Wicklow SFC Final/ Rathnew 0-15 Shillelagh 1-11: Ah, the howling winds of Aughrim. They were so strong yesterday that the result hinged more on the flick of a coin than anything else.
Strange then that Shillelagh, in their first ever final against the dominant force in the last decade of Wicklow football, won the toss only to hand the initial advantage to Rathnew. The gamble failed.
By halfway through the first half, the Rathnew leaders had found their stride. Tommy Gill, looking refreshed after opting out of intercounty duties this year, posted three early scores. All from memory.
It was the captain though, Trevor Doyle, who really shone by adding a sideline and 45 to his deadly-accurate free-taking repertoire.
The 23-year-old Leighton Glynn led the Wicklow attack this year. Yesterday he dominated the county final from centre back. The latest quality footballer from Rathnew took a layoff from Gill to stretch the lead to five points. It was seven by the break.
The place they call the Village would have been seeking 10 titles in a row if they had not been caught cold by St Patrick's in last year's decider so the motivation was there in spades.
There was also the matter of Gill. He may now be 30 but on this man-of-the-match display will be in demand with county next season.
Gill was not fully fit but a winter of graft will address that. A run in Leinster with Offaly champions Clara first up will also help. He put into context what victory meant to the throng of Rathnew people standing around him.
"After getting beaten last year everyone had written us off but to come back with a team performance like that was just amazing. It means so much. Sure, you can see it's the pride and joy of these people. We knew if we got beat this year we wouldn't have come back so we had to."
Despite leading by seven points, Rathnew narrowly avoided a nightmare finale. Referee Pat Keogh had a good feel for the contest throughout but found four and a half minutes of injury-time after signalling only two.
The four Byrne brothers of Shillelagh all played their part in a revival, particularly Paddy, who gathered a deflection five minutes into the second half to slip the ball under goalkeeper Tommy Murphy. The industrious David Cullen and Raymond Murphy hit points either side of the goal to give voice to those who had travelled up from the Wexford border.
Rathnew carried the ball back into the gale with Gill, on his weaker right foot, and Doyle landing hugely important scores in reply.
They played like a team who had been here many times. Declan Byrne and James Stafford gained midfield parity, while veteran corner back Mick Coffey made some vital interceptions.
"We were playing well, in control of the game, but you saw the conditions out there, so it just became a case of them getting some big bombs down on top of us," said manager Harry Murphy.
"Our defence, especially the full back line, was magnificent but it had to be. The lads have probably done more work this year than other years but fair play to them, they came through.
"Tommy stepped up with some magnificent scores and the younger fellas who came in this year - because we did lose a lot of big names - did their job and they will bring the club forward again."
Points from Raymond Murphy and Paddy and Ciarán Byrne brought the lead back to a goal coming into injury-time. When Stephen Byrne kicked a free from 50 yards it suddenly became apparent that, on momentum alone, Rathnew could actually lose this game.
The timekeeping didn't help but they survived with heroic defending.
So, nine titles in 10 years, 28 in total. Not bad. Four of this team have the full set dating back to 1996: goalkeeper Murphy, Mark Coffey, Declan Byrne and the unerringly accurate Doyle.
RATHNEW: T Murphy; S Doherty, D Power, M Coffey; S Byrne, L Glynn (0-1), C Murphy; D Byrne, J Stafford; R Dignam, T Doyle (0-7, three frees, one 45, one sideline), A Clarke; B Mernagh, T Gill (0-5, two frees), N Mernagh (0-2).
SHILLELAGH: L Behan; F Simpson, G Carroll, A Hennessy; V Blake, N Murphy, P Hennessy; C Byrne (0-1), D Nolan; K Byrne, S Byrne (0-2, free), R Murphy (0-2); P Byrne (1-3, 0-2 frees), M Slye (0-1), D Cullen (0-2). Subs: G Murphy for D Nolan (43 mins).
Referee: P Keogh (Kiltegan).
