Déise forward Conor Murray shot three points from play as Rathgormack withstood a late rally from injury ravaged An Rinn in the Dungarvan sunshine on Sunday (1-14 to 2-9). They will meet The Nire in the county final next weekend for the third year in a row.
An Rinn were looking to reach their first decider since 1925 and came oh so close at the death. Two points down, three minutes into injury time, substitute Liam Ó Lonáin connected with a high delivery from Caolan Mac Craith but the ball bounced left and wide.
Rathgormack boss Kenny Hassett agreed that it was their toughest test of the season. “I’d say so. Last week against Ballinacourty, they were very good. They had a few knockbacks but they were so resilient, they kept coming and coming and they were the exact same today.”
Seven different players scored from play for the winners. Stephen Curry led the way with 1-2 including a fisted goal in the first half. An Rinn died with their boots on. They lost attackers Donie Breathnach and Liam Ó Síothcháin to injury but came within a whisker of causing another upset. Ray Ó Ceallaigh netted two penalties and finished with 2-4 from placed balls. Half backs Conor Ó Cuirrín and Caolan Mac Craith ran themselves into the ground.
Referee Tom Mansfield awarded a penalty after just two minutes when Conor Walsh committed a foot block on Conor Mac Diarmada. Ray Ó Ceallaigh sent Padraig Hunt the wrong way from the spot. Rathgormack got back level within three minutes. Billy Power, Jason Curry and Stephen Curry all raised white flags. In the seventh minute, Stephen Curry palmed to the net after a run from Adam Murray.
Rathgormack moved 1-7 to 1-2 ahead but, like they did in the quarter final, An Rinn rallied. Caolan Mac Craith drove forward and kicked two points as they cut the gap to one at the break (1-7 to 1-6).
The high ball caused problems for the Rathgormack defence. Eight minutes into the second half, Mac Diarmada won another penalty and Ó Ceallaigh converted again (1-9 to 2-6). Rathgormack responded with the next four points including a beauty from Conor Murray.
Late points from Oisín Ó Ceallaigh and Fearghal Ó Cuirrín got An Rinn within two but they couldn’t find that match winning goal. Murray punched the air when his injury time effort sailed over.
Scorers for Rathgormack: S Curry 1-2, C Murray, J Curry (2fs) 0-3 each, B Power, J Gleeson (1f) 0-2 each, M Curry, A Murray 0-1 each.
Scorers for An Rinn: R Ó Ceallaigh 2-4 (2-0 pens, 4fs), C Mac Craith 0-2, L Ó Síothcháin, O Ó Ceallaigh, F Ó Cuirrín 0-1 each.
Rathgormack: P Hunt; L Connolly, C Walsh, W Hahessy; S Hahessy, M Power, C Crowch; J Curry, M Curry; J Power, B Power, C Murray; J Gleeson, S Curry, A Murray.
Subs: T Walsh for C Walsh (42), D Hassett for A Murray (51).
An Rinn: T Mac an tSaoir; S Ó Cuirrín, D Ó Cathasaigh, O Ó Dúnaigh; L Ó Corraoin, Conor Ó Cuirrín, C Mac Craith; F Ó hAodha, Cathal Ó Cuirrín; R Ó Ceallaigh, F Ó Cuirrín, J Ó Floinn; C Mac Diarmada, D Breathnach, L Ó Síothcháin.
Subs: P Ó Murchadha for Breathnach (10), C De Róiste for Cathal Ó Cuirrín (48), O Ó Ceallaigh for Ó Síothcháin (55), L Ó Lonáin for Ó Murchadha (58).
Referee: T Mansfield
