Rathmolyon put Clann na nGael to the sword in IHC decider

Rathmolyon's long wait for an IHC title is over after they comprehensively got the better of Clann na nGael on Saturday.

Rathmolyon 2-17

Clann na nGael 1-9

Rathmolyon were immense and full value for their victory over Clann na nGael in the IHC decider at Kiltale on Saturday.

There was a lot of talk in advance of the final about how ‘The Village’ would cope with Clann na nGael’s talented full-forward line of Eamon O Donnchadha, Conor McGovern and Joe Ennis but Rathmolyon’s full-back line had a superb game and Aron Doherty deserves huge credit for curtailing O Donnchadha’s influence on the contest.

Jarlath Ennis and Cathal Regan were brilliant in the half-back line. Goals from Martin Forde and Stephen Mulligan in either half were timely as they pressed home Rathmolyon’s advantage. Kevin Mulligan’s work-rate at wing-forward was fantastic while Joey Christie finished with a nice tally of eight points.

Clann na nGael did find the back of the net late on but that transpired to be nothing more than a consolation. They were also reduced to 14 men when Jessie Murray recieved a straight red card in the 63rd minute but at that stage the game had long gotten away from Gerry Mangan’s side.

It took a few minutes for both sides to settle into the clash but the first score was a cracker. A super sideline cut from Luke Ennis sailed between the posts.

Rathmolyon seized momentum and rattled off five points on the spin. Kevin Mulligan opened their account before Stephen Mulligan set up Christie for a nice point. Simon Ennis split the posts from a tight angle before his brother Jarlath turned on the burners through the Clann na nGael defence and popped the sliotar over the bar. Kevin Mulligan scored his second point in the 11th minute to give his side a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.

O Donnchadha pulled one back for Clann na nGael at the end of the first quarter but his score was immediately cancelled out by Christie. After scoring that super side-line cut early on, Luke Ennis was wide of the target with a few straightforward frees early on but he got his eye in the 19th minute and struck over two nice long-range frees in quick succession.

When they reflect on what went wrong on the day, the Clann na nGael management will not be best pleased with the defending for Rathmolyon’s first goal which came in the 21st minute when Kevin Mulligan set up Forde who finished to the net. Christie followed up with a point a minute later as Rathmolyon pulled six points clear of the opposition.

O Donnchadha who was being well marshalled by the Rathmolyon defence scored his second point in the 23rd minute. Christie traded points with Joe Ennis late in the half. Joe Ennis squandered a goal chance before the interval and at the break Rathmolyon led 1-8 to 0-6.

After opening the scoring in the second-half with a free, Joe Ennis had another goal chance in the 33rd minute. A well-worked team move gave the corner forward the opportunity to fire at goal but his bullet effort went just over the bar.

Stephen Mulligan responded with a point for the eventual winners. There were some question marks over whether Stephen Mulligan fouled Jessie Murray before he struck to the Clann na nGael net in the 36th minute but the goal stood and Rathmolyon were now seven points clear of the opposition.

Joe Ennis put Clann na nGael back to within six of the lead however, they failed to score again for 23 minutes as Rathmolyon ran riot in Kiltale. Daniel Callaghan added his name to the scoresheet before points in quick succession from Christie and Forde increased the Village’s lead to nine points. Kevin Mulligan had a goal chance blocked in the 45th minute before Forde converted the resulting ‘65’.

A brace of points from Christie extended Rathmolyon’s lead to 12 points which left Clann na nGael with a mountain to climb in the final quarter.

Simon Ennis then set up Gary Doherty for a nice score with 10 minutes left on the clock. Clann na nGael went in search for goals and they eventually got one in the 59th minute. John Harnan did very well to stop O Donnchadha’s initial effort before subsitutue Eoin Kelliher raised a consolation green flag.

Christie fisted the air with delight after he responded for Rathmolyon with his eighth point. Clann na nGael were reduced to 14 men when Jessie Murray clattered Kevin Mulligan with an awful challenge and received a deserving red card. Soon after, the final whistle sounded and Rathmolyon were crowned IHC champions.

Rathmolyon: John Harnan; Dylan Doonan, Sean Mulligan, Aron Doherty; Jamie Doonan, Jarlath Ennis (0-1), Cathal Regan; Robert Ennis, Jack Payne; Daniel Callaghan (0-1), Martin Forde (1-2 one ‘65’), Kevin Mulligan (0-2); Stephen Mulligan (1-1), Simon Ennis (0-1), Joey Christie (0-8 two frees). Subs: Vincent Ward for S Mulligan 38m, Gary Doherty (0-1) for Callaghan 45m, Thomas Cullen for Forde 51m, Ben Morgan for Payne, 56m, Daithi Grehan for S Mulligan 63m.

Clann na nGael: Brendan Smith; Daragh O’Reilly, Ciarán Fitzsimons, Jessie Murray; Eugene O’Reilly, Jack Doherty, Evan Cole; Seán O’Reilly, Niall O’Reilly; Josh McGrath, Eoin Fitzsimons, Luke Ennis (0-3 two frees, one sideline-cut); Eamon O Donnchadha (0-2), Conor McGovern, Joe Ennis (0-4 three frees). Subs: Diarmuid O Donnchadha for McGrath 23m, Gerry O’Sullivan for E Fitzsimons 26m, Dylan Doherty for L Ennis 47m, Eoin Kelleher (1-0) for McGovern 51m, Odhran Daly for C Fitzsimons 53m.

Referee: Mark Reilly (Kilmessan).