Blessington 1-09 Rathnew 1-09
There was no separating Blessington and Rathnew in the frantically exciting Boom & Platform Hire Wicklow Senior Football Championship final played in front of a raucous crowd and in beautiful October sunshine in Echelon Park, Aughrim, on Sunday afternoon.
Blessington came close to snatching victory at the death with Anto McLoughlin's late free tailing narrowly wide of the uprights at the Rednagh Hill end after Kevin Quinn had been fouled, but Rathnew and former Wicklow star James Stafford came within inches of grabbing his second major of the game only to blast inches over the crossbar with 27 gone for a score that would have certainly been curtains for the Blues.
Both sets of players gave everything to the cause in this thrilling encounter that despite having plenty of nerves and errors across the 60-odd minutes gave oodles of value for money to the very healthy crowd that flocked through the gates.
After confusion following the final whistle as to whether there would be a replay or extra-time, it was finally confirmed that the sides would meet again next weekend to decide the destination of the Miley Cup for 2023.
Kevin Quinn’s early goal and four rapid points in reply to Eddie Doyle’s opener for Rathnew suggested that this was going to be Blessington’s afternoon, but, as they have done all season, this Rathnew team showed class and creativity when launching attack after attack inside to a lethal combination of James Stafford and Eoin Doyle while the experienced Eddie Doyle would punish with four pointed frees as well.
Blessington’s wicked start faded at the end of the first quarter and away went Rathnew against the breeze, Sam Healy, Eddie Doyle, Theo Smyth, James Stafford and Doyle again leaving Rathnew in a healthy place at the break, trailing by two, 1-05 to 0-06, but having the breeze in the second half.
Blessington emerged in inspired form and rattled off three quick points in the early minutes of the second, but yet again Rathnew rallied, firing four wides before James Stafford lashed home after being picked out in acres of space behind the Blessington defence by Eoin Doyle.
With Blessington leading by 1-09 to 1-08, Stafford was again picked out and he sizzled a shot over the bar to level the game with only Rob Gilligan to beat in the Blessington goal.
The action would surge to and fro before the last chance would fall to Anto McLoughlin. Nothing easy about it, and his effort tailed wide.
The final whistle sounded shortly afterwards, and after the uncertainty in the ground, the crowd eventually went home relatively happy, knowing that there’s another cracker in store in six days' time.
Blessington: Rob Gilligan; Steven Bohan, Conall Gallagher, Aaron Curran; Kevin Hanlon, Jack Gilligan, Paul McLoughlin; Craig Maguire, Dan Cooney; Eoin Keogh, Anto McLoughlin (0-4, f), Jordan McGarr; Dan Silke (0-1), Kevin Quinn (1-0), Mikey O’Connor (0-4, 1m, 1f). Subs: Martin Shannon for D Cooney (42), Jack Cotter for J Hanlon (55), Curtis Geraghty for D Silke (57).
Rathnew: Ronan Doyle; Conor Lenahan, Jamie Snell, Gary Byrne; Fionn O’Sullivan, JT Hayden, Adam Byrne; Sean Coffey, Theo Smyth (0-1); Sam Healy (0-1), Sam O’Dowd, Callum Clarke; Eoin Doyle (0-1), James Stafford (1-2), Eddie Doyle (0-4, 4f). Subs: Toby Curran for C Clarke (H/T), William Moorehouse for F O’Sullivan (39), Jonah Graham for S Healy (49), Ciaran Coffey for S Coffey (58).
Referee: Kieron Kenny (Tinahely)
