Second half tweak key to Thurles resurrection in Croke Cup final
After identifying Athenry's aerial threat, Thurles began to work the ball through the lines in the second half. It turned an eight-point deficit to a one-point win. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Maybe Jason Rabbitte saw Joe Canning do it, or maybe it was his own father Joe that provided the inspiration.
Either way, when Rabbitte the younger pulled off a sumptuous reverse hand-pass into the path of Cian Hannon for a 39th minute Presentation College, Athenry score, the westerners had all the momentum.
Not long after, Frank Burke burst beyond the CBS Thurles full-back and struck to the net to open up an eight-point, 2-14 to 0-12, lead.
Finally, it appeared, Athenry's wait for a first ever Croke Cup title, and the broader 30-year famine experienced by Galway schools, looked like it was over.
Unfortunately for them, Thurles never got the memo and 20 or so minutes later, it was a second title for the Tipperary school, and a first since 2009, that was being celebrated and not a western win.
Thurles manager Niall Cahill said afterwards that, at the beginning of the year, he and the management weren't sure if the players would 'work hard enough for it'. That wasn't a slight on the group just a fear every management team has at the start of a new year.
But if it wasn't already clear by the manner of their Harty Cup success, or their subsequent four-point All-Ireland semi-final win, the Thurles players proved once again in the final 20 minutes that they're clutch performers.
Midfielders Euan Murray and Kieran Rossiter led the siege, providing their team with a platform to wreak havoc. From eight points down, they won by one, free-taker Cormac Fitzpatrick hitting what proved the decisive score in the 60th minute.
"All the big matches, they've come through!" gushed manager Cahill. "Their work rate is always just through the roof. And that's something to be so proud of. We know they're stylish hurlers but when you know they're hard working hurlers as well, that's just brilliant."
It wasn't just that Thurles dug in, it was how they dug in. Identifying Athenry's aerial ability as a big threat, particularly around the half-back line, Thurles cleverly worked the ball short and through the lines for a number of their second-half scores. Like in the 52nd minute when goalkeeper Harry Loughnane came out and fizzed a pass down the right wing to captain Robbie Ryan who, in turn, fed Rossiter for an expertly worked point.
"They took that on themselves, absolutely," said Cahill of his team's in-game tactical tweak. "They (Athenry) were very strong in the air, we were losing a lot. I mean, the turnovers, I wouldn't think those stats look too good for us, I wouldn't like to be looking back on it. Thankfully we won't have to now."
A second final defeat in three seasons was tough on Athenry who threw everything they had at this one. They conceded six of the game's first seven points yet were still back level at half-time, 1-8 to 0-11. That was partly due to Aaron Niland's cheeky goal attempt from a free in the 29th minute which deflected in off Loughnane.
Niland, a Galway senior panellist and a county U-20 last year, only came on after 20 minutes due to a long-term hamstring injury.
He had a dramatic impact, taking 10 shots and returning 1-2. There were six wides in there, including one from a long-range shot with only seconds left in the game, as well as a first-half attempt that dropped short.
Still, his goal late in the first-half energised his team enough to reel off 1-6 without response after the restart.
Ciaran Leen drilled three points during that blitz which climaxed with the Burke goal. Suddenly, Athenry led by eight points and had one hand on the Croke Cup.
Their world came caving in around them though as Thurles redoubled their efforts and slowly but surely started to turn the screw. Robbie Ryan's 46th minute point was a cracker from the wing. Rossiter's in the 50th minute, set up by goalkeeper Loughnane again, was another beauty. The momentum had shifted and when Niland took another pot shot at goal from a 54th minute free, and hit the sidenetting, it was starting to look ominous for Athenry.
"I knew there would be a phase where Thurles would hit a purple patch," said Athenry manager Paul Hoban. "Their midfielder Rossiter made a couple of darting runs up through the middle and they kept tacking on points and we probably left a few out there behind us ourselves.
"We can't be questioned for effort. They're a superb bunch of lads. Finals come down to fine margins and we just didn't come out the right side of it."
C Fitzpatrick 0-10 (8 frees); K Rossiter 0-4; C Minogue 0-3; E Murray 0-2; K Loughnane, J Hayes, J Butler, D Costigan, B Ryan 0-1 each.
C Leen 0-9 (6 frees); A Niland 1-2 (1-0 free); F Burke 1-1; E Hannon, C Hannon 0-2 each; J Rabbitte 0-1.
H Loughnane; J Lahart, E Morris, T Corbett; K Cantwell, K Loughnane, D Bargary; E Murray, K Rossiter; T Ryan, D Costigan, C Fitzpatrick; J Hayes, R Ryan, C Minogue.
J Butler for T Ryan (41); D Hickey for Cantwell (47); L Donoghue for Costigan (63).
C Callanan; A MacDonagh, S Murphy, L Keane; M Fallon, D Counihan, R Burke; C Fitzpatrick, R Murphy; C Hannon, F Burke, E O'Brien; J Rabbitte, C Leen, E Hannon.
A Niland for R Burke (20); E McDonagh for F Burke (58); J Diviney for C Hannon (60); S Brady for Fallon (64).
J Murphy (Limerick).
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