Rathnew will forever wonder why they decided, having won the toss, to play against the gale-force wind in the first half of this semi-final at Parnell Park yesterday. They will also reflect on the fact that, in their defeat by Kildare champions Clane, they failed to score a single point from play.
Yet the performance of Clane was impressive to the extent that one could be forgiven for saying that they were well deserving of their eight-point margin at the end.
Nor is it a coincidence that the two best players on the pitch, Paul McCormack and Martin Lynch, both contributed four points from play, as Clane qualified to meet Erin's Isle from Dublin in the final of the Leinster championship.
Sadly for Rathnew they never looked like a side which could upset Clane's smooth quality play. Rathnew's robust performance certainly gave the winners many moments of concern, but once Clane had taken an unanswered five-point lead after 20 minutes, the writing was on the wall for the Wicklow champions.
The score at half-time was seven points to two and when Rathnew cut the margin by a point in the first minute of the second half, their supporters in a dedicated crowd of some 3,000 gave them full vocal support.
Unfortunately things became a little heated on and off the pitch toward the middle of the second half. A player from each side was dismissed by referee Pat Casserley while gardai were called into action in the main stand as some spectators were also given their marching orders - although no one was arrested or charged.
In the first half, with the wind in their favour, it took Clane some time to get their shots on target and a tally of nine wides was recorded while several attempts at scoring fell short.
Paul McLoughlin broke the deadlock in the fifth minute and Denis O'Connell, Paul McCormack, Martin Lynch (two) racked up a lead of five points without reply before Darren Coffey notched Rathnew's first score.
In fact, Coffey was to be the lone scorer for his club on the day.
Clane, by way of wing back Kevin McDonald, Paul McLoughlin and Paul McCormack (again), left Clane with seven points at the break, with Rathnew's captain Coffey scoring two frees in reply before the break.
With the wind in their backs for the second half, Rathnew were expected to launch a considerable response, but although Trojan efforts were made by Eamon White, Mark Coffey, Darren Coffey, Declan Byrne and Tommy Gill, they failed to make any great impression on the Clane defence.
In that sector, John Finn, Kevin McDonald, Brian Cahill and Tom Cribben were well supported by midfielders Brian Murphy and Willie McCreery. However, it was at wing forward that Paul McCormack and Martin Lynch made the greatest impression, with Lynch doing magnificent work all through the field.
In the closing minutes, Rathnew strove manfully for a goal without result. Neither side seemed to be overly upset with the dismissal of Trevor Doyle (Rathnew) and Denis O'Connell (Clane) within a few minutes of each other midway through the second half, but O'Connell will be anxious to know of the contents of the referee's report before he can be confident of his availability for the final. Dangerous play is the likely decision, in which case a minimum suspension of two weeks is likely.
Clane: P Kilkenny; B Connolly, J Finn, K McLoughlin; K McDonald (O-1), T Cribben, B Cahill; B Murphy, W McCreery; P McCormack (0- 4), P McLoughlin (0-2, frees), M Lynch (0-4); B O'Donovan, D O'Connell (0-1), J Chatten. Subs: J Gleeson for O'Donovan (51 mins).
Rathnew: T Murphy; E Franey, E White, V Collard; M Dignam, M Coffey, T McDonald; D Coffey (0-4, frees), D Byrne; P Doyle, T Doyle, J Snell; T Gill, R Coffey, T McGivern. Subs: K Gill for McGivern (45 mins), C Duffy for Snell (56 mins).
Referee: P Casserley (Westmeath).
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