Blessington 0-11 Rathnew 1-06
By Kevin Stapleton
Blessington secured a fourth Wicklow SFC title with a hard fought victory over Rathnew in Ecehlon Park, Aughrim.
Trailing at the interval, a crucial 10 minute spell after the restart was the key to the victory.
The talk before the game centred on the absence of Blessington's Anthony McLoughlin and Rathnew’s JT Hayden, both rumoured to have left for sunnier climates after last weekend's drawn encounter. Ironically, the pair were listed to mark one another.
McLoughlin’s loss was keenly felt in the opening half with Rathnew’s defence standing firm in the face of many Blessington attacks.
The opening half was a tense affair with numerous turnovers and defences exerting their dominance.
An Eddie Doyle free had Rathnew on the board within the opening minute, with Jamie Snell firing over a fine score from distance.
Blessington relied on finding Kevin Quinn as often as possible and the marksman opened their account in the fifth minute with their first real attack.
They subsequently levelled on 15 minutes through a Mikey O’Connor free.
Rathnew had to wait for their third score but when it was arrived, it was a signifcant one.
A route one ball was pumped in James Stafford's direction, Gary Byrne getting on the end to rifle into the corner of the net from the 14 yard line.
Blessington responded with two points from Kevin’s Quinn and Hanlon.
Theo Smyth nudged Rathnew two points clear with the final kick of the half and they led 1-03 to 0-04 at the break.
However, Blessington re-grouped after the interval and reeled off four points in the opening 10 minutes to take control.
Jordan McGarr, Mikey O’Connor, Kevin Quinn and Dan Cooney notched points as the 2021 champions pushed two points clear, a significant advantage in a low-scoring encounter.
A pair of Eddie Doyle frees levelled it up for Rathnew by the 42nd minute but the scored dried up thereafter, the Blessington defence shutting them out until injury-time.
Paul McLoughlin intercepted a loose Rathnew ball and put Blessington back in front in the 45th minute.
Mikey O’Connor pushed them further in front with a free before man of the match Craig Maguire fired over a beauty from a difficult angle in injury time.
Doyle's fourth free narrowed the gap to two in the dying moments but it was too late, Blessington holding firm to get their hands on premium silverware for the fourth time.
Rathnew: Ronan Doyle; Conor Lenehan, Jamie Snell (0-01), Gary Byrne(1-00); Fionn O’Sullivan, Toby Curran, Adam Byrne; Sean Coffey, Theo Smyth (0-01); Sam Healy, Sam O’Dowd, Callum Clarke; Eoin Doyle, James Stafford, Eddie Doyle (0-04, 4f).
Subs: Ciaran Coffey for S Coffey, William Moorehouse for F O’Sullivan, Jonah Graham for C Clarke, Jody Merrigan for C Coffey, Mark Doyle for E Doyle
Blessington: Rob Gilligan; Steven Bohan, Conall O’Gallchobhair, Aaron Curran; Kevin Hanlon (0-1), Jack Gilligan, Paul McLoughlin (0-01); Craig Maguire (0-01), Dan Cooney (0-01); Eoin Keogh, Curtis Geraghty, Jordan McGarr (0-01), Dan Silke Fetherson, Kevin Quinn (0-03, 1m), Mikey O’Connor (0-03, 2f).
Subs: Martin Shannon for C Geraghty, Jack Cotter for K Hanlon, Stephen Carroll for J McGarr
Referee: Stephen Fagan (Baltinglass)
