Rusty Rathgormack still too good for out-of-sorts Gaultier
Gaultier's Dessie Hutchinson gets away from Rathgormack's James Power during their JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. SFC clash at Kilmacthomas. Photos: Maurice Hennebry
Back-to-back champions Rathgormack weren't at their best on a bright and breezy Sunday afternoon, but goals in either half from Peter Walsh and Francis Roche swatted away an equally out-of-sorts Gaultier.
The short turnaround between the hurling championship and the football championship led to loose passing and wayward shooting on both sides. Rathgormack looked rusty but fared better when they ran the ball against the breeze in the second half. Francis Roche, a substitute in last year's county final, stepped up with 1-3 from play for Kenny Hassett's charges. Full forward Stephen ‘Gooch’ Curry was out in front all afternoon and scored three points from play off left and right. Tom Walsh offered a towering presence at centre back while midfielder James Power split open the opposition defence with a couple of trademark solo runs. Gaultier number six Gary Cullinane, held Conor Murray scoreless from play. Dessie and JJ Hutchinson showed flashes, but a robust Rathgormack defence curbed their influence. Mark Fitzgerald was quiet at midfield by his sky-high standards.
In terms of the new rules, Gaultier twice got penalised 50 metres by referee Eoin Morrissey. At one stage of the first half, they only had two men up instead of three, but got away with it.
Heavy rain fell all Sunday morning, but thankfully the showers abated just in time for throw-in. The ice cream van touring nearby estates was rather optimistic!
Willie Hahessy missed out for Rathgormack with a shoulder injury. Billy Power was away. Dessie Hutchinson started for Gaultier and captained the team seven days on from helping Ballygunner to twelve senior hurling titles in a row. Clubmate Patrick Fitzgerald came off the bench in the second half.
A Peter Walsh goal gave Rathgormack a 1-3 to 0-4 advantage after an error-strewn first half, which featured 20 frees. The sun made an appearance as Sean White drove a Gaultier 45 over the blue spot in the second minute. Stephen Curry levelled off his right boot. Rathgormack pumped a direct ball into the full forward line with mixed results. JJ Hutchinson and Jason Curry swapped frees before Gaultier defender Callum O'Neill drove through the middle and clipped over a point.
Conor Murray and Dessie Hutchinson missed point opportunities before Jason Curry forced a turnover on 20 minutes, and Rathgormack counterattacked with intent. Stephen Curry turned down an easy point to put Peter Walsh through on goal. The towering number eleven burst the bottom corner of the net! Jason Curry then kicked a bread and butter free left and wide. He quickly made amends, however, by supplying Francis Roche, who punched the ball over. JJ Hutchinson saw two chances go awry before his injury time point left two between them at the break.
Dessie Hutchinson split the posts within 20 seconds of the restart, but that was as good as it got for David Power's side. Roche replied with a Rathgormack point as Gaultier registered three wides in a row. On 37 minutes, James Power sped past two defenders and picked out Roche with a peach of a pass. The number ten thumped the ball to the roof of the Gaultier net (2-4 to 0-5). A wonderfully executed goal.
A two-point free from Sean White reignited Gaultier as Patrick Fitzgerald entered the fray. Stephen Curry quickly cancelled that out however with singles off left and right. A clever jink created the first. The second was a super point from an acute angle. A James Power effort gave them a two-goal buffer entering the final quarter.
Substitutes Patrick Fitzgerald (one pointer) and Billy O'Keeffe (two pointer) troubled the umpires at the dressing room end, but Gaultier's shooting was hit and miss overall. Fitzgerald should start next time out to give JJ and Dessie Hutchinson more support up front.
Rathgormack could have raised two more green flags. David Daniels made a terrific save as he tipped a close-range blast from Peter Walsh over the bar. Stephen Curry then dragged a shot right and wide. Manager Kenny Hassett roared at him to tap it over!
Late points from Michael Curry and Francis Roche finished the job in any case. Gaultier sub Rory Jacob received a straight red card four minutes into injury time for an off the ball incident. Eoin Morrissey deemed that he kicked out at his marker.
More to come from both of these teams in championship 2025.
Francis Roche 1-3, Peter Walsh 1-1, Stephen Curry 0-3, Michael Curry, James Power, Jason Curry (f) 0-1 each.
Sean White 0-3 (1 2pf, 1 45), Billy O'Keeffe (2p), JJ Hutchinson (1f) 0-2 each, Patrick Fitzgerald, Dessie Hutchinson, Callum O'Neill 0-1 each.
Paudie Hunt; Sean Hahessy, Ger Hahessy, Liam Mulligan; Glen Power, Tom Walsh, Cathal Crowch; James Power, Michael Curry; Francis Roche, Peter Walsh, Jason Curry; Adam Murray, Stephen Curry, Conor Murray.
Reece O'Mahony for Adam Murray (50).
David Daniels; Sean Byrne, Tom Dalton, Fergal O'Brien; Tommy Martin, Gary Cullinane, Callum O'Neill; Mark Fitzgerald, Dale Cullinane; Niall McSweeney, Dessie Hutchinson, Sean Cullinane; Eoin McSweeney, JJ Hutchinson, Sean White.
Harry Phelan for Eoin McSweeney (22), Billy O'Keeffe for Dalton (HT), Tommy Phelan for Sean Cullinane (41), Patrick Fitzgerald for Niall McSweeney (41), Rob McGuire for Dale Cullinane (48), Rory Jacob for Byrne (Temporary, 59).
Eoin Morrissey (Erins Own)
Francis Roche staked a claim for a regular starting place with 1-3 from play.
Two quickfire points from Stephen Curry wiped out Sean White’s orange flag.
The injury time red card for Rory Jacob.
Rathgormack tackle An Rinn on Saturday evening. Gaultier go up against Kilrossanty that afternoon.
