-6, Conaire Ó Síothcháin 1-0, Fearghal Ó Cuirrín, Jack Ó Floinn, Oisín Ó Ceallaigh 0-1 each.
Sean Roche 2-0, Josh Sheridan 0-6 (5fs), Sam Pender, Emmet O’Toole 0-3 each, Tadhg Ryan (1f), Josh O’Brien 0-1 each.
Jack Ó Lonáin; Conor Ó Cuirrín, Oisín Ó Dúnaigh, Lorcán Ó Curraoin; Eamonn Ó Crotaigh, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Darach Ó Cathasaigh; Jack Ó Floinn, Ben Mac Ualtair; Níoclás Breathnach, Caolán Mac Craith, Fionn Ó Murchú; Conaire Ó Síothcháin, Donie Breathnach, Liam Ó Síothcháin.
Oisín Ó Ceallaigh for Ó Crotaigh (17), Fearghal Ó Cuirrín for Nioclás Breathnach (39), Pádraig Ó Murchadha for Conaire Ó Síothcháin (53), Ferdia Ó hAodha for Ray Ó Ceallaigh (58), Cathal Ó Cuirrín for Ó Floinn (61).
Tadhg Ryan; Alex Furlong, Cian Carroll, Paul Hayes; Sean Barrett, Darragh Power, Eamon Power; Harry White, Eoghan Barry; Josh O'Brien, Sam Pender, Emmet O'Toole; Sean Roche, Tony O'Brien, Josh Sheridan.
Conor Fanning for Barrett (56).
Paddy Smith
Liam Ó Síothcháin was trouble from start to finish.
Josh Sheridan's injury time miss was a relief for An Rinn.
Should Roanmore have been awarded a second half penalty?
An Rinn can celebrate their fourth county intermediate title.
