Stradbally prove too strong for An Rinn in first semi final since 1925

Stradbally are through to this years County Senior Football final where they will play either The Nire or Ballinacourty after they recorded a comprehensive win over An Rinn at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

Stradbally all year have produced some good football, but it appears that they could well have saved their best will this game, as they put in a faultless performance, with the Aherne brothers Robert and Shane standing out for them.

An Rinn had a tonic start to this game. The game was just a minute old and they had the ball in the Stradbally net. Billí Breathnach was their goal getter, he caught a good pass from Shane O Ceallaigh and he gave Oliver Costello no chance with a well executed shot.

However, the early goal ignited Stradbally more than An Rinn and the rest of the half was totally dominated by the Cove Men.

Shane Aherne knocked a point off An Rinn’s lead when he converted a third minute free and when the same player lander points from play in the fifth and tenth minutes, the sides were all square.

After this both sides found it difficult to score for a while and no further score was registered until the eighteenth minutes when Shane Aherne pointed to give Stradbally the lead for the first time, a lead that they never lost.

Points from Robert Aherne and Tony Grey followed in quick succession which gave Stradbally a double score lead with twenty one minutes on the clock.

A Robert Aherne free seven minutes from the break stretched Stradbally’s lead to four and that lead was seven at the break as Man of the Match Shane Aherne kicked a Hat-trick of unanswered points inside the last four minutes of the opening half.

Stradbally in the second half continued to dominated proceedings.

Shane Aherne from a free hit the first score of the second half and four minutes into the second thirty minutes, David Grey hit Stradbally’s first goal of the game after he received a good pass from Shane Aherne.

Thirty five minutes on from their first score, An Rinn hit their second score of a game, a free converted by Billí Breathnach to bring to an end Stradbally’s run of twelve scores in succession.

But normal service was soon restored as Shane Aherne landed a brace of points, David Grey kicked one and Shane Aherne landed another brace which gave Stradbally a 1-16 to 1-1 lead at the end of the third quarter.

David Grey kicked his third score of the game with thirteen minutes, and ten minutes from time Stradbally raised a second green flag after Robert Aherne finished to the net after some good work by David Grey.

Billí Breathnach put over another free before Robert Aherne did like wise and five minutes from time, Stradbally in a movement that involved about a dozen passes saw Luke Casey slot to the net for a third time for the champions.

Liam Ó Lonáin did manage to kick a point for An Rinn before the end but it proved to be but a mere consolation score for them.

Stradbally: Oliver Costelloe; Paddy Doyle, Kevin Coffey, Andy Doyle; Kevin Lawlor, Eddie Rockett, Tony Grey; Michael Walsh, Paddy Kiely; John Coffey, Shane Ahearne, Tommy Connors; David Grey, Robert Ahearne, Ger Power. Subs: Luke Casey for Andy Doyle, Trevor Curran for John Coffey, Jack Mullaney for Shane Ahearne, Paul Connors for Robert Ahearne, Christopher Casey for Ger Power.

Scorers: Shane Aherne 0-12 (3 frees), Robert Aherne 1-3 (0-2 frees), David Grey 1-2, Luke Casey 1-0, Tony Grey 0-1.

An Rinn: Aonghus O hEochaigh; Cillian O Murchadha, Shane O Cuirrin, Eoghan Breathnach; Noel O Murchadha, Darach Breathnach, Ciarán O Manachain; Liam O Lonáin, Ferdia O hÁodha; Tadhg Ó hUallachain, Lorcán O Corraoin, Shane O Ceallaigh; Billí Breathnach, Cian O Conchúir, Fearghal O Cuirrin. Subs: Jamie De Barúin for Ciarán O Manacháin, Fearghal O Ceallaigh for Shane O Ceallaigh, Ciarán Tóibin for Fearghal O Cuirrin, Tadhg O Cuirrin for Eoghan Breathnach.

Scorers: Billí Breathnach 1-2 (0-2 frees), Liam Ó Lonáin 0-1.

Referee:  Alan Kissane