O'Donoghue's second half goal guides Rathcoffey to victory
Rathcoffey's Jason Acton protects the ball from Cappagh's Jack Mulligan Photo: Sean Brilly
THEY say the scoreboard never lies but it was certainly skewed a little unfairly against a Cappagh side who played plenty of football in an entertaining local derby in Group A of the Tom Cross Transport Junior Football Championship on Saturday in Manguard Park.
Cappagh led for long stretches and were particularly dominant in the first half but three injury time points kept the eventual winners in touch and a second half goal from former Clane and Kildare underage star Ethan O’Donoghue proved pivotal in turning the game.
Rathcoffey lost Evin McGovern to an injury sustained after only thirty seconds and Dean Brennan shot Cappagh ahead immediately afterwards. But the winners hit back with two excellent points from Jason Acton and a mark from O’Donoghue to lead by two after ten minutes.
Cappagh put the pedal to the metal after that, though, scoring seven of the next eight points. Sharpshooter Jack Mulligan started that run with a free before Toby McMoreland won and landed his own free and when the kick out went straight to Mulligan he shot his second point.
On 24 minutes, Mulligan was on target again from a free. Acton, with the best point of the half, offered some respite for Rathcoffey but back came Cappagh with three more. Ollie Lewis landed the first and McMoreland followed up with a free before full-back Oisín O’Cuill joined the attack to make it 0-8 to 0-4.
That scoreline wouldn’t have flattered Cappagh at half-time but Rathcoffey found their feet with three points in time added on. Pádraig McManamon found himself in space and made no mistake and then a fine run from Conor Harris down the right ended with another score before Micheál O’Connor pointed a free. Half-Time: Cappagh 0-8 Rathcoffey 0-7.
Cappagh wrestled back control with three of the opening four points of the second period. Mulligan got the first of those before O’Cuill came forward again for his second and after O’Donoghue’s superb effort from the wing pulled one back, Mulligan made it 0-11 to 0-8.
On 37 minutes, Rathcoffey found their lifeline. McManamon’s long ball evaded the last defender and O’Donoghue was on hand to slot it low to the net and level matters.
Cappagh did go ahead again through wing-back Glen Carter, but another classy Acton point levelled again before Chris Sheils and McManamon sent them two clear.
Brennan almost found the net for Cappagh with a deft touch from James Grogan’s pass, but Rathcoffey cleared off the line.
The men in red and white kept plugging away though and set up a grandstand finish when a McMoreland free narrowed the gap to a single point with two minutes left.
However, O’Connor gave Rathcoffey breathing space and substitute Joey Toman stretched the lead to three in the first minute of injury of time before Carter hit back with another point for Cappagh.
Rathcoffey put a gloss on the scoreline, which was harsh on their opponents, as a breakaway move involving Harris, O’Donoghue and Conor Mayock was finished to the net by O’Connor for a final five-point margin.
