Rampant Rathgormack are the team to beat after dominant display
An Rinn's Oisin O Dunaigh with the ball against Rathgormack's Stephen Curry during their JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. Senior football championship clash at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field. Photos: Sean Byrne
In less than two years, these two clubs have gone in totally different directions.
In October 2023, Rathgormack beat An Rinn by two points in a county semi-final that could have gone either way. Fast forward to September 2025, and Rathgormack beat An Rinn by 21 points in a game that was done and dusted after ten minutes.
The scoreboard could have looked uglier for the Gaeltacht side on Saturday night as the defending champions kicked ten second-half wides and missed three other goal chances. This was a team chasing three in a row against a team facing another relegation battle.
Full forward Stephen Curry tormented the An Rinn defence and shot six points from play in the process (three in each half). Centre forward Conor Murray conducted the orchestra with an array of kick passes and hand passes. He also helped himself to 1-2. The Walsh brothers (Tom and Peter) are towering figures at number six and number eleven. Billy Power returned from Dubai to find the back of the net. Their skill levels, their movement, their tackling and their work rate completely overwhelmed the opposition. It was so comfortable for the holders that manager Kenny Hassett could rest James Power and Michael Curry at half time.
An Rinn were bad against Kilrossanty but this performance was worse. They managed a solitary point from play. The week before, they only scored once in the second half. 1-7 in two hours of football is a paltry return. For the first time in a quarter of a century, the great Liam Ó Lonáin won’t play championship football after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury at Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta. An Rinn could really do with his on-field leadership.
Rathgormack scored 2-10 against Gaultier the previous week. They went up a gear on Saturday and had 3-8 on the board by half-time. Hassett’s team went for the throat right from the off. In the fourth minute, Francis Roche stripped Corey De Róiste of possession high up the field, and Peter Walsh worked the ball into Billy Power, who planted the ball to the far corner of the net.
Six minutes later, Tom Walsh punched down a kickout and Rathgormack were bearing down on goal again. Roche and Power put Conor Murray through one-on-one, and he thumped the ball home with the aid of the crossbar. A bit like Marcus Rashford against Newcastle! A Stephen Curry point left the champions ten up with just eleven minutes on the clock (2-4 to 0-0).
Oisín Ó Ceallaigh sent over a free after twelve for An Rinn, but the onslaught continued at the country end. Roche flashed a shot across the face of the goal before Tomás Mac a t’Saoir saved a fisted effort from Peter Walsh. An Rinn did enjoy a ten-minute spell of dominance but had nothing to show for it. Rathgormack netminder Paudie Hunt clawed away a drop shot by Jack Ó Floinn. On the stroke of half-time, a Billy Power point attempt came back off the post and Peter Walsh gathered the rebound. Mac a t’Saoir denied him initially, but Walsh made no mistake at the second attempt. 3-8 to 0-1 at the break.
During the interval, six Rathgormack subs went through a running session while the An Rinn subs had a gentle kickabout. Donie Breathnach was introduced, but it didn’t make any difference. Rathgormack added seven second-half points but also shot eleven second-half wides. Francis Roche blasted into the sidenet with the goal at his mercy. Stephen Curry, Conor Murray and Jason Curry picked off the singles. Conor Ó Cuirrín registered An Rinn’s first point from play after 44 minutes. Ó Ceallaigh kicked his second free after Rathgormack were penalised 50 metres.
On this evidence, An Rinn’s senior status is at risk while Rathgormack are still the undisputed number one.
Stephen Curry 0-6, Conor Murray 1-2, Peter Walsh, Billy Power 1-0 each, Jason Curry 0-3 (2fs, 1 45), Michael Curry 0-2, James Power, Liam Mulligan 0-1 each.
Oisín Ó Ceallaigh 0-2 (2fs), Conor Ó Cuirrín 0-1.
Paudie Hunt; Sean Hahessy, Ger Hahessy, Liam Mulligan; Glen Power, James Power, Cathal Crowch; Tom Walsh, Michael Curry; Billy Power, Conor Murray, Jason Curry; Francis Roche, Stephen Curry, Peter Walsh.
Reece O'Mahony for Michael Curry (HT), Mairtin Power for Mulligan (HT), Adam Murray for James Power (HT), Conor Walsh for Crowch (41), Liam Connolly for Ger Hahessy (41).
Tomás Mac a t’Saoir; Tadhg Breathnach, Oisín Ó Dúnaigh, Corey De Róiste; Caolán Mac Craith, Darach Ó Cathasaigh, Lorcán Ó Curraoin; Cathal Ó Cuirrín, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Jack Ó Floinn, Ferdia Ó hAodha, Ben Qualter; Jack Ó Lonáin, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Oisín Ó Ceallaigh.
Donie Breathnach for Ó Lonáin (HT), Liam Ó Síothcháin for Cathal Ó Cuirrín (HT), Seanie Mac Craith for Qualter (42), Eoghan Ó Crotaigh for De Róiste (46), Pádraig Ó Murchadha for Oisín Ó Ceallaigh (54).
Nicky O'Toole (Mount Sion)
Stephen Curry sizzled at full forward with six points from play.
It was curtains in the tenth minute when Conor Murray cracked home Rathgormack’s second goal.
How far An Rinn have fallen since 2023.
A county semi final is at stake on Saturday night between Rathgormack and Kilrossanty. An Rinn face Gaultier in a scrap for third place.
