Rathgormack 2-06 Ballinacourty 1-06
Rathgormack claimed a first Waterford senior football title in 20 years at a chilly Fraher Field, seeing off a more seasoned Ballinacourty unit despite registering only two second half points.
The men from the Comeraghs claimed their 10th senior crown largely thanks to an impressive first half showing which left them 2-04 to 0-05 clear at the interval.
Rathgormack opened the scoring after four minutes through a Jason Gleeson point after Courty goalkeeper Stephen Enright, at full-stretch, diving to his right, brilliantly denied Jason Curry a goal.
Two minutes later, Ballinacourty's Sean Whelan-Barrett levelled matters before Jason Gleeson reacted well to register his second point after Stephen Curry’s shot cannoned off Enright’s left-hand post.
Rathgormack, dominating territory and possession, opened up Courty again in the 16th minute when Jason Curry cut through the Ballinacourty cover, releasing Jason Gleeson, who steered his shot a foot wide.
Before a 2,095-strong gate, Rathgormack finally goaled from their very next attack when Paul Drohan palmed the ball into Enright’s net following James Power’s surging run and pass.
David Looby converted an 18th minute point for Ballinacourty before Mark Ferncombe landed over a 35-metre point, followed by Whelan-Barrett’s second point after 22 minutes. But just as Ballinacourty established a foothold in the game, Rathgormack struck for a second goal, brilliantly finished by man of the match William Hahessy following fine link-up play from Conor Murray and James Power. David Looby (his second free) and Stephen Curry traded points in the 23rd and 24th minutes which left Rathgormack five points clear at the turn of ends.
Hard to put that into words, what a feeling, what a club ❤💚❤💚❤💚
— Rathgormack GAA (@rathgormackgaa) October 20, 2019
During the second half, the quality of the contest was certainly impeded by the strengthening wind, but Ballinacourty goaled within a minute of the restart to haul themselves back into the contest. Substitute Patrick Hurney’s crossfield ball fell to Sean Whelan-Barrett, whose shot struck Paudie Hunt’s right hand-post. In a mass of limbs, the ball trickled over the goal line having appeared to take a final touch off Rathgormack corner-back and Derry native Cathal Crowch, with Mark Ferncombe in close proximity.
Four minutes later, a David Looby free left just a point between the sides, but that was to prove as close as Ballinacourty would get, with Neil Montgomery steering a decent equalising chance wide in the 38th minute.
Corner-forward Jason Curry converted a 42nd minute point for Rathgormack to leave them two clear, while superb blocks, two from Tom Walsh, and one each from Curry and Liam Connolly, prevented Ballinacourty from adding to their tally. Jason Gleeson turned over a 44th minute free to send Rathgormack a goal clear, a score which remarkably marked the game’s last flag raiser.
A day that Ballinacourty will be keen to forget got even worse in the second additional minute when Patrick Hurney was sent off following a coming together with Conor Walsh, barely a minute after receiving his first yellow card.
Rathgormack: P Hunt; C Crowch, C Walsh, L Connolly; W Hahessy (1-00), M Curry, T Walsh; J Curry (0-01f) , R Flynn; B Power, S Curry (0-02), J Power; C Murray, J Gleeson (0-03, 0-01f), P Drohan (1-00).
Subs used: John Kirwan for P Drohan (44 mins), D Hennebry for S Curry (58 mins), R Cahill for R Flynn (59 mins), R Crotty for B Power (60 +), Jamie Kirwan for J Power (64).
Ballinacourty: S Enright; J Elsted, B Looby, D McGrath; N Montgomery, R Foley, D Collins; C Prunty, J Beresford; D Looby (0-03f), M O'Halloran, M Twomey; S Whelan-Barrett (0-02), M Ferncombe (0-01), M Maher. (Own Goal: C Crowch 1-00)
Subs used: P Hurney for M Twomey (30 mins), J Hurney for J Beresford (HT), M Kiely for D Looby (47 mins), T Looby for M Maher (51 mins), J O’Mahony for S Whelan-Barrett (59 mins).
Referee: Anthony Fitzgerald
