Rathnure fail to make cut despite win
Wednesday August 25 2010
RATHNURE CAME out on top by a three-point margin over MonageerBoolavogue at Castleboro in Group C of the Junior hurling championship, but they still just failed to make the cut for a quarter-final spot.
Rapparees, who went under to unbeaten Adamstown at the same time, had a slightly better scoring difference and thus they go through.
Early points from Leon O'Connell, Martin Redmond and John McCarthy gave Rathnure the better start, but they were rattled by a 13th-minute John O'Loughlin goal.
And when Morgan Rowsome followed up with a point it put MonageerBoolavogue 1-1 to 0-3 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.
Rathnure had crept ahead again by the break (0-8 to 1-4) due mainly to John McCarthy's accuracy from play, while Edmond Rowsome and John Ivory kept Monageer-Boolavogue well in the hunt.
The deciding goal came midway through the second-half, and it was a fine individual effort by Martin Redmond who soloed all the way through from near midfield before slotting the ball to the net for a crucial score that was immediately followed by a pointed free from Leon O'Connell which opened up a five-point lead (1-12 to 17).
John Ivory and Larry Martin then exchanged points but MonageerBoolavogue finished strong with late scores from Ed Rowsome, John Ivory and James Doyle which brought them back to within a single score of the winners.
John O'Loughlin almost scored an equalising goal in the final seconds but his low and hard shot under pressure went inches to the outside of the post for Monageer-Boolavogue who are now in a relegation battle.
