'A huge, huge day' - goals key as Russell Rovers clinch silverware again
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After going all the way to the All-Ireland junior club hurling championship final in January of 2020, Russell Rovers are back on the glory trail. That time, they lost to Conahy Shamrocks, Kilkenny side in the Croke Park decider.
On Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, they set the wheels in motion when they claimed the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier JHC title - their first since 2019.
The ability to take goal chances and at crucial times, was critical in securing the Jimmy O’Mahony Cup.
Last season’s defeated Cork and All-Ireland finalists and fellow east Cork side St Catherine’s were in the opposite corner, but they took a lot of time to settle.
Meanwhile, Brian Hartnett raised the first green flag in the third minute, and Russell Rovers were up and running.
“We won this in 2019 and suffered from re-grading back down. It is a huge, huge day and it is great for us to get over the line,” manager Dave Dorgan said.
“I got involved with Dónal Óg (Cusack) and the rest of the management team this year. We’ve worked well, worked hard as an overall group. Just rewards for everybody today.
“There was a lot at stake for both teams. Both would probably say they didn’t play to their best. St Catherine’s have been on the go now for nearly two years, it is a long trek for them. It is important to them and important to us.” Russell Rovers turned 1-8 to 0-4 ahead.
Josh Beausang contributed six of their first-half points.
The men from Shanagarry, Churchtown south, Ballycotton and Garryvoe were also boosted before any sliotar was hit when centre-back James Kennefick got his red card rescinded after a hearing by Munster GAA the evening before the game.
Not so good news though for St Catherine’s Richie O’Connell who failed to have his red card overturned. As well, Denis Walsh’s squad had a number of injuries to contend with.
Encouraged by their promising start, twice Russell Rovers denied the Saints successive goal shots in the opening quarter, the first from Seán O’Donoghue which was brilliantly saved by Ross Walsh and the follow-up from Brian Mulcahy came off the post.
When the ball was worked straight down the field, Beausang rifled over from play.
Another brace was added to lead 1-3 to 0-2 midway through the half.
St Catherine’s were getting very little change out of the Russell Rovers defence, their second point of the first quarter not arriving until the 15th minute.
Beausang continued to find the target, Brian Mulcahy firing St Catherine’s third point in the 24th minute.
Oisín Fitzgerald tried his best to rally the troops and the Saints finished with a Galvin free, to leave the half time score, 1-8 to 0-4.
St Catherine’s sub William Leamy was straight into the action, so too was centre-forward Galvin who supplied three points from play.
With their bench making an impact, Eoghan O’Riordan cut the gap,1-11 to 0-11, in the 49th minute.
Just as they were gaining a foothold, Russell Rovers captain Ciarán Sheehan led by example with Kieran Walsh and sub Jack McGrath involved in the build-up, the 2010 All-Ireland football winner crashed the net from close range, easing the nerves.
St Catherine’s Eoin Davis was forced to go for goal from a 30metre free and when that was saved three minutes from time, they were running out of clock.
Dan Mangan came in for St Catherine’s, and while he won a few frees they couldn’t get the goal required.
The Russell Rovers support went into raptures when Luke Duggan Murray netted goal number three in the second minute of stoppage.
“We’ll enjoy tonight, the next day or two,” Dorgan continued. “But we have a semi-final of Munster in two weeks' time (Moyle Rovers in Cork). We’ll have a crack off that. We’ll give it our best shot and see where we finish.”
J Beausang (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), L Duggan Murray (1-2), B Hartnett (1-1), C Sheehan (1-0), R Cummins, K Walsh and K Moynihan (0-1 each).
: R Galvin (0-2 frees) and B Mulcahy (0-1 free) (0-5 each), E Davis (free), E O’Riordan, S O’Donoghue, D Mangan (free) and K Wallace (0-1 each).
: R Walsh; K O’Brien, E O’Sullivan, K Tattan; F Murray, J Kennefick, R Cummins; D Moynihan, K Walsh; L Duggan Murray, K Moynihan, M O’Dwyer; J Beausang, C Sheehan (Capt), B Hartnett.
Subs: P Lane for F Murray (43), D Ruddy for M O’Dwyer (47), J McGrath for B Hartnett (50), S Walsh for K Tattan (56), K Ivers for K Moynihan (65).
E Davis; F O’Connell, E O’Riordan (J-Capt), P Keane; C Hegarty (J-Capt), O Fitzgerald, K Neville; K O’Donoghue, J Hayes; J Neville, R Galvin, E Condon; B Mulcahy, K Barry, S O’Donoghue.
Subs: W Leamy for K Barry (half-time), K Wallace for K O’Donoghue, S Cotter for J Hayes (both 37), G O’Brien for K Neville (43), D Mangan for E Condon (50).
: Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).
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