Barrett Cup Semi-Final
The Rock 1-10 Tarbert 1-2
The Rock are back where we belong, in the final of another Barrett Cup thanks to a 1-10 to 1-02 victory over a decent Tarbert team who were restricted from playing the football they’re capable of, by an extremely determined Rock ‘C’ team who pulled out all the stops in front of a great home support at Connolly Park, on Sunday (Sept 11th). The big numbers we’ve been having at training, putting in hard work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, got the result they thoroughly deserved. Our mixture of both young lads and not so young blend very well together, all getting on well and playing for each other as a team.
Our team started with 5 of the 15 being minors again next year, in the shape of, in goal a fine display again by Shane Begley, corner back Paul Galvin, excellent, mid-field both Shane ‘Rocky’ Crowley and Ciaran O’Connell, both outstanding and centre-forward Alan Duggan, who played as usual with some delightful touches and rounded off a good display by scoring a superb goal. Added to this Young Tommy McLaughlin, another minor next season, came in after 16 minutes and also produced a fine performance. It gives both Seanie and myself great pleasure seeing the constant improvement in these lads since the start of the season. Hand on heart I can honestly say, these lads will all have a part to play at senior level in years to come.
The remainder of team was, Liam Walsh and Peter ‘Pop’ Williams with half backs Seanie ‘bull-dog’ Power, Anthony ‘Razzle dazzle’ Shanahan and Brian Kearney, Half forwards Paul ‘legs’ McGannon and Garry ‘Gazza’ O’Connor with full forward line of Pat ‘Pretty Boy’ Costelloe, Martin ‘Top-Gun’ Courtney and David ‘Jack-Russell’ Courtney. Our superb bench comprised of Dave ‘Charmer’ Varley, Blaine Long, Theo Diggin, Tommy ‘Twinkle toes’ MacLoughlin, Daragh Healy, Stephen Walsh, Fergal ‘Oscar’ Kirby and ‘Jasper Ween’ Kevin O’Carroll.
With winds as strong as 20-25 miles an hour, the game plan was simple and straight forward, use the wind when it helped us and the remainder of the time we put into place some great movement and hand passing, which we had worked hard at last few weeks. From the throw in The Rock set out our intentions, and playing with the wind we were in command from the word go. Gazza O’Connor was in the thick of the action immediately starting his first match for us this season, he won possession of ball 3 times in first couple of minutes and was really looking like justifying his selection at wing forward, unfortunately in the 4th minute he won the ball again and unluckily on turning he badly tore the ligaments in his ankle. Theo Diggin was asked to fill Gazza’s boots and indeed had a fine game.
The game was stopped for 6 minutes while the injured ‘Gazza’ was being taken care of by Damien McLoughlin, Eamonn Scanlon and a few more, thanks lads. Ian our bar manager organised an ambulance for the stricken Gazza. On resumption we were back in command again, and in the 6th minute Shane ‘Rocky’ Crowley made one of his customary ‘long striding’ runs, for a point from play. From the kick out we won possession again and Rocky was again at the end of it to kick another fine point from 30 yards. It was end to end stuff and our backs were outstanding, doggedly chasing and hastling every Tarbert man coming forward. The 12th minute saw Pretty Boy Pat Costelloe being fouled 30 yards out, on the wing, he dusted himself down and calm as you like, slotted the ball between the posts for our 3rd point.
We won possession again from the kick out and after some fine passing David Courtney picked out Alan ‘Fancy’ Duggan who polished off delightfully to the net to put us in front 1-03 to no score after 15 minutes. It was still end to end and unfortunately we had another casualty in the 16th minute, when Peter ‘Pop’ Williams went over on his shoulder, luckily the ambulance was still on the grounds and Peter was looked after straight away, having ligament damage to his AC joint in the shoulder area. Immediately we switched Brian Kearney back full back and Tommy McLoughlin came in corner back, both slotted in straight away for good performances. With the stoppages it was slow to get back into stride and the 2 lads were big losses early on, luckily we have a strong bench. It took until the 24th minute for our next point, another free slotted over by ‘Pretty Boy’ Costelloe. Martin Courtney who passed a late fitness test was knocking on the door with several efforts, but didn’t let it get to him and in the 25th kicked a fine point from play. Two minutes later and Theo Diggin got on the score sheet with a fine point from play. This was followed again by another fine point from play by Theo after a good run. Half-time and we led by 1-07 to no score, overall great passing, marking and good team work, with everyone giving 100%.
We knew that from the throw in of 2nd half, that Tarbert would hit with everything, they won the throw in and immediately scored their first point of the game from play. The 33rd minute saw the score of the game in my opinion with after working the ball well out of our defence with good hand passing the ball found its way to Martin ‘Top Gun’ Courtney who was near the sideline about 12 yards out but unbelievably put the ball over the bar against a strong breeze. 35th minute saw Pat Costelloe slot over another free followed 4 minutes later by ‘Pretty Boys’ 4th score of the match, getting an excellent point from play. At this stage a phone call from the dug out was heard going to the bar asking Ian to chill the champagne. 20 minutes left and into the game came Daragh Healy for Alan Duggan who had given his all. The backs were superb at this stage aided by our half forwards and indeed I reckon David Courtney covered more ground in the 2nd half than all the Tarbert Team put together in the match, he seemed to be everywhere, this after playing a soccer match in the morning. The 47th minute saw Tarberts 2nd point of the match from play.
Backs to the wall, but everyone giving 110% at this stage, 10 minutes to go and a double substitution, putting on lads that were training all year with Stephen Walsh coming on for Paul McGannon who played himself out, never stopping for 50 minutes. Also Fergal ‘Oscar’ Kirby came on at full-forward for Martin Courtney whose thigh injury was playing up on him. Both subs were in the thick of the action. We had several attacks in between without scoring and we were unlucky to concede a goal 4 minutes from the end, this put us under unwanted pressure for last few minutes. Another great run near the end by Shane Crowley was unlucky to collide with Oscar, as he was about to pull the trigger to put the ball in the net. A minute later and Oscar himself was unlucky not to score. A final free for Tarbert saw Darragh Healy pluck the ball from the clouds under the goal post, this was followed by the final whistle.
All round a fine performance by all involved, Don, Seanie and Kevin could be very proud of their troops. You couldn’t single out any individual as there were many fine performances from Shane in goals, Liam Walsh Paul Galvin Brian Kearney, Anthony Shan and Seanie Power were all mighty solid in the backs, while Ciaran and Rocky did their job to perfection at midfield. All our forwards covered themselves in glory too. Our subs all did well and I’m certain the subs that didn’t get a run would have performed also as they are flying at training and making picking a team very difficult. A word for our ‘Gold Dust’ Richie Conway who was unable to togg out due to being very sick, he still left his sick bed for an hour to support his team mates. There is great spirit and friendship among this gang and they would deserve to win the final against Waterville. Training resumes Wednesday and Friday at the earlier time of 6.30pm and you can be sure they’ll be fierce competition for places for the final. We’d like to wish Peter Williams and Garry O’Connor a speedy recovery and I’d like to thank Ian (Bar Manager) for the food after, Micheal for cooking it, Wayne and John Tobin for the use of the jerseys and all who came along and supported us.
Keep an eye on the web for the fixture of the final as we will be having a man of the match night in the club with music and food provided and hopefully many pictures with the Barrett Cup. Roll on ‘The Rock’……..IT’S COMING HOME…….Barrett Cup is coming home 
