An Rinn ease past Brickeys to secure Senior status
An Rinn's Management Team of Darach Breathnach, Cian O Conchuir, Padraig O Murchadha and Dave O Tuathaigh with Player Manager Liam OâLonain in the background. Photo Sean Byrne
Having surprisingly found themselves in a relegation battle An Rinn were never in any real danger of the drop as they brushed aside the weak challenge of a Brickeys side that never came to grips with the immediate transition to football matters following their outstanding win in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.
A three point tally at the end of an hour’s football tells the story of the Brickeys contribution to this game with just one of those three points coming late in the second half.
Playing on a soft surface following heavy rainfall in Cappoquin it was Brickeys who opened the scoring with a Tom O’Connell point in the 6th minute. They then lost Conor Phelan to a Black Card but An Rinn were unable to make their numerical advantage count until Donie Breathnach equalised in the 10th minute. Brickeys regained the lead with a fine point from Tom O’Connell in the 12th minute and it looked like being a close game as An Rinn struggled to send the ball between the posts hitting eight first half wides. A second Donie Brathnach point levelled matters again in the 17th minute and despite having the greater share of possession An Rinn could add just one further point before halftime with Jack O’Floinn’s score giving his side a 0-3 to 0-2 halftime lead.
The opening ten minutes of the second half saw An Rinn moving into a four point lead with nothing coming back from Brickeys. Even the sending off of Donie Breathnach in the 41st minute on a second yellow card made no difference as Brickeys continued to struggle, also losing Cillian Ryan to a similar offence before Fergal O’Ceallaigh found the net for his side in the 49th minute. A late Brickeys point from a Dan Kelly free in the 57th minute was too late to make any difference before the highlights of the game came in the closing minutes with An Rinn coach Liam O’Lonain coming on to show just how to finish as he shot two goals in succession to seal his side’s victory.
Brickey Rangers have a further chance of survival as they face Roanmore on Saturday next at a venue to be arranged to decide who meets the Premier Intermediate champions in a final play off with Senior staus at stake.
Liam O’Lonain 2-0, Donie Breathnach 0-3 (1F), Jack O’Floinn 0-2, Nioclas Breathnach 0-1.
Tom O’Connell 0-2 (1F), Dan Kelly 0-1 (F).
Tomas Mac an tSaoir, Shane O’Cuirin, Oisin O’Dunaigh, Fergal O’Cealligh, Lorcan O’Corraoin, Conor O’Cuirrin, Caolan Mac Craith, Ferdia O’hAodha, Ray O’Ceallaigh, Eamonn O’Crotaigh, Jack O’Floinn, Conor Mac Diarmada, Nioclas Breathnaigh, Oisin O’Ceallaigh, Donie Breathnach.
Liam O’Siothchain, Lian O’Lonain, Jack O’Lonain, Eoghan O’CrotaighPadraig O’Murchadha.
Tom Gardner, Killian Ryan, Conor Phelan, Darragh O’Grady,Mark Cummins, Philip Walsh, Daithi Colleran, Cormac O’Grady, Sean Lennon, Conor Whelan, Dan Kelly, Seamus Hahessy, Josh Veale, Tom O’Connell, Peter Cummins.
Cormac Deevey, Brendan Cullinane, Jack Power, Niall Browne.
Eoin Morrissey (Erins Own)
