Raharney leave it late to claim the spoils

Raharney 3-8, Clonkill 1-10

Paul Doolin

In a positively tropical Delvin on Thursday evening last, we were treated to a full range of the hurling spectrum, with Raharney and Clonkill going toe to toe in a very tight affair. The result was in the balance right up to the final whistle as the second string sides of these two proud clubs produced a gripping contest.

Momentum swings, penalties, red cards and all in between made this the kind of game you could not take your eyes off. It was only decided in the 62nd minute by an excellent Aaron Ready goal.

In what was a low-scoring encounter where defences were to the fore, both teams will feel that they deserved to win the game, but it was Raharney's finishing power and Clonkill's paucity in front of goal — they hit 11 wides — that proved the key factors as the Deelsiders prevailed.

Clonkill got off to an absolute flyer with five points in the first 12 minutes without reply from Daire McLaughlin, two from the industrious Alex Smyth in midfield and two monster frees from Ciaran Egerton. However, the Loughegar men were guilty of some poor misses in that period and should have been further ahead. A Joe Mulvaney free got Raharney off the mark and, after Christopher Austin cut a sideline off the crossbar for Clonkill, Raharney immediately shipped the ball and Mulvaney was unceremoniously hauled down for a penalty, which he converted expertly himself. He then added a free and a gem from play, and now Raharney held sway.

Clonkill soon had their own penalty when Christopher Austin was fouled, but Luke Meyler's effort was repelled by a fine save from Raharney goalie Darragh Weir. However, they did level with another huge free from Ciaran Egerton, and he was on the end of the move of the half to finish to the net after great work by Austin and McLaughlin, and at the short whistle Clonkill led by 1-6 to 1-3.

Raharney looked rejuvenated after the break and two quickfire Mulvaney frees narrowed the gap to the minimum before a defensive mix-up from Clonkill saw Aaron Ready score the simplest of goals, and now all the momentum was with the Blues. However, the game then became a battle of attrition in the sweltering heat.

Luke Meyler from play and a Ciaran Egerton free for Clonkill were negated by replies from James Goonery and sub Brian McGrath for Raharney. Goal chances went begging at either end as both sides began to wilt, but another howitzer of a free from Egerton and then the equaliser from Daire McLaughlin for Clonkill looked to have secured a draw.

However, a very unseemly fracas happened and, in the aftermath, Raharney's Mark Doherty and Clonkill sub Eoin Kenny were dismissed on straight red cards. While tough and physical as a contest, this was at total odds with the general flow of the game and, in truth, came out of the blue.

However, it was Raharney who pounced and, after a delivery from Pearse Weir Norris found Brian McGrath, he slipped the ball to Ready who rattled the net for a game-defining goal. When Mulvaney pointed from the puck-out, it was merely the cherry on top as they ran out four-point winners after an entertaining joust.

Scorers - Raharney: Joe Mulvaney 1-6 (0-4 frees), Aaron Ready 2-0, James Goonery and Brian McGrath 0-1 each.

Clonkill: Ciaran Egerton 1-5 (5 frees), Alex Smyth and Daire McLaughlin 0-2 each, Luke Meyler 0-1.

Raharney: Darragh Weir; Ryan Murphy, Matt Shaw, Cian O’Connor; David Weir, Pearse Weir Norris, Eoin Weir; Aaron Flanagan, Mark Doherty; Jamie Carr, Winston McHugh, Joe Mulvaney; James Goonery, Brian Smyth, Aaron Ready. Subs: Brian McGrath for Carr (H/T), Nathan McCabe for Smyth (53 mins), Paddy Kelly for Weir (54 mins).

Clonkill: Niall Dowdall; Adam Brady, Conor Daly, Cian Quinn; Ciaran Egerton, Jack Murtagh, Scott Murtagh; Carl McCormack, Alex Smyth; Darragh Egerton, Daire McLaughlin, Luke Meyler; Christopher Austin, Alan McGrath, Shane Power. Subs: Finn Raeside for Darragh Egerton (H/T), Eoin Kenny for Quinn (39 mins), Luke Kenny for Jack Murtagh (52 mins), Enda Morrison for Power (54 mins), Eoghan Egerton for Smyth (59 mins).

Referee: James McGrath (Turin).