Major shock as St Mary’s claim crown

RATHNEW were sensationally knocked off their senior football throne in Wicklow yesterday as amalgamated side St. Mary’s, coached by Karl O’Dwyer, secured a shock victory in the county final at Aughrim.

The Saints lay early foundations for victory, with Paddy Byrne’s goals firing them to a 2-3 to 0-3 lead at the break.

After the break Leighton Glynn drilled over three Rathhnew points, Tommy Gill chipped in with two more as the champions cut the margin to one point at the end of the third quarter.

Declan Nolan put St. Mary’s two points ahead in the 59th minute, but there was seven minutes of injury-time to be added. Leighton Glynn narrowed the gap to a point on 63 minutes, but, as the clock ticked on for an agonising 13 minutes of injury-time, St. Mary’s refused to buckle.

Scorers for St. Mary’s: Paddy Byrne (2-2), Eamonn Rossiter (0-1), Keith Byrne (0-1), Declan Nolan (0-1).

Scorers for Rathnew: Leighton Glynn (0-5), Tommy Gill (0-4), Mark Doyle (0-1).

ST. MARY’S: J. Corcoran, F. Simpson, C. Rossiter, S. Walker, D. Doyle, N. Murphy, D. Nolan, D. Jackman, J. Cushe, B. Rossiter, P. Dalton, D. Cullen, P. Byrne, E. Rossiter, K. Byrne.

Sub: G. Murphy for D. Cullen

RATHNEW: J. Hollingsworth, A. Clarke, D. Power, P. Merrigan, S. Byrne, S. Canavan, P. Ellis, J. Stafford, S. Kavanagh, E. Glynn, N. Mernagh, E. Doyle, T. Gill, M. Doyle, L. Glynn.

Subs: B. Mernagh for E. Doyle, C. Healy for S. Byrne.

Referee: Kieran Kenny, Tinahely.