Rathgormack see off gritty Gaultier to reach eighth consecutive county final
James Power scores the goal for Rathgormack in their JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. Senior football championship semi-final against Gaultier at Azzurri Walsh Park. Photo: Noel Browne
Rathgormack’s bid for a fourth Conway Cup in a row is in fine shape as the reigning champions used all their experience to see off Gaultier and book their place in a record eighth consecutive county final.
James Power’s first half goal and 0-6 from play via Man of the Match Stephen Curry proved decisive, as Kenny Hassett’s men moved another step closer to a fourth title on the spin.
Gaultier started much the brighter at Walsh Park, racing into an early four-point lead. Veteran forward JJ Hutchinson was good as ever for the Barony, opening the scoring from a free after three and a half minutes, before blazing over from close range having been sent through by brother Dessie moments later.
The 41-year-old then popped up on the left flank to send over a third, before another short range free made it 0-4 to nil.
On seven minutes, Francis Roche opened Rathgormack’s account following a long-bursting run, before the gap was cut to one via a beautifully struck two-pointer courtesy of James Power.
Billy O’Keeffe settled Gaultier, before a huge tackle from Tom Walsh on Sean White denied them what appeared to be a certain goal. The excellent Billy Power pointed either side of a Hutchinson free as Gaultier kept their noses narrowly in front, before Roche teed up Stephen Curry on 21 minutes and he was superbly denied at close range by Gaultier ‘keeper Gavin Buckley.
Conor Murray and Stephen Curry combined for the latter to open his account and level the scores at 0-6 apiece, but a great burst and score from Mark Fitzgerald kept Gaultier in the ascendancy.
The all-important moment arrived from the resultant kickout as the champions marauded upfield at lightning speed, and a cleverly lofted hand pass over the top found the unmarked James Power - who calmly slotted to the bottom right corner on 25 minutes for the game’s only goal.
Two points in quick succession from the lively Stephen Curry made it 1-8 to 0-7 at the break, as Rathgormack got better as the half wore on.
Conor Murray opened his account on the resumption as Rathgormack remained in control, though another free from JJ Hutchinson kept Gaultier ticking.
Two goal chances went amiss as Buckley denied Murray at the near post on 37 minutes, before Jason Curry burst through but dragged his strike narrowly right and wide seconds later.
A close range free from Hutchinson brought Gaultier back within a goal, but at the opposite end - Stephen Curry was again on hand to apply the finishing touch as Rathgormack kept them at bay.
Another dead ball from JJ, and Dessie Hutchinson’s first of the afternoon made affairs suddenly much more interesting but a settler from Murray and Curry’s fifth from play showed exactly why Rathgormack are champions.
JJ Hutchinson’s ninth point was followed by Billy Power’s third, before a superb point off the right boot of Dessie Hutchinson made it 1-13 to 0-13 with five minutes remaining.
As three additional minutes were called, a booming two-pointer from the same man reduced arrears to the minimum as talk of extra-time loomed, but class prevailed as Curry’s sixth point of the day proved the insurance score to send Rathgormack through to yet another county final.
Stephen Curry (0-6); James Power (1-2; 1tp); Billy Power (0-3); Conor Murray (0-2); Francis Roche (0-1)
JJ Hutchinson (0-9; 0-7f); Dessie Hutchinson (0-4; 1tp); Billy O’Keeffe and Mark Fitzgerald (0-1 each)
Paudie Hunt; Liam Mulligan, Sean Hahessy, William Hahessy; Glen Power, Tom Walsh, James Power; Billy Power, Reece O’Mahony; Francis Roche, Thomas Skehan, Jason Curry; Adam Murray, Stephen Curry, Conor Murray.
Peter Walsh for Thomas Skehan (42); Cathal Crowch for Reece O’Mahony (47); Mairtín Power for Sean Hahessy (60)
Gavin Buckley; Aaron Jones, Sean Cullinane, David Jones; Tommy Martin, Fergal O’Brien, Callum O’Neill; Mark Fitzgerald, Gary Cullinane; Dessie Hutchinson, Billy O’Keeffe, Tom Dalton; JJ Hutchinson, Sean White, Kyle Flynn.
Niall McSweeney for Kyle Flynn (40); Eoin McSweeney for Sean White (47); Tommy Phelan for David Jones (50); Darragh O’Keeffe for Billy O’Keeffe (54)
Eoin Morrissey (Erin’s Own)
