FL Div 7: Rathkenny majors prove decisive

June 19, 2024

Rathkenny's Patrick Knowles

Rathkenny goals ensured they ended the victors in this entertaining ‘Rays Roofing’ football league division seven, round eight clash against Oldcastle played last Tuesday evening, 18th June.

Rathkenny 3-08 Oldcastle 0-13

The visitors opened the scoring with a third minute free, which was quickly replied to by a Joey Curtis point from play. Patrick Knowles edged the hosts in front from a free on six minutes. Within sixty seconds Oldcastle pointed from play to level matters. They edged back in front on eight minutes. 

The next score did not come until twenty-two minutes had elapsed, as both sides were guilty of wides and short to the keeper. Noah McBride was the recipient of a slide rule pass from the ageless Derick Smith, and he buried to the net to move the hosts back in front. Ninety seconds later, half back Andrew Bellew popped over a long-range score for the hosts. With five minutes remaining in the half, Oldcastle reduced the gap with a point from play. The gap was reduced to the minimum when the visitors sent over a twenty seventh minute free. There was still time for Patrick Knowles to send over from play and the visitors to reply from a free before referee Stephen Murphy blew for half time with Rathkenny ahead 1-4 to 0-6.

Oldcastle levelled the scores with a point, ninety seconds after the restart. Rathkenny edged back in front when James Macken sent over from play on thirty-three minutes. Two minutes later, full back Colm Kerrigan got in on the scoring act when he found himself in space and calmly slotted over from just outside the forty-five-metre line. Rathkenny were then guilty of some wayward shooting and Oldcastle hit a purple patch with four unanswered points between the fortieth and forty-fifth minutes. This brought them two in front. Derick Smith narrowed the gap with a great point from play as the game moved into the final quarter.

Things got better for the hosts as Joey Curtis went on a great run and avoided several tackles and as he was about to be pulled down, referee Stephen Murphy allowed the advantage as the shot from the young midfielder found the back of the net. Rathkenny had edged back in front with twelve minutes left on the clock. Oldcastle responded with a point from play and the clock showed 50 minutes had been played. It was end to end as both sides put in a huge last ten minutes. Joey Curtis then added a long range free to edge the hosts two in front once again. Both sides defended as if their lives depended on it and only one further point came from Oldcastle as the clock approached 59 minutes. Into added time we went and Rathkenny played keep ball until a great pass from Oisin Cummins Fuller found Adam Brennan on the edge of the square and the full forward turned on a sixpence and dispatched it to the net. Oldcastle still had time for one final effort but saw it trickle wide, and the hosts hung on for a four-point victory.

Rathkenny – Ronan Curtis; Daithí Downey, Colm Kerrigan (0-1), Cal Kealy; Andrew Bellew (0-1), Stephen Crosbie, Niall Branigan; James Macken (0-1), Joey Curtis (1-2); Patrick Knowles (0-2), Derick Smith (0-1), Brian Lenehan; Oisin Cummins Fuller, Adam Brennan (1-0), Noah McBride (1-0)

Sub – Denis Nulty for Derick Smith (57)


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