Late Multy’ rally ensures victory

Multyfarnham 0-15, CFCW 0-11

Paul Doolin

A rip roaring and end-to-end contest in a well-appointed St. Mary's Rochfortbridge venue came right down to the final moments and it was the Junior champions from 2022 who emerged victorious against the 2021 champions after a game that had more twists and turns than a country road. Multyfarnham looked lacklustre in the opening half, but completely turned it around after the break, while Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall were very impressive until half-time but could not sustain their challenge against a strong breeze.

Multy shared the workload and scoring well while CFCW were slightly too dependent on Conor Gaffney, but that being said, he was simply outstanding and some of his scoring was of the sublime standard. Multy, though, were patient and kept plugging and despite patches of mediocrity and 12 bad wides, they just held their nerve to claim the spoils and get their season up and running. As for CFCW, they will certainly regard this game as a chance missed.

Finea started like a whirlwind and with wind advantage took the game to Multy and barely 60 seconds had elapsed when a 45' from Emmett Corrigan was flicked to the net by Conor Gaffney. It was followed with points from Mark Cunningham and a beauty from long-range by Joe Rabbitte and they dominated the first quarte, but also left some scores behind. Stephen Sweeney got Multy off the mark with a nice score, but Gaffney and then Rabbitte from a free pointed to increase the gap to six. Ronan Wallace, from a free, and Ian McGovern with a fine individual effort narrowed the gap momentarily, but the excellent Gaffney scored another brilliant individual point to keep Multy at arms distance. However, the Friary village had the last say of the half from a Luke Nangle free and C/F/C/W led by 1-5 to 0-4 at the short whistle, following a half which, in the main, they dominated.

LATE RALLY

McGovern for Multy and Gaffney for CFCW exchanged points on the restart and the game continued to ebb and flow, but after a brilliant save by Garry Sullivan in the C/F/C/W goals from Ronan Wallace, the latter added two absolute top class points and Finea had re-established a six-point advantage. They looked good value for a win, but they would not add to that tally for the next 10 minutes as Multy hit a purple patch. Five points without reply from Ciaran Madden, McGovern, Luke Nangle, from a huge distance, and 2 superb efforts from Stephen Sweeney. Suddenly just a single point separated the sides with 10 minutes to play.

It looked as if Gaffney would be the hero again for C/F/C/W as he hit a magnificent score from play and then converted a free, but Anthony McGivney, a Nangle free and an opportunist strike from sub Louis Greene had Multy level with two minutes of normal time on the clock. Again Gaffney shouldered the responsibility and kicked Finea ahead with another exquisite point and it looked all over, but Stephen Sweeney levelled after C/F/C/W failed to clear routinely. From the kick-out, Luke Nagle struck for the winner in the 62nd minute and despite a late, late rally from Finea it proved not enough to yield an equaliser. Multy had pulled the iron from the fire when it mattered most.

Scorers - Multyfarnham; Luke Nangle (2 frees) and Stephen Sweeney 0-4 each, Ian McGovern 0-3, Ciaran Madden, Anthony McGivney, Ronan Wallace (free) and Louis Greene 0-1 each. C/F/C/W: Conor Gaffney 1-8 (1 free), Joe Rabbitte 0-2 (1 free), Mark Cunningham 0-1.

Multyfarnham: Craig Sweeney, Aran Whelan, Feichin Brennan, Tommy McGivney, Josh Lee, Cian Lee, Adam Bates, Ciaran Madden, Anthony McGivney, Luke Nangle, Stephen Sweeney, Adam Loughrey, Ian McGovern, Ronan Wallace, Gareth Mullaniff. Subs: Louis Greene for Loughrey (H-T), Jamie Coffey for Mullaniff (40 mins), Shane Williams for McGovern (52 mins).

C/F/C/W: Garry Sullivan, Peter Connors, Darragh O’Reilly, Oisin Gaffney, Charlie McCormack, Emmett Corrigan, Glen Plunkett, Darren Kilcoyne, Luke Moore, Ryan Moore, David Devine, Donald Moore, Conor Gaffney, Joe Rabbitte, Mark Cunningham. Subs: John McCarthy for McCormack (H-T), Conor O’Grady for Donald Moore (42 mins).

Referee: Ken Gunning (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge).