Rockchapel finally rule the roost

Rockchapel 1-11 Millstreet 0-10

Runners-up in both the 2009 and ’11deciders, the winners’ possession game, support play and finishing proved superior to that offered by a young Millstreet side displaying determination and hunger aplenty but not the accuracy to make it count.

Boosted by a sixth-minute goal from Daniel Curtin, Rockchapel offered the appropriate degrees of desire and remained totally composed in the face of a Millstreet onslaught that kicked nine second-half wides.

Outsiders Millstreet made a decent start on nosing ahead twice before Rockchapel’s confidence received a massive boost on man of the match Seamus Hickey putting Curtin through for his goal. That setback prompted a fine Millstreet response, hitting back with interest, courtesy of points by Tadhg Collins to tie up the game for the fifth occasion.

However, Tony Collins (45) and Ian Guiney frees gave Rockchapel a narrow 1-7 to 0-8 half-time lead.

Collins added to the first-half tally for Millstreet but faulty shooting saw to it that their charge fell short and it allowed a more experienced Rockchapel side to kick on. Late points from John Forrest and Hickey confirmed the all-round acceptance that the better side had prevailed.

Scorers for Rockchapel: I Guiney, L Collins (3f) 0-3 each, D Curtin 1-0, T Collins (45), DJ O’Sullivan, K Collins, G Forrest, S Hickey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Millstreet: T Collins 0-7 (4f), T Kiely, M Murphy, B Murphy 0-1 each.

ROCKCHAPEL: T Collins; P Murphy, E O’Callaghan, B Curtin; B Cahill, K Collins, M Doody; D J O’Callaghan, J Doody; D J O’Sullivan, J Forrest, D Curtin; I Guiney, L Collins, S Hickey.

MILLSTREET: D Twomey; D O’Riordan, P Randles, D McCaul; C Lane, B G Murphy, A Murphy; M Ellis, C Sheehan; M Murphy, P Coleman, L Murphy; T Kiely, T Collins, J Broxton.

Subs: K Hickey for Lane (ht), M Vaughan for Kiely (38), R Kelleher for Broxton (44), L O’Connor for L Murphy (52).

Referee: MJ O’Keeffe (Dromtariffe).