Where to begin? I keep getting song lyrics ringing in my ears- ‘The King’ I just can’t help believing…..Simon & Garfunkle- I’m just a poor boy….Film wise The Magnificent Seven or more likely The Magnificent ’18’ or maybe ‘The Great Escape’ or ‘Escape from Cromane’. One thing I’m sure and certain of, this match will be spoken about for many, many years to come, for ALL the right reasons! In time I think a lot of people who weren’t there to witness this game will talk as if they were, such was the performance of all involved. From numbers 1 to 20, to our marvellously dedicated supporters who kindly took the time to travel out to see us, (much appreciated by all of us involved), thanks. To Damien McLoughlin (physio) and Adrienne McLoughlin for her brilliant photography work, thanks a million, much appreciated. We’d be nowhere either without that superb linesman Ger Mannix, your a star, thanks, and also to Martin Collins for his help and assistance throughout the year, thank you. If I’ve left anyone out, I’m sorry.
After arriving early to Cromane, we had to wait, as unfortunately, the referee had managed to go to the wrong pitch. We had all our plans put into place before we left the club, but as the saying goes ‘you can make the plans BUT you can’t guarantee the outcome. We lined out as follows with in goal that ever consistant, Shane Begley, who again did not let us down, with good saves and very clever kick outs, always alert to the short ball. Liam Walsh, who’ll be hoping our full back Brian Kearney, wins the lotto some time and our own Paul Galvin. All three were outstanding and Paul dived full stretch for a brilliant block down with only seconds left on the clock. Half back line Mr. Consistency all year – Seanie Power, Tommy Mc Loughlin, our top scoring back for season and Anthony Shanahan, Ciaran O’Connell (captain) and Shane Crowley, who was unlucky to pick up an ankle injury 12 minutes into the match, but was ably replaced by Darragh Healy, our half forward line ran themselves silly all day, with Paul McCannon and Theo Diggin running until they dropped practically, they were aided by Dave Varley who did a superb job between the two 40’s for us. Pat Costelloe, Martin Courtney and David Courtney (our top scorers) made up the full forward line. The bench was made up of Dara Healy, Alan Duggan, Richard Conway, myself, Maurice Kelter and Padraig Breen.
The match got under way eventually at 2.56pm and within the first minute Waterville received a handy free from 20 yards which they converted. The 4th minute saw our first score coming from the boot of Pat Costelloe, who was just terrific all day, receiving a joint man of the match performance along with Dave Varley. In the 7th minute Waterville got their first point from play. Three minutes later and again “Pretty Boy” was involved, finding David Courtney who pointed from play to square things up. Waterville got another point from play in the 12th minute and from the kick out our Shane Crowley was awkwardly bundled to the ground and sustained an ankle injury. Shane had to be replaced by Dara Healy, who took to the task like a cat to cream. We were very dominant for the first 15 minutes, and twice in this time Waterville cleared balls off the line – it was beginning to look like, ‘one of those days’. In the 15th minute a quickly cleared ball out of the Waterville defence found the only gap all day in the Rock defence and somehow the ball found its way into the Rock net. Two minutes later and that ever reliably free taker, Martin Courtney converted a pointed free after Paul McCannon was fouled.
What happened next, from my own point of view, and I’m sure begged belief from fans both Rockies and Waterville changed the whole context of the match. A pass which was just too long for David Courtney, was met with frustration from David, he proceeded to kick the ground and the ref immediately produced a red card, very harsh indeed. In my opinion it warranted no more than a yellow. David’s brother protested to the ref and he also received a very harsh red card. 18 minutes gone and down to 13 men, but to be fair you never would have thought it as we played really well in the last 12 minutes of the half. The Rock chased and followed everything and in the 24th minute Pat Costelloe pointed another free from approx. 25 yards against a strong wind. Waterville added 2 more points from play in the 25th & 28th minutes before half time. Half time and 4 points down 1-05 to 4 points, a lot of talking to be done in the dressing room by Kevin, Seanie, Peter(pop) and our chairman Aidan O’Connor contributed some words of wisdom. Personally, I think, the most encouraging thing that happened in the dressing room was to see how upset and heart broken both Martin and David Courtney were. If it hadn’t been for both their performances throughout the season and in particular the drawn match against Waterville, we would not have been in a replay, thanks lads.
They’re wasn’t a negative word in the dressing room and at no point did anyone in the dressing room ever think that The Rock were going to lose this match. An emotionally charged pep talk and our troops headed back out to do battle, full in the knowledge that our 4 remaining subs would be called in when the petrol gauge showed empty. Everyone pulled together and resumed to chase and follow every ball until they dropped. Pat ‘Pretty Boy’ Costelloe was holding the fort on his own in front of goals, not wasting a ball all through the 2nd half that came into him. A minute into 2nd half he won a free 35 yards out on the right hand side line, up stepped our captain Ciaran O’Connell and the second he kicked it, he punched the air, knowing it was only going one place, between the posts, the crowd erupted. A minute later and Waterville scored another point from play. The 34th and 36th minutes saw two more frees for the Rock won by Pat Costelloe and Theo Diggin, both of these were on the right hand sideline, 38 and 43 yards out. Not a bother, up stepped Ciaran again to slot between the posts, the crowd were coming to life.
At this stage we were winning all the breaking balls with everyone on the pitch putting their heads where most men wouldn’t put their feet. Dara Healy, David Varley and Paul McCannon were contesting everything. The 38th minute and Ciaran won a breaking ball from the Waterville kick out, Ciaran picked out Dave Varley, who carried and superbly found Theo Diggin with a pin-point pass, head down and heading for goal, Theo said after all he could hear in his head was myself and Seanie saying low and hard, I don’t know about low and hard but it was an unbelievable finish to the net, to put us in front for the first time in the game. A minute later and Waterville got what proved to be their final score of the match a point from play. In the 46th minute Tommy Mc Loughlin made a superb run forward and finished the move himself with a point from play app 30 yards out. The 48th minute saw yet another minor introduced to the field when Alan Duggan came on for Paul McCannon, Paul had ran himself unselfishly to a standstill, and although the heart wanted the legs gave in. Probably Paul’s finest performance of the year. Pat Costelloe was unlucky to kick a free just wide in the 49th minute but made up for it a minute later, kicking a fine point from play 30 yards out, following a pass from Alan Duggan who was involved from the second he was introduced.
Two points up and just over 8 minutes left plus stoppage time and we had an injury scare to Dave Varley, throughout the second half we had many stoppages and scares but at least the breathers helped our 13 warriors. Dave was down but not out, a comment management soon had him forgetting about his leg and indeed brought a laugh from the referee. But another big talking point was about to be unveiled. On the left hand sideline opposite the stand, Anthony Shanahan clashed with a Waterville player. While Anthony lay ‘stricken’ on the ground, a Waterville player tried pulling Anthony off the ground. I myself was attending Anthony and pushed the Waterville player away. I got a punch into the face then after encouraging him to punch again, he duly obliged and connected sweetly with my nose just as the referee arrived on the scene. The ref had no choice but to issue a straight red to the Waterville player. I had been preparing to come on but the 2nd punch put paid to this as my nose was now clearly broken. Instead Richie ‘Gold dust’ Conway prepared himself to come on. A break forward and the now recovered Dave Varley was at the end of the move pointing unbelievably from 58 yards out, for the score of the match. This put us 3 points up with 5 minutes left, Dave said after the match, that he had been studying my kicking techniques during training and this is what helped him score this brilliant point. Backs to the wall for the last few minutes. ‘Gold Dust’ was introduced for Anthony Shanahan who had given his all. Maurice Kelter was warming up to come in as the seconds ticked away. A fantastic full stretch dive for a ball by Seanie Power, one that Packie Bonner could only dream of, took the pressure off again and in the final attack of the match for Waterville, a frantic barrage ended when up stepped our own young Paul Galvin for the block down of the match, we regained possession and the final whistle went.
I haven’t seen such scenes for a long long time, a small version of 1994 maybe, up stepped Ciaran O’Connell to be presented with ‘The Barrett Cup’ from our own Eddie Barrett. A nice speech followed and he thanked Waterville. Overall it was a clean and sporting game, not one you would associate with 3 sendings off. I went into the Waterville dressing room and thanked them, also wishing them well for the intermediate final. Onto our own Rock club, where Ian, Micheal and Phillip had prepared food for us, Francie was blasting out the tunes and everyone had an enjoyable evening, hitting The Greyhound later that night before heading further afield!
Personally, I’d like to thank everyone who put up with my shouting all year, all told I was texting 50 different lads about ‘C’ football throughout the year and 43 players played at different times. I totally enjoyed every minute of it, and would like to thank firstly Seanie and then Don and Peter along with all the team and panel-THANKS LADS, Finally, the lads enjoyed the nick names and Starsky and Hutch, (shan & Theo), Tango & Cash, (Liam &Brian) are joined by Batman & Robin, (Shane Crowley & Paul Galvin), after Sunday, Tommy is no longer twinkle toes, new name ‘silent assassin’ with Jack Russell Courtney and ‘Top Gun’ Courtney, ‘Pretty Boy’ Costelloe, ‘Charmer’ Varley, ‘Legs’ McCannon and ‘Bull-Dog’ Power, ‘Fancy’ Duggan and Richie ‘Golddust’- ‘Jasper Ween’ says thanks, over but not out!!!
Hurling & Football Club