Rathgormack goal rush sees off Nire
Neil Moore, Vice Chairman Waterford County Board presents the Division 1 Football League Cup to Rathgormack Captain William Hahessy.
Meeting in a repeat of last year’s senior county championship final, Rathgormack and Nire served up an entertaining hour of football in this Division 1 League final played in near perfect conditions in Lemybrien on Wednesday night where a goal hungry Rathgormack side hit their near neighbours for six and in doing so put down a marker for the upcoming championship.
This was a game between two sides well used to meeting in the white heat of championship finals in recent years but if this game lacked the cutting edge of a championship battle it was played in a competitive spirit that was reflected in the fact that just three points came from frees, no stoppages for injuries resulting in any added time or any yellow card to take note of. The feature of the game was Rathgormack’s six goal tally to which the Nire had no answer.
The opening minutes saw both sides probing without scoring until the fourth minute when Stephen Curry cut in along the end line from the left corner before crashing the ball to the net from an acute angle.
The sides were level for the first and only time in the game in the seventh minute when Dylan Guiry opened up the centre of the Rathgormack defence and put Ciaran Ryan in for what proved the Nire’s only goal.
The Nire moved two points clear with scores from Pat Walsh and Michael O’Sullivan but with a second goal on for Rathgormack Adam Murray shot over the bar from close range in the 11th minute.
For almost the next ten minutes both sides continue to seek goal scoring opportunities and it was Rathgormack who found the way with Peter Walsh breaking through for his side’s second goal and the lead in the 20th minute. Sean Walsh hit back with a Nire point but in the 24th minute the Nire defence was again cut open by Stephen Curry as he once more cut through from the left corner to beat Renes Strioca in the Nire goal.
Points from Aaron Ryan (F) and Sean Walsh kept the Nire in touch but a 30th minute point from Francis Roche gave Rathgormack a deserved half-time lead on a score of 3-2 to 1-5.
On the resumption Sean Walsh pulled back a point for the Nire but Rathgormack clearly had a scent for goals and in the 38th minute Jason Gleeson finished a well worked move from outfield to the net from close range for his side’s fourth goal.
Two minutes later it took a great save by Strioca to deny Peter Walsh his second goal at the expense of a ‘45’ which Jason Curry pointed to give his side a six point lead.
Sean Walsh and Jason Curry exchanged points from frees before a Conor Looney point for Nire left five points between the sides but the path to goal remained open for Rathgormack and in the 45th minute Stephen Curry turned provider for Adam Murray to finish to the net for goal number five.
With Jamie Barron coming off the bench the Nire pressed forward in search of a goal but could only add two more points from Fionn Hallinan and Aaron Ryan before Jason Curry’s run through the Nire defence in the 56th minute set Stephen Curry up for his third goal leaving no way back for the Nire. The closing minutes were played out with Rathgormack in total control as points from Michael Curry, Jason Curry and Adam Murray sealed a decisive victory.
For the winners Stephen Curry stood out with an impressive three goal tally and he had strong back up from Willie Hahessy, Conor Walsh, Michael Curry, Jason Curry, Peter Walsh and Adam Murray. The Nire were best served by Fionn Hallinan, Sean Walsh, Pat Walsh and Aaron Ryan.
– Stephen Curry 3-0, Adam Murray 1-2, Peter Walsh and Jason Gleeson 1-0 each, Jason Curry 0-3 (2Fs, 1’65’), Michael Curry and Francis Roche 0-1 each.
– Sean Walsh 0-4, Ciaran Walsh 1-0, Aaron Ryan 0-2 (1F), Pat Walsh, Michael O’Sullivan, Fionn Hallinan and Ciaran Looney 0-1 each.
– Paudie Hunt, Cathal Crowch, Conor Walsh, Willie Hahessy, Sean Hahessy, Tom Walsh, Ronan Elliffe, Michael Curry, Peter Walsh, Francis Roche, Jason Curry, Donncha Hassett, Jason Gleeson, Stephen Curry, Adam Murray. – Daniel Crotty for Elliffe (45), Stephen Kirwan for Gleeson (50), Conor Hearne and Pa Mackey for S. Curry and S. Hahessy (59).
– Renes Strioca, Cody Peters, Tom Barron, Conal Mulcahy, Fionn Hallinan, Gearoid Long, Michael McMurragh, Sean Walsh, Pat Walsh, Michael O’Sullivan, Dylan Guiry, Diarmuid Fahy, Oisin Walsh, Ciaran Looney, Ciaran Ryan. – Jamie Barron for O.Walsh (45), Michael Desmond for Peters (56).
– Tadhg Tobin (Brickey Rangers).
