Two goals in the closing stages from the hosts were crucial as Rathkenny edged out Dunsany in this ‘P S Supplies Doors and Floors’ football league division three, round five match.

Rathkenny 3-05 Dunsany 1-09

The hosts started on the front foot but were guilty of three early missed chances. Corner forward Noah Jenkinson eventually got the scoreboard ticking with a fourth minute point from play. Dunsany levelled matters in the 6th minute and sent over two subsequent points from play on 10 and 12 minutes. Half back Ciaran O’Hare steadied matters for the hosts with a fine point on 13 minutes. 

Jack Gore then popped over a point on 20 minutes, to tie the game. The visitors edged back in front 3 minutes later but, within sixty seconds, half forward Daniel Gavagan had sent over a long-range equaliser. The hosts won the kick out and played the ball towards the Dunsany goal. Following a ball to the square, full forward Joey Curtis won the ball and buried low to the keepers left. On 28 minutes the visitors worked the ball down the left and eventually slotted home from close range to tie the game once more. In added time Dunsany edged back in front with a close range free before Cormac Reilly brought first half proceedings to a close. Rathkenny 1-04 Dunsany 1-05.

The hosts shooting boots were nowhere to be seen in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as numerous chances went abegging. Indeed, it took a great save from Rathkenny netminder Cathal McCabe to keep just one between the sides as the clock passed 41 minutes and the scoreboard not changing. The visitors finally moved two in front from a free on 42 minutes. 

The final quarter was end to end as the gap widened out to three with 14 minutes remaining. Noah Jenkinson narrowed the gap with a point from play before a great block by the Rathkenny backline sent the ball out for a 45, which was excellently sent high over the bar and the gap was back out to three. With 8 minutes left sub Eoghan Heavey found Daniel Gavagan just outside the twenty-metre line. The half forward evaded a tackle and placed a great shot into the top left corner of the net to level the scores. Dunsany saw another effort saved on 53 minutes and almost immediately another wide. As the clock approached the 56-minute mark, Rathkenny produced a great passing move which ended with Noah Jenkinson hitting the post and Joey Curtis fouled as he attempted to score from the rebound. Cormac Reilly signalled a penalty which was duly dispatched to the net by Eoghan Heavey, and the hosts found themselves three in front. The visitors tried to get the equalising score but could only muster a point from a 63rd minute free. The hosts hung on for what could be two crucial points.

Rathkenny – Cathal McCabe; Aaron Johnson, Mark Byrne, Corbin Jenkinson; Padraig McKeever, Ross Gore, Ciaran O’Hare (0-1); James O’Hare, Christy Meade; Daniel Gavagan (1-1), Jack Gore (0-1), Niall Branigan; Oisin Cummins-Fuller, Joey Curtis (1-0), Noah Jenkinson (0-2)

Subs – James Macken for Niall Branigan (41), Eoghan Heavey (1-0) for Jack Gore (48). 

 

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