Wonderful Raharney book Leinster semi-final slot

Gerry Buckley reportsLast Sunday was a red-letter day in the long and illustrious history of Raharney hurling club, who struck a significant blow for the small ball game in Westmeath when they deservedly ousted Offaly champions Coolderry in the quarter-final of the Leinster championship at Cusack Park, the Deelsiders displaying outstanding tenacity and passion - and no little skill - from the start to the finish of a memorable game.The visitors were unabackable favourites at 1/12 for Sunday’s game and, in truth, they looked significantly the better team throughout the first half. However, they failed to convert a number of decent goal chances and also shot some poor wides (eight to the winners’ one in the opening half-hour), allowing Johnny Greville‘s men to be still well in contention at the break, when trailing by just two points (0-10 to 0-8).Within six minutes of the resumption of play, the Westmeath champions were on level terms again and the scoreboard read 0-13 each, with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. Raharney’s increased self-belief was now evident throughout the pitch and a fine point from Cormac Boyle and a huge free from Brian Connaughton put them two points to the good. In the 50th minute, Damien Murray had to be content with a point when his shot for a goal from a close-range free flew over the Raharney crossbar.Indeed, the Offaly men failed to score for the remainder of the contest, as they went all out in search of a match-saving goal. However, a disciplined Raharney defence excelled in the closing stages and further points from John Shaw (from a disputed free) and another great score from Brian Smyth sealed a remarkable win for the Lake County representatives.The victory was all the more remarkable given that marquee defender-cum-attacker Paul Greville, who has had a really marvellous 2010 in both codes, was virtually anonymous throughout the game at full forward.Just over 1,500 spectators turned up on a cold and wintry afternoon in Cusack Park and the Westmeath contingent are likely to remember this game for a long time. Prior to the National Anthem, sung by Una Duggan, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed in memory of the recently-deceased quintet of Andrew Geoghegan, Vincent Sheils, Patrick Fitzgerald, Paul Fagan and Adrian Pey.Coolderry had wind advantage blowing towards the Dunnes Stores end of the ground, but it was Raharney who opened the scoring courtesy of a neat point from 25 metres by their captain John Shaw in the third minute. Coolderry then took control and they rattled off four unanswered points between the sixth and 11th minutes, two each from speedy corner forward Kevin Connolly - the second of which should have been a goal - and inter-county midfielder Brian Carroll, the first following a dubious lineball award and the second availing of loose Raharney defending.The blue and whites looked in real trouble at this juncture and were fortunate when Cathal Parlon took too many steps as he bore down on goal. In the 13th minute, the winners reduced the deficit, an alert Brendan McKeogh pointing after John Shaw hit the upright from what seemed a pretty routine free by his standards. Andrew Doyle pulled off a great save from Cathal Parlon and Coolderry’s profligacy was gratefully accepted by Brian Smyth who shot a great point from a tight angle at the end of an immediate Raharney counterattack.Brendan McKeogh added a fine point and, against the run of play, the Deelsiders were on level terms (0-4 each) after 19 minutes. A needlessly-conceded free allowed Damien Murray to open his account for Coolderry from 35 metres, but fine play by Brian Connaughton soon teed up John Shaw for a classy point for the winners.Chris Flanagan, another player to have a fine hour for Raharney, then produced a vital hook on Martin Corcoran. In the 23rd minute, Cathal Parlon pointed in style for the Offaly champions, but a well-judged free from 50 metres by John Shaw and an opportunist point from Brian Smyth (after Stephen Corcoran batted out Dan Riggs’ shot) edged the winners a point ahead, with five minutes of normal time remaining in the first half.Three quickfire points from Kevin Brady (a wonderful score after blocking Cormac Boyle) and Damien Murray (a brace of frees, from 65 and 50 metres respectively) put the men in green and white two points ahead. In the closing minutes, John Shaw and Eoin Ryan traded well-taken points, with a wide from a long-range free by Brian Carroll proving to be the last puck of the first half. At the break, Coolderry led by 0-10 to 0-8.Within 30 seconds of the resumption of play, Andrew Doyle had to be alert to keep out a flicked effort from Eoin Ryan. A converted 45-metre free from John Shaw soon halved the deficit and Cormac Boyle levelled the contest with a wonderful point from near the terrace sideline. The tit-for-tat scoring continued with two fine points from Damien Murray and Brian Carroll being cancelled out by two Raharney frees - Brian Connaughton (70 metres) and John Shaw (half that distance).Just past the midpoint of the second half, another converted free from Damien Murray edged the losers in front, but outstanding defending from the winners precipitated a great move which ended with Brian Smyth tieing up the scores yet again with a great point. Within a minute, an astute pass from John Shaw freed Cormac Boyle who duly dissected the posts from 50 metres.A successful free from the halfway line by Brian Connaughton followed and it was now clear to all and sundry that Johnny Greville’s men really believed they could win the tie. With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Damien Murray’s attempt to blast a goal from a close-range free resulted in only a point.Alan Corcoran was then unluckily penalised for stopping substitute Frank Boyle in his tracks and John Shaw showed great composure and leadership to slot over a tricky free. Coolderry then shot their first wide of the second moiety before Frank Boyle did very well to find Brian Smyth who cut in goalward and slotted over a terrific point. It was desperation stakes for the overwhelming pre-match favourites in the closing stages.Damien Murray’s ambitious attempt to goal from a 35-metre free was unsuccessful and Donie Carey’s block on Michael Ryan epitomised Raharney’s wonderful attitude. Deep into added-time, Andrew Doyle did very well to keep out Paddy Teehan’s goalbound effort and, moments later, Raharney players, mentors and supporters were deservedly celebrating a truly marvellous win.Raharney now face Oulart The Ballagh in the penultimate round in Cusack Park on Sunday week next. The Wexford champions will undoubtedly be on their guard after last weekend and are likely to be very difficult opponents for the Deelsiders. However, a repetition of the never-say-die spirit which they displayed in last Sunday’s heroic win should guarantee a mouth-watering tie in Mullingar on November 14.Raharney: Andrew Doyle; Robert McKeogh, Conor Jordan, Donie Carey; Tony Doyle, Brian Connaughton (0-2, both from frees), Alan Giles; Niall Flanagan, Chris Flanagan; Cormac Boyle (0-2), John Shaw (0-7, 0-4 from frees), Brian Smyth (0-4); Brendan McKeogh (0-2), Paul Greville, Dan Riggs. Subs: Frank Boyle (for Riggs, 42 mins), Joey Boyle (for B. McKeogh, 48 mins).Coolderry: Stephen Corcoran; Alan Corcoran, Trevor Corcoran, Brian Kelly; David King, Joe Brady, Kevin Brady (0-1); Brian Carroll (0-3), Kevin Teehan; Damien Murray (0-6, 0-5 from frees), Barry Teehan, Martin Corcoran; Eoin Ryan (0-1), Cathal Parlon (0-1), Kevin Connolly (0-2). Subs: Paddy Teehan (for Ryan, 44 mins), Brendan O’Meara (for M. Corcoran, 45 mins), Michael Ryan (for K.Teehan, 51 mins), Barry Larkin (for King, 55 mins), Danny Masterson (for A. Corcoran, 60 mins).Referee: James Owens (Wexford).